“How did you—”
“Television.”
Sarah groaned.
“No.”
Evelyn pointed toward living room.
A local news channel showed the Oak Haven County Sheriff’s Office.
The banner read:
PENTAGON GENERAL DETAINED DURING GEORGIA TRAFFIC STOP.
Sarah closed her eyes.
“How?”
Whitaker looked at his phone.
“Somebody leaked.”
Evelyn stared.
“You were in jail?”
“Briefly.”
“For what?”
“That remains unclear.”
Evelyn walked toward her.
Saw the red marks on Sarah’s wrists.
Her expression changed.
The anger disappeared.
Something older replaced it.
Fear.
She touched Sarah’s hand.
“What did they do?”
“I’m fine.”
“Don't give me Army answer.”
Sarah sighed.
“They cuffed me.”
“Hit you?”
“No.”
“Push you?”
Sarah hesitated.
Evelyn saw.
“That means yes.”
“Once.”
Whitaker said quietly:
“Sheriff pushed her into holding cell.”
Evelyn turned toward him.
“I didn't ask you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sarah almost laughed despite herself.
Evelyn looked back.
“Did they know?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Sarah frowned.
“What?”
Her aunt walked to stove.
“Good they didn't know.”
“Why?”
“Because now you know how they treat somebody they think has no stars.”
Sarah went still.
Evelyn stirred a pot.
“Sit down.”
“Aunt—”
“Sit.”
Major General Sarah Reynolds obeyed the retired principal instantly.
Whitaker watched with visible amusement.
Sarah pointed at him.
“Not a word.”
He sat too.
Evelyn served gumbo.
For ten minutes, nobody discussed the arrest.
That was how Evelyn handled emergencies.
Feed first.
Then interrogation.
Finally she sat across from Sarah.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“That is a lie.”
Sarah smiled faintly.
“You trained me too well.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn leaned back.
“You going after sheriff?”
“I cannot personally investigate someone who arrested me.”
“Good.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I am old enough to enjoy revenge and wise enough to know it ruins paperwork.”
Whitaker nearly choked on his water.
Evelyn ignored him.
“What happens?”
“Georgia Bureau of Investigation could review.”
“DOJ Civil Rights.”
“Possibly FBI if evidence supports federal violations.”
“Army?”
“No.”
“Unless there’s separate offense involving my military status.”
“Which there isn't.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Good.”
Then she looked at Sarah carefully.
“Was it because you're Black?”
Sarah did not answer immediately.
The honest answer was complicated.
Ryker had never used a racial slur.
Miller had not either.