Then he stood abruptly. “I need to make a call,” he said, stepping aside to radio in backup. His voice was calm, but his posture had changed, stiff, alert, on edge. After a short, clipped conversation, he returned to them. “Okay,” he said. “A response team is on the way.” “Response team?” Megan echoed. “Like… more officers?”
Riley shook his head once. “No. Federal.” Two black SUVs pulled into the driveway less than forty minutes later, quiet as shadows. No sirens. No flashing lights. Just unmarked vehicles and the kind of purposeful movement that made Daniel’s stomach knot.