She set the tray on the low table beside my chair and quietly left the room.

I poured myself a cup, the steam rising up to warm my face.

Damiano picked up a small remote control from the mantle and pressed a button.

The television screen flickered to life, showing a local news broadcast.

The anchor was standing in front of the federal courthouse downtown, the flashing red and blue lights of police cars reflecting in the wet pavement behind her.

“We are coming to you live with breaking news,” the anchor said, her voice urgent. “Federal agents have just executed a series of search warrants.”

The camera cut to footage of Marcus’s estate, the very driveway we had driven down an hour ago.

Dozens of agents in dark blue jackets with yellow lettering were carrying cardboard boxes out of the front doors.

“Marcus Vance, a prominent real estate developer and political donor, has been taken into custody,” the reporter continued.

The screen changed to a shaky video of Marcus being led down his front steps in handcuffs.