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Chapter 22 - The Phone Call That Changed EverythingMy phone buzzed in my pocket just as Julian and I stepped out of the federal bank in Chattanooga, the leather pouch safely secured in my briefcase.

I pulled out the phone, seeing Amy’s name flashing on the screen. I answered immediately, expecting her usual warm, cheerful voice.

“Connor,” Amy whispered, her voice shaking with controlled panic. “You need to come home right now.”

“Amy? What’s wrong? Are you and Frederick okay?” I asked, stopping dead in my tracks on the marble steps, my blood running cold.

“Someone was at the house,” she said, fighting back tears. “They left a note in the mailbox, Connor. They know you’re investigating something. They threatened us.”

Julian stopped beside me, seeing the look of sheer terror wash over my face. He gestured frantically, asking what was happening.

“Listen to me, Amy,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady so she wouldn't hear my own rising panic. “Lock all the doors right now. Bring Frederick inside from the patio. Call neighbor Mrs. Higgins and ask her to watch the front porch while you pack an overnight bag. Julian and I are turning the car around this second. We’ll be home in three hours.”

“Hurry, Connor,” she choked out before the line went dead.

I snapped my phone shut and looked at Julian. “They know we’re onto them. Marcus Vance’s people just threatened my wife and son.”

Julian’s face darkened with a lethal intensity. “Then we don't go back to Nashville quietly. We go straight to the United States Attorney’s office in downtown Nashville, bypass local law enforcement entirely, and drop this evidence directly onto the federal prosecutor's desk.”

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“Let’s move,” I said, our mission shifting from an investigation into an outright rescue and counter-attack.

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Chapter 23 - The Blackmail AttemptBy the time Julian’s SUV roared back into Nashville late that afternoon, the tension in the vehicle was thick enough to cut with a knife. We didn't even stop at the house; we drove straight to the federal courthouse downtown, where Amy and Frederick were already waiting safely inside, escorted by federal marshals.
Chapter 24 - The Backyard ExcavationWith the federal marshals securing our home and the evidence safely transferred to federal custody, Julian and I spent the evening reviewing the contents of the leather pouch we retrieved from Chattanooga.
Chapter 25 - Breaking the SlabMidnight on the newly poured concrete patio was a surreal experience. The night air was cool and silent, broken only by the sharp, rhythmic thud of a heavy sledgehammer striking solid gray stone.
Chapter 26 - The Capsule’s SecretJulian and I carried the heavy military ammunition case back into the kitchen, placing it carefully on the granite island. The metal casing was sealed tight with rubber gaskets, keeping out moisture and decay for decades.
Chapter 27 - Listening to the PastBefore we left for the federal office, Julian insisted we play a snippet of the first microcassette to verify its audio quality. We slid the tiny tape into an old portable recorder Julian had brought from his investigative kit, pressing play.
Chapter 28 - The Underground MoleThe federal building in downtown Nashville was quiet at 4:00 AM. The night shift security guards recognized Julian from his previous federal casework, and within minutes, we were ushered into the private office of Special Agent-in-Charge Miller of the DOJ.

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