I stood by the window, my hands folded tightly over my stomach.

I looked at his back, at the expensive wool sweater I had bought him for his birthday.

I felt nothing but a cold, heavy emptiness.

The second trooper moved toward Ryan.

Ryan did not offer any resistance.

He held out his wrists, his face completely blank as the steel clicked into place.

“You are destroying my family!” Linda screamed, lunging toward me.

One of the federal agents stepped in front of her, his arm extended to block her path.

“Ma’am, step back,” the agent said.

“She did this!” Linda cried, her face twisting in rage. “She’s doing this to punish us!”

“No, Linda,” I said, looking her in the eyes. “You did this to yourselves.”

Vance reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a thick white envelope.

“Since you are here, Mrs. Vance, we can serve you this directly,” Vance said.

Linda stared at the envelope as if it were a weapon.

“What is that?” she spat. “I don’t want your papers.”

“This is a formal notice from the county registry and the underwriting bank,” Vance said.