Chapter 15 - The Seizure
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At seven o'clock on Monday morning, federal marshals and state police cruisers pulled up to Margaret’s suburban home.
I sat in the passenger seat of Adrian’s car down the street, watching the scene unfold through the windshield.
Four armed marshals marched up the front walkway and knocked hard on the front door.
When Margaret opened the door wearing a silk bathrobe, holding a mug of coffee, the lead marshal displayed a federal search and seizure warrant.
"Margaret Whitman, Ethan Whitman, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft," the marshal announced loudly.
Ethan was led out first, wearing grey sweatpants, his hands cuffed behind his back. He looked completely broken, his eyes fixed on the ground, refusing to look at the news camera that had arrived on the corner.
Margaret put up a frantic struggle, screaming at the top of her lungs as two female marshals escorted her down the porch steps.
"You can't do this to me!" Margaret shrieked, her voice echoing through the quiet neighborhood. "I am a respectable woman! This is a mistake! Lena! I know you're watching! You evil, spiteful monster!"
Tow trucks pulled into the driveway, hooking up Margaret’s luxury sedan and Ethan’s sports car to be impounded as federally seized assets.
I rolled down my window slightly, feeling the crisp morning air on my face.
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They had thought I was weak because I was kind. They had thought I was defenseless because I was pregnant.
They had learned the hard way that crossing a mother protecting her child was the fatal mistake that brought their entire criminal empire down to ashes.
