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Carter sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Mitch, I get you're mad, but we're doing all we can to figure it out. We're checking the security footage, talking to witnesses, and looking at any evidence we find. I promise you, we're not gonna stop until we solve this."
I shook my head. "Ugh, every time you talk, it's the same stuff... I promise you, blah, blah, blah..."
While I was giving Carter a piece of my mind, another officer came up with a tablet. "Mr. Detwiler, we got a picture from the security footage of the guy. You should check this out."
I took the tablet, and my eyes went wide. "Carter, get over here. You need to see this."
He hesitated, then came closer. On the screen was a fuzzy pic of a guy in a ball cap, his face hidden by the brim. "Could this be the same dude who messed with Amy at the gazebo?"
Carter looked at me and frowned. "Could be!"
I threw my hands up like I was asking for some kind of help from above. "So, why's everyone just hanging around instead of searching for this dude? C'mon, he's on a bike!"
Carter caught on and started giving orders to the cops. "You heard him! Let's get moving and find this intruder! Check the security videos to see how he got away and start looking around the neighborhood. We need to catch this guy before he causes more trouble."
The officers rushed away, leaving my place to track down the mysterious trespasser. Agent Carter gave me a quick nod before following his team.
As soon as everyone was gone, I hit the remote to close the gate, making sure my home was safe again. I couldn't help but feel something was off, and I knew I had to do some snooping on my own. I hurried inside, locked everything up, and went straight to the basement.
In the basement, stashed in an old desk, was my laptop. I'd been using it to help Brad with research on the new app. I hadn't shown him what I'd found yet. But now, with everything that happened today, I felt like it was time to figure out who was behind this whole Rosedale curse thing Amy mentioned.
I opened the desk drawer, and there it was, just like I had left it. I quickly turned on the laptop, checked the main directory, and made sure no one else had used it. Once I was sure no one had messed with it, I put the laptop back and saw that I'd missed a text from Courtney. I took a quick breath.
Courtney: Mr. Detwiler. Amy's dad, Giuseppe Russo, has been calling her all day with no luck. He's really worried and wants you to call him as soon as you can!
Me: Thanks, Courtney. I'll give him a call.
Feeling defeated, I sat down on the lowest step of the basement stairs, held my head in my hands, and mumbled, "Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse."
Chapter Fifteen
Mitch
The following day, I woke with a start when I heard my phone chime. I grabbed it quickly, hoping it was Amy. Instead, it was Courtney calling to remind me that Amy's father had called again, demanding to know where his daughter was. According to Courtney, Mr. Russo had warned her that I would be to blame if he had a heart attack. However, Courtney's voice turned into a whisper before I could respond, and she exclaimed, "Oh, my God! Three black sedans just pulled up out in front of our building. What's going on?!"
Simultaneously there were three hard knocks at my front door! "FBI, open up!
"Courtney! It’s the FBI. They’re here too!"
The pounding on my front door echoed through the empty house, and my heart raced as I realized that the FBI was also at the Rosedale Tech office. My mind was racing with questions, but I realized above all else, I needed to stay calm and face the situation head-on.
As I opened the door, Agent Downing stood before me, his face stern and serious. "Mr. Detwiler," he said, "we've decided that it's necessary to take some of your staff and all family members into protective custody until the perpetrator has been caught and processed."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, knowing the threat was more extensive in light of the Rosedale case history. But at the same time, I felt a sense of relief that the FBI was taking action to protect everyone involved.
"We'll be driving you and the Rosedale co-owners to Guy's estate, Casa Palacious," Agent Downing continued. "It's easier to lock down and secure, which should provide a more effective barrier against any potential threats, and I understand you have an important project you're working on. That way, you can continue your work. Your friend, Carter Brown from the local PD, insisted on it."
Trying to process the information, I asked, "And the other family members, are they at Casa Palacious too?”
Agent Downing shook his head. "No, they've all been moved to safe houses not far from where Amy and your daughter are staying. It's for their safety, you understand. We'll reunite you with them as soon as possible."
"Let me grab some things."
As soon as I was out of the agent's sight, I called Courtney to confirm what I had just been told. When she answered, she was breathless. "Mr. Detwiler, Brad and I got away!"
"What do you mean, got away?"
Courtney explained, "We managed to hide in a storage closet together until the agents left the office. They didn't see us, and I don't think they knew how many of us there were. So, we slipped out the back door. We couldn't risk being taken into protective custody, too, not with everything going on."
