Moments later, Jake was brought back into the room, tired, shaken, but unmistakably himself. Sandra’s breath broke as she saw him, pale, eyes rimmed red, and yet standing free. He reached for her hand the instant he could, whispering her name like a lifeline pulling him home.
He explained that officers had detained him only long enough to verify biometrics, including fingerprints, facial scans, and confirmation of travel records. He wasn’t a suspect anymore, just a victim of an identity thief who had been escalating for months. He apologized for frightening her, even though none of it was his doing.