Let Judith complete the wire transfer. Let her fully commit the federal felony.”

Mara hesitated only a fraction of a second before nodding. As she dialed, I turned back to the general.

“And General — I need you to make a direct call to the FBI Director. Tell him the Holloway family just triggered the Langley protocol.”

Chapter 5 — The Homecoming

Three days later I was discharged. The storm that had nearly killed me had passed, leaving the Virginia air crisp and blindingly clear. Mrs. Alvarez drove me and Evelyn back to my neighborhood — back to the home Judith and Grant thought they’d stolen.

The drive was quiet, filled only with my daughter’s soft breathing in the backseat. As we turned the corner into the long, tree-lined driveway, there were no moving trucks waiting to evict me.

Instead, the lawn was dominated by four black SUVs.