The federal detention facility in Cedar Point City was quiet in a way that felt deliberately designed to remove any sense of control from those inside. Evan Laskin sat in an interrogation room with his hands resting flat on the table, while across from him Special Agent Miles Arden reviewed evidence without urgency.
Evan said first, “This is being taken out of context and exaggerated beyond reality.”
Miles Arden did not look up immediately. When he did, his voice was calm. “We are not interpreting anything. We are verifying data points that align across financial, digital, and physical evidence systems.”
Evan leaned forward slightly. “My sister is grieving and being influenced by external parties.”
Miles responded, “Your sister is not the origin of this investigation. She is a witness and evidence custodian.”
That sentence changed Evan’s posture slightly, but he quickly corrected it into neutrality.