I was thankful that Roman had decided to work the next day from home as well. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done with myself if he hadn’t. Probably crawl up the walls at some point. My father being in the house was too much for me to properly deal with. Even if I wasn’t in the same room as him, just knowing he was around did something to me. My mind was constantly torn between the memories of the day he put me in the Auction House and the want to tell him off. Nothing about it would be productive. It was best for me to keep to myself and keep away from him.

Ed and Marcus had left him there with one of their other agents that was helping with the case from another angle. I don’t think I even caught his name. Maybe I should have felt bad about that, but I just wanted to distract myself from the thoughts of the case and my father. Just for a while, until Marcus and Ed returned. Was that too much to ask for?

It turned out it was. Just as I would start to enjoy myself in conversation with Roman, in the little activities we would do to pass the time, or he would again try to explain his business to me in the vague way he had about him, thoughts about my father being in the house would come into mind and I would just about groan.

I hated that, even in that circumstance, there was a little bit of power my father had over me. While he had no right to talk to me or make any decisions in my life anymore, there were still my emotions. He had the ability to make me feel nervous, angry, and tense in my own home. Why couldn’t time just fly forward to him being gone?

I told myself it would only be a matter of hours. Ed and Marcus would return with good news and take Court into custody right away. By sundown, my father would be out of my house. It would be one thing to cross off the list of the investigating. Finally my dad would have to atone for his sins, and he would be out of my life for good. I had no idea how much time he would get in prison, but hopefully it would be long enough to hold him in there till his very last day. Was that wrong or too dark of me to hope for? I didn’t know.

Roman and I were sitting in the den with something playing on the television in the background when the front door opened. We both sat up and looked over to see Ed and Marcus coming back into the house. I peered over to them with hopeful eyes, waiting with bated breath for whatever news they had. Good news, let it be good news.

They motioned for everyone to go to the study, informing us that they would share the news with my father being present.

"Court’s story checks out," Ed announced, folding her arms across his chest. "We’ve found where Fitzgerald is hideout. We’re going to start plotting a major raid."

The feeling in my heart was unparalleled. "That’s great, right? Maybe this is just about over?" I asked, my eyes beaming from the excitement I felt.

My thoughts raced to the finish line, thinking about how wonderful it would be when the case was behind us. There was no telling what I would fill my day with. It would be kind of scary but so exciting. Sure, I could have had my hobbies then, but how could I focus on anything when there was an FBI case taking place in my home? It would just be so pleasant not to live life in a suspended state of frustration, rage, and fear.

"While this is a great break," Marcus began, "we can’t get ahead of ourselves. Take things one step at a time."

I peered up at Roman with a wide grin. I couldn’t believe the progress this was all making. I was proud of us and the little team we had managed to rally. Had it not been for Roman taking action, none of that would have been happening. At least, not so quickly and efficiently. Who knew when the FBI would have taken action? It felt like a moment to celebrate, but I knew it was definitely premature. We needed to see what happened at the raid before we started deciding it was a victory.

"Well, Court," Ed sighed as he took out some cuffs and stepped forward. "I appreciate your cooperation, but we gotta take you in now."

"Wait, wait, wait," my father stammered. "You can’t be serious. Right now?"

"Gotta face the music," Marcus added from his spot in the doorway, where he leaned against the frame.

Court shook his head rapidly. "Are you crazy? It’s too fast!"

Ed and Marcus exchanged looks that said everything that they were thinking. Criminals never wanted to go to jail. It was natural, but such a bother. There was no point in dragging it out. When the agents both moved in his direction to speed up the arrest process, Court stood and raised his hands in a stop gesture. "It’s going to be highly suspicious, don’t you think?" he blurted out. "Think about it. It will be a suspicious amount of time between the visit to the Auction House and my arrival at the station. It will make it clear to anyone paying attention that I was the informant!"

"What do you expect us to do?" Marcus snorted. "We have to take you in."

"I’m not asking you to let me go," Court swallowed. "I’m saying, issue a warrant for my arrest and pick me up somewhere. It’ll make me look like a person of interest rather than an informant." His eyes shifted between the two FBI agents as they shared a skeptical look. "If you don’t think Jared Fitzgerald has connections in every major penitentiary in the country, you’re wrong. He’ll have me killed before you ever get cuffs on him."

"We can place you in maximum security," Ed stated plainly and began pulling on his arm to get him off the couch.

Court’s face morphed into a look of pure panic.

Marcus chimed in, "You’ll be fine, Court. You’ll be going to our holding center, not a penitentiary."

When they pulled on him again, I was propelled forward. "Wait," I urged. All of their faces turned to look at me. "He can stay here for the night. You guys can stay and watch him, make sure he doesn’t run or anything. Then stage an arrest. You’ll still have eyes on him, he’ll be in custody soon enough. It’s the least we can do to make sure he goes in safely."

Roman gripped my shoulder. "Are you sure about this, Hannah?"

I nodded and sighed.

Ed and Marcus looked between one another and exchanged words in whispers. They then looked back at me, "If you are okay with that, we will do it."

"Thank you, Hannah," Court said, his voice breaking with emotion. It wasn’t emotion for me, it was emotion that he wasn’t going to get arrested that night.

"I didn’t do it for you," I snapped at him. "If something happens to you because you’re suspected to be an informant, it’ll only make things worse for Roman and me. I’m doing this to protect myself and my husband, not give into your measly wishes."

"I see," he muttered.

It felt good, so good, to snap at my father like that. After a lifetime of living in a state of his own personal brand of oppression and being treated as property, then literally sold as such, it was just too good to put into words. I had never been a drug user, but the only way I could compare it to was the way people described uppers to me. I felt invincible, giddy, and powerful. I never wanted to let go of that feeling.

Though, I guess knowing my father would be staying in my home for the night was enough to sour it. Even though I wanted the whole case completed, I mostly wanted him gone. I just wasn’t shortsighted to the point that I wanted him out in a rapid and sloppy way. My father had never been right about much in his life, but this was one instance he was. It was unsavory and put a bad taste in my mouth, but that was just the way it was going to have to be.

My father and I locked eyes for a long moment before I walked out of the room. I didn’t want anything else to be said and my mind change. I needed to collect myself and my thoughts. Most importantly, though, I needed some space between my father and me.