By sunset, Trent Prescott was taken into custody without bail, charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and federal conspiracy.

His father, Sheriff Roy Prescott, was arrested for public corruption, evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and racketeering.

Three county deputies were suspended without pay.

Two county commissioners resigned under federal pressure.

And the Prescott Development Group’s corporate accounts were frozen under a federal forfeiture warrant.

In the space of a single day, a kingdom that had stood for twenty-two years simply ceased to exist.

I went back upstairs after the arrests were confirmed on the news, and Camila was awake, resting against her pillows.