They were searching for something specific in your house. Something they needed to retrieve before federal oversight could reach it. " Nia's blood ran cold. She turned and ran back inside, taking the stairs two at a time to reach her father's study. The room appeared undisturbed at first glance, but when she moved closer to the old oak paneling, she saw it.
Fresh scratch marks marred the wood near a concealed seam. The hidden compartment her father had never shown her was now exposed. The panel had been pried partly open. Her hands shook as she examined the damaged wood. Through the window, she could hear Kessler shouting at someone, his voice cracking with desperation.
More federal vehicles arrived, their lights flashing silently in the afternoon sun. Neighbors continued documenting everything while investigators collected evidence that would destroy careers and reveal corruption. But none of that mattered as much as the violated panel before her. This wasn't just about an illegal raid anymore. Someone had known exactly what they were looking for in her father's study.
Someone had been willing to orchestrate an armed siege to find it. Filtered sunlight cast long shadows across the study's hardwood floor as Nia knelt beside the damaged wall panel. Daniel Voss stood near the doorway while Judge Price examined the splintered edges of the wood. Tessa documented everything with her camera, capturing the violated space that had once been her grandfather's sanctuary. " Someone knew exactly where to look," Nia said, running her fingers along the scratched surface.
Fresh wood dust sprinkled onto the floor. " They must have searched during the confusion outside. " Daniel moved closer, his expression grim. " The panel design is military-grade, the kind used in secure facilities. Your father modified it himself? " "
I never even knew it existed," Nia admitted. She pressed carefully along the damaged section, feeling for anything the intruders might have missed. Her fingers caught on a slight irregularity. " Wait. " Judge Price leaned in. "
What do you see, Nia? " " It's not just one layer. " Nia traced the hidden seam. " There's another compartment behind this one. " She applied pressure to specific points, remembering how her father had always emphasized the importance of backup plans.
A soft click rewarded her patience. A second panel slid open, revealing a shallow space untouched by the earlier search. Inside lay several items carefully wrapped in oilcloth. Nia removed them one by one, laying them on her father's old desk while Tessa recorded. " A challenge coin," Daniel identified the first item.
That's from our old investigative unit. He picked it up, turning it to catch the light. I haven't seen one of these in 20 years. Nia unwrapped a bundle of papers covered in her father's precise handwriting. The notes were filled with strings of numbers and letters, clearly coded.
A storage locker number was written clearly on one corner. Unit 47B. Below it, two words stood out in block letters. Brass Locust. What does that mean? Tessa asked, zooming in on the phrase.