“You can confirm the subject is still in the house?” Chief Marshal Jesse Best asked. At six and a half feet tall with blond hair and intense brown eyes, he projected an aura of competency that put Jeannie at ease. She’d noticed in past encounters with the imposing marshal that he never wasted time with small talk.

“I can confirm that she entered through the front door three and a half hours ago and hasn’t come out again. I can’t confirm that she didn’t sneak out the back in that time, but we’ve seen no other movement.”

Jeannie called up dated photos of Daniella and Carisma and showed them to Jesse. In a normal investigation, there’d be age-progressed photos, but they’d never been done in this case. “This is who we’re looking for. The suspected kidnapper and the victim. They’re eleven years older now. Carisma would be twenty-four, if she’s even there.”

“Got it. Are you coming?”

“We’ve been ordered to stand down and turn it over to you.”

“Huh,” he said, which was his way of expressing surprise that any law enforcement agency would give another credit for their bust.

Anyone else would want to know why. Jesse Best wasn’t anyone else.

He turned and walked away, armed with the info he needed to get the job done.

“Sucks to have to take a back seat,” Matt said.

“It does, but all that matters is finding Carisma and arresting Daniella. I don’t care who gets the credit.”

Jeannie’s body was rigid with tension as she waited for the raid to go down with the stealth that made the marshals so good at what they did. Aiding state and local authorities in apprehending fugitives was part of the marshals’ mission, but they were primarily focused on protecting the federal judiciary and apprehending federal fugitives.

Around eleven, she’d texted Sam to tell her the marshals would be going in sometime during the night.

I can’t wait to hear what happens, Sam had replied.

I’ll text you in the morning with an update.

Call if you need me.

Will do.

Jeannie watched through binoculars as Best led his team toward the house, gesturing for other officers to cover the back. She’d wondered if they were going to bust in or knock on the door.

Best answered her question when he knocked.

The woman Jeannie had identified as Daniella answered, saw law enforcement on her doorstep and freaked out. When she tried to slam the door in their faces, Best had her cuffed in a matter of seconds. He stepped aside so his team could go in as Daniella continued to flail and scream.

“Nothing says ‘I’m guilty of something’ than acting like that when cops show up at your house,” Matt said.

“No kidding,” Jeannie said. “I’m sort of relieved she acted that way. That tells me we nailed it.”