A tall security officer wearing a dark suit stepped into the bedroom and checked his watch with bored impatience.
“Time is up,” he announced firmly. “Zip the bags and leave immediately.”
The fight vanished from my parents faces. Exhaustion replaced it. They zipped their suitcases without another word and slowly walked out of the bedroom with lowered heads.
I stood silently in the hallway as they passed me. Neither of them could bring themselves to look at me.
They walked down the sweeping marble staircase for the final time, their footsteps echoing through the empty mansion.
I followed them onto the wide stone terrace outside.
Police cruisers were pulling away from the estate gates after transporting my brother to the county detention center. Federal investigators were finishing their evidence sweep and sealing doors of the guest house with bright yellow tape. The extravagant charity gala that had been scheduled earlier that evening had completely disappeared. The elegant tents, the chandeliers, and the catering displays had already been removed, leaving the property cold and silent.