Chapter 6 - THE MORNING CONFRONTATION
Sunlight broke over the snow-capped peaks, casting long shadows across the frost-covered valley.
Ethan stood on Marcus’s porch, wearing clean dry clothes and his dark blue tactical jacket with the US flag patch.
Lily sat at the kitchen window, eating a warm plate of pancakes with Max resting his head on her lap.
A loud police siren echoed in the distance, growing louder as two County Sheriff cruisers pulled up the gravel driveway.
Sheriff Higgins, a stocky man with a wide-brimmed hat, stepped out of the lead vehicle with his hand on his holster.
"Ethan Vance... step away from the cabin with your hands where I can see them!" Higgins shouted through a megaphone.
Ethan walked down the porch steps with absolute composure, stopping ten feet away from the law enforcement officers.
"Sheriff Higgins, you've known me since I played high school football here," Ethan said calmly.
"You're harboring a kidnapped child, Ethan... Jessica filed an emergency custody order two hours ago," Higgins stated.
"Did Jessica also mention that she locked that child outside in a doghouse during a winter storm?" Ethan countered.
Higgins hesitated, looking past Ethan toward the cabin window where young Lily was watching with wide, fearful eyes.
"We have strict procedure to follow, Sergeant... you need to hand the girl over until court," Higgins insisted.
"I have physical medical documentation of her hypothermia recorded by a licensed nurse last night," Ethan stated firmly.
May you like
"If you try to take her back to that house, Sheriff, you'll be named as an accessory to child abuse."
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