Chapter 6 — The FBI Knocked on the Door
# The Birthday Surprise
## Chapter 6 — The FBI Knocked on the Door
Ethan opened the front door.
Two FBI agents stood beneath the porch lights wearing dark suits and official badges.
The older man extended his identification.
"Special Agent David Mercer."
"This is Agent Olivia Grant."
"We apologize for arriving unannounced."
Ethan stepped aside.
"Please come in."
The agents entered the mansion and immediately noticed the untouched birthday cake, scattered confetti, and Emily's tear-stained face.
Mercer quietly looked around.
"I assume..."
"We interrupted something."
Ethan answered calmly.
"You could say that."
Mercer didn't ask any further questions.
Instead, he removed a thin folder from his briefcase.
"Mr. Harrison..."
"How well do you know Lucas Miller?"
Ethan frowned.
"He's been my best friend for years."
Mercer slowly opened the folder.
"Then what I'm about to tell you will be difficult."
He placed several photographs onto the table.
Lucas appeared in each one.
Meeting different people.
Different cities.
Different identities.
Emily stared in disbelief.
"What is this?"
Mercer looked at both of them.
"For the past eighteen months..."
"The FBI has been investigating Lucas Miller."
"On suspicion of corporate espionage, money laundering, identity fraud, and organized financial crime."
The room fell silent.
Ethan slowly looked down at the photographs.
"No..."
"There has to be a mistake."
Mercer calmly shook his head.
"There isn't."
He slid another photograph across the table.
This one showed Lucas leaving a private airport with an older businessman whose face had been partially blurred.
"We believe Lucas infiltrates wealthy families."
"He earns their trust."
"Collects confidential information."
"And passes it to criminal organizations."
Emily's breathing became uneven.
"You think..."
"...he used me?"
Mercer answered honestly.
"We don't know yet."
"But we do know one thing."
He pointed toward the garage.
"The phone Lucas mentioned..."
"May contain evidence we've been searching for over a year."
Ethan looked toward Emily.
She slowly nodded.
"My car..."
"...is in the garage."
Mercer immediately spoke into his radio.
"Forensics to the residence."
"Priority search."
Within minutes, several FBI technicians arrived carrying forensic equipment.
They carefully entered the garage.
Emily stood frozen beside Ethan.
Neither of them spoke.
A few minutes later...
One of the technicians called out.
"Agent Mercer!"
"I found something."
Everyone hurried into the garage.
The technician reached beneath the passenger seat.
Slowly...
He pulled out a small black smartphone wrapped in electrical tape.
Emily whispered,
"Oh my God..."
Mercer carefully accepted the phone without touching the screen.
He looked directly at Ethan.
"I have a feeling..."
"...your marriage isn't the only thing that's about to fall apart."
Everyone stared silently at the phone.
None of them realized...
It contained secrets capable of destroying far more than one family.
