Instead, I looked toward the police cruiser.
Then answered honestly.
“I'm angry.”
She nodded.
“I can see that.”
I glanced toward the briefing case.
“Has anyone accessed the contents?”
“Not from what we've established so far. The exterior needs examination, but the secure compartment appears intact.”
I exhaled.
Some of the tension in my chest eased.
Then Mara lowered her voice.
“We need to get you to Fort Meade.”
I nodded.
“Agreed.”
She hesitated.
“There's something else.”
I looked toward her.
“What?”
“We were already attempting to locate your vehicle before the county stop was reported.”
My expression changed.
“Why?”
She looked toward the road.
“The protective liaison received information suggesting your route had become a concern.”
I stared.
“A concern?”
Mara nodded.
“Someone requested an unscheduled location update about your vehicle.”
I felt cold.
“Who?”
“We're checking.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she continued.
“The request didn't follow the normal process. That's why the team came looking.”
I glanced toward Devlin.
He was standing beside Captain Shaw, speaking rapidly.
She listened with an expression that suggested none of his explanations were improving his situation.
I looked back at Mara.
“Are you telling me this stop may have been coordinated?”
She took a breath.
“I'm telling you we haven't ruled it out.”
For a moment, I felt the world narrow.
Then I looked toward the briefing case.
A communications incident serious enough to require an emergency meeting.
A suspicious request for my location.
A county sergeant who refused to verify my identity.
And an attempt to force open a secured case.
The pieces didn't yet form a complete picture.
But they had begun fitting together in a way I didn't like.
Mara watched me.
“Vivienne?”
I took a breath.
“Preserve everything.”
She nodded.
“Already underway.”
I looked toward Ortiz.
The young deputy stood several feet away, holding a notebook.
Her face was pale.
But she was still documenting what she had seen.
Then I turned toward Mara.
“And make certain Deputy Ortiz has somewhere safe to report what happened.”
Mara followed my gaze.
“Understood.”
I looked toward the black SUVs.
“We have a briefing to reach.”
Before I left, I approached Captain Shaw.
She turned.
“Deputy Director.”
“Captain.”
For a moment, we studied each other.
Then I said, “I understand the original reason for the traffic stop.”