Chapter 7 - The Midnight Raid
At 8:45 PM that evening, the industrial district of Mobile was dark, damp, and silent under a heavy fog rolling off the bay.
Daniel and I sat inside an unmarked law enforcement vehicle three hundred yards from Albright Logistics’ central warehouse, accompanied by Captain Miller of the Alabama State Police and two federal financial investigators.
Through night-vision binoculars, we watched a massive commercial car-hauler truck reverse into the open bay door of Gavin’s facility.
Gavin walked out onto the loading dock wearing a heavy jacket, holding a clipboard and a flashlight. Beside him was a buyer associated with an illegal grey-market vehicle export ring.
"Target is moving the assets onto the transport trailer," Captain Miller reported into his tactical radio. "Units one through four, move into primary breach positions."
Inside our car, I watched Gavin’s face through the binoculars. He looked frantic, constantly checking his watch, pacing back and forth across the concrete dock. The smooth, arrogant man who had sneered at me at the wedding three days ago was now a terrified criminal fleeing the consequences of his own greed.
"It’s time," Captain Miller said.
Four dark police SUVs suddenly rounded the corner of the warehouse lane, their red and blue emergency lights flashing brightly through the thick fog. Sirens blared, cutting through the quiet night air.
"ALABAMA STATE POLICE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE! PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!" officers shouted through loudspeakers.
Gavin dropped his clipboard in pure panic. He sprinted toward his car parked beside the dock, but two officers tackled him to the concrete floor before he could even reach the driver’s door.
"Get off me!" Gavin screamed, his voice filled with hysterical rage. "Do you know who I am?! I’m the CEO of Albright Logistics! This is a private commercial transaction!"
May you like
Captain Miller stepped out of the vehicle, walking up to Gavin who was now handcuffed on the cold pavement.
"Gavin Albright," Captain Miller announced clearly. "You are under arrest for grand larceny, corporate fraud, bank forgery, and attempting to transport stolen commercial assets across state lines."
