Chapter 15 - Holding the Line|
"Don't open that gate!" Mariana screamed, sprinting toward the perimeter fence. Mateo was right on her heels.
The CPS agents rattled the wrought-iron bars. "Ms. Reyes, we have an emergency court order to remove the minors from this premises. Open the gate, or we will have the police breach it."
"Show me the order!" Mariana demanded, crossing her arms. "Hold it up to the bars so I can read it."
The lead agent sighed in frustration and pressed a piece of paper against the iron gate. Mariana read it quickly.
"This is signed by Judge Sullivan," Mariana sneered. "Sullivan sits on the board of the Vance Law Firm's philanthropic committee. This is a massive conflict of interest, and you know it."
"It's a valid signature, Ms. Reyes. You are obstructing justice."
"I'm protecting my kids," Mariana shot back. "You’ll have to cut the locks."
Inside the house, the younger children were watching from the windows, terrified. Mateo couldn't stand seeing the fear in their eyes. He remembered being that scared, trapped in a cage, waiting for someone to save him.
He pulled out his phone and hit record, pointing the camera at the agents.
"I am Mateo Reyes," he spoke loudly and clearly into the phone. "I am sixteen years old. These men are trying to forcefully remove me and my foster siblings based on fake allegations manufactured by a corrupt lawyer named Arthur Vance. We are safe here. We will not be taken."
He instantly uploaded the video to the foundation's social media pages. Within minutes, the notifications began to explode.
1,000 views.
5,000 views.
10,000 views.
The local community, people who knew Mariana and the good work she did, began to flood the comments.
"What is he doing?" one of the CPS agents muttered, checking his own phone as it buzzed violently.
Down the street, the flashing red and blue lights of police cruisers appeared. But they weren't coming to arrest Mariana.
Detective Vargas stepped out of the lead car, holding a thick manila envelope and looking furious. He marched straight up to the CPS agents.
"Stand down," Vargas ordered. "That emergency removal order is null and void. I just got off the phone with the District Attorney."
"On what grounds?" the lead agent demanded.
"On the grounds that Arthur Vance is currently being arrested for extortion, bribery, and witness tampering," Vargas smiled grimly.
Mateo felt his knees go weak with relief. He looked at Mariana, who had tears streaming down her face.
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But as the CPS van drove away, a familiar, chilling voice echoed from behind them.
"Well, isn't this a touching family reunion."
