"You... you're a fed?" Mitchell stammered, her tough exterior shattering instantly.
"Drop your weapons!"
Suddenly, the park's perimeter erupted. Six unmarked black SUVs tore onto the grass from the opposite side of the pavilion. Two dozen heavily armed FBI tactical agents swarmed the area, their weapons trained squarely on Mitchell, Barnes, and Cruz.
The arrests were swift and humiliating. Mitchell and her men were stripped of their weapons, handcuffed, and shoved into the back of the federal vehicles. The swagger they had arrived with was completely gone, replaced by the terrified realization that they were going to spend the rest of their lives in federal prison.
As the SUVs rolled away, leaving a heavy silence in their wake, James turned back to the community. Mrs. Washington, the Johnsons, and the rest of the neighborhood stood in stunned silence.
Maya walked up and put a hand on James's shoulder. He took a deep breath. "I owe all of you an apology," James said, his voice softening. "My name really is James, and this really is my family. But I was sent here to stop them. I'm sorry I had to lie to you. But I am not sorry that I got to know you."
Mrs. Washington stepped forward, looking down at the ruined potato salad, and then up at James. A slow, warm smile spread across her face. "Well, James... I suppose putting away dirty cops is just about as good a job as building important buildings."