“Ma’am.”
My attention shifted.
Immediately.
“What happened?”
“Call came in thirty-seven minutes ago.”
“From?”
“Fort Liberty operations first. Washington after that.”
My stomach tightened.
Derek was still talking.
I stopped hearing him.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“There’s been an incident involving the reserve communications site.”
I looked at the folder.
Three words were printed across the corner.
COMMAND EYES ONLY.
“Casualties?”
“None confirmed.”
“Civilian involvement?”
“Possibly.”
I accepted the folder with my free hand.
Derek reached toward it.
“What’s that?”
Marcus stepped between us.
Not aggressively.
Just enough.
“Do not touch that folder.”
Derek stopped.
For the first time all afternoon, someone had given him a direct command and he had obeyed without argument.
I broke the seal.
The first page contained a preliminary incident report.
At 12:36 p.m., an unauthorized attempt had been made to enter a restricted communications node nine miles from my parents’ house.
County Route 18.
Outer gate.
Local law-enforcement credential used.
I read the credential identification number.
Then looked at Derek.
He had gone very still.
His eyes moved involuntarily toward the access card clipped near his belt.
Marcus noticed.
So did I.
“Derek.”
“What?”
“What are the last four digits on your department credential?”
His jaw tightened.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Answer.”
“No.”
My father took one step forward.
“Derek.”
“I said no.”
Aunt Rebecca appeared beside him.
Until that moment, she had stayed almost completely silent.
Now she moved quickly.
“Rachel, whatever is in that folder has nothing to do with Derek.”
I looked at her.
I had not accused him.
Not yet.
Marcus saw it too.
His gaze shifted toward Rebecca.
Then back to me.
“Ma’am, we should go.”
I nodded.
“After this comes off.”
Derek crossed his arms.
“You’re technically detained.”
Marcus stared at him.
“For what charge?”
Derek said nothing.
“Deputy.”
Marcus’s voice remained calm.
“State the charge.”
“You don’t have jurisdiction.”
“No. But jurisdiction isn't required for you to articulate why you've placed a citizen in restraints.”
Derek looked toward me.
Then toward Marcus.
Then toward my family.
Every possible exit from the humiliation seemed to be closing.
Finally he reached toward his cuff key.
Before he could use it, another vehicle entered the driveway.
Dark county sedan.
No lights.
No siren.
Derek froze.
The driver’s door opened.
Sheriff Daniel Mercer stepped out.
Derek’s boss.
Mercer was sixty-one, tall, silver-haired, and old enough to understand that authority worked best when it did not need theater.
He crossed the lawn.
His eyes moved toward Marcus.
Then me.
Then the handcuff.
“Deputy Nolan.”
Derek swallowed.
“Sheriff.”
Mercer stopped.
“Remove that.”
Derek immediately unlocked it.
The cuff opened.
Blood rushed back into my wrist.
Marcus looked at the red mark.
His jaw tightened.
I flexed my hand.
“I’m fine.”
Sheriff Mercer looked at Derek.