Michelle set down the radio with shaking hands. She tried to warn him, but Gerald's arrogance was creating a disaster that would engulf them all.
At the governor's mansion, twelve miles away, the security monitoring center was buzzing with activity. The overnight threat assessment had triggered enhanced surveillance protocols, and the failure of their new security chief to check in was raising red flags throughout the system.
Security Director James Patterson was on his third cup of coffee when the alert came through. "Sir, we have a problem. Chief Monroe was scheduled to complete her inspection of Willow Creek by 1400 hours. She's not responding to calls or messages."
Governor Arthur Pennington looked up from his briefing papers, his expression grave. "What's the last known location of her tracking device?"
"Still showing at the Willow Creek facility, sir, but there's been unusual police activity in that area. Multiple units responded to a call."
The governor's jaw tightened. Lydia Monroe was one of the most competent security professionals he'd ever worked with. If she wasn't responding, something was seriously wrong.
Gerald's radio crackled again. "Chief Hawkins, this is Captain Langley. I need you to call me immediately upon your arrival at the station."
Gerald rolled his eyes. "Looks like the brass is getting nervous. Probably worried about paperwork and liability. Don't worry, I've got everything documented properly."
"You should listen to them," Lydia said quietly from the backseat.