Barnaby let out a soft, contented sigh on the porch rug, his tail thumping once against the cedar boards: *thump.*
Garrett laughed into the warm sunlight.
Leo clapped his hands, giggling at the soaring eagles.
The white passenger ferries glided across the river.
The eagles climbed into the limitless blue sky.
The water ran deep and clear.
The ledger was closed forever.
And the nephew who had stayed beside his mother’s casket refusing to let them close the lid until he heard the sound had handed the phone to his aunt, unraveled the shadow dynasty, shattered the conspiracy, audited the thieves into dust, and reclaimed the defense bedrock of the Republic—finally, beautifully, and eternally free.
