"Probably. But right now we've got bigger problems." I gestured toward the door where agents were still searching. "Let's get through this raid first. Deal with Valentino after."
***
Hour six. Finally, mercifully, the raid was ending.
Agents were packing up seized evidence. Loading boxes into vehicles. Wrapping up their documentation. Patterson approached with a grim expression.
"We're done here," he said. "For now."
"For now?" Diana's voice was sharp.
"The investigation is ongoing. We'll be reviewing everything we seized today. If we find evidence of criminal activity, we'll be back."
"With proper warrants that clearly specify scope and probable cause," Diana said. "Or we'll bury you in legal challenges that tie up your investigation for years."
Patterson's jaw tightened. "We'll be in touch."
He left with his team. Took three computers, seven boxes of files, and a dozen hard drives with him.
Not ideal. But not catastrophic either.
Sandro, Matteo, and I gathered in the main office after the last agent left.
"Status?" Sandro asked.
"They got computers from finance, my office, and operations," I said. "Files from storage. Hard drives from security. Nothing that should have anything incriminating on it, but we'll need to trace exactly what was on each device."
"Stefan already started that," Matteo said. "He's been tracking everything remotely. Says most of what they took is clean. A few items he's concerned about but nothing that should build a case by itself."
"Diana's assessment?" Sandro looked at our lawyer.
"They overstepped in several areas. I've got documentation. We can file suppression motions on at least forty percent of what they seized. The warrant was too broad and they took items outside reasonable scope. We'll fight it in court." Diana's expression was confident. "This raid was aggressive but ultimately ineffective. They were fishing. They didn't find the big catch they were hoping for."
Relief flooded through me. We'd survived. Again.
"The three moles?" I asked Matteo.
"Still secured. We'll handle them tonight. Quietly. They won't be feeding information to anyone ever again."
I nodded. That was a problem for later. Right now I had a more immediate concern.
Julian.
I'd left him in that safe room six hours ago. Six hours of isolation and fear while he watched the raid unfold on monitors. Six hours of not knowing if I'd be able to come back for him.
I needed to get to him. Now.
"I need to check on something," I said. "Secure the building. Make sure everyone's accounted for. I'll be back in twenty minutes."
Sandro gave me a knowing look. "Go. We've got this handled."
I didn't wait for further permission. Just headed straight for my office.
My hands were shaking as I pressed the hidden release on the bookshelf.
Six hours. I'd left Julian alone for six hours while federal agents swarmed the building. While I'd been managing crisis and coordinating with lawyers and trying to keep everything from falling apart.
Six hours of not knowing if he was okay. If he was scared. If he'd stayed hidden like I'd asked or panicked and tried to come out.
