The screen changed.
Location confirmed.
Oak Haven, Virginia.
Rebecca frowned.
“She isn't scheduled there.”
Another technician looked toward her.
“Device is stationary inside a county law-enforcement building.”
Rebecca turned.
The technician repeated it.
Rebecca stood.
“Call her security liaison.”
Three minutes later, the situation reached the National Military Command Center.
Sarah knew none of this.
Boyd had moved on to paperwork.
He stood at a small desk in the corner, pretending to type.
Sarah watched the clock.
2:34.
Late enough.
She spoke.
“I am entitled to a phone call.”
Boyd continued typing.
“You'll get one.”
“When?”
“When I’m ready.”
Sarah waited.
“Denial of communication after booking is another decision.”
He looked at her.
“You really love that word.”
“What word?”
“Decision.”
“Why?”
“Because consequences require ownership.”
Then laughed.
“You rehearsed that?”
He opened the door.
“Fine.”
Sarah followed him to the booking area.
Toby was gone.
The booking deputy avoided Sarah’s eyes.
Boyd pointed toward a wall phone.
“One call.”
Sarah picked up the receiver.
Boyd leaned against the counter.
“Calling your lawyer?”
Sarah began entering numbers.
“Or your mama?”
Sarah pressed the final key.
A synthetic voice answered.
“Authentication required.”
Boyd’s smile faded slightly.
Sarah stood straighter.
Her voice changed.
“Echo Seven Tango Niner. Authorization Black Sky Four. Priority Flash.”
The dispatcher looked up.
The booking deputy stopped writing.
Boyd frowned.
There was a brief electronic tone.
Then a human voice.
“National Military Command Center. Go ahead.”
Nobody moved.
Sarah looked directly at Boyd.
“This is Brigadier General Sarah Hayes.”
The sheriff’s face emptied.
“My encrypted communications device has been confiscated and placed in an unsecured local evidence environment.”
The booking deputy looked at the clear tray.
“I am being detained at the Oak Haven Sheriff’s Department in Virginia. Detention originated from a traffic stop. I have sustained minor use of force. No medical assistance required at this time.”
Boyd stepped away from the counter.
Sarah’s tone remained precise.
“Trace my government device. Notify General Thomas Reed. Notify my office that the 1430 secure conference was missed involuntarily. Initiate appropriate recovery and security procedures.”
The voice on the line answered:
“Identity authenticated. Stand by.”
“General Hayes, are you under immediate threat?”
“No immediate lethal threat.”
Boyd swallowed.
“Is your secure device physically intact?”
“To the best of my knowledge.”
“Has anyone attempted access?”
Sarah’s eyes stayed on Boyd.
“Unknown.”
The sheriff spoke quickly.
“I never opened it.”
Sarah continued into the receiver.
“The device has been repeatedly handled by unauthorized personnel.”
The booking deputy stepped away from the tray as though it had become radioactive.
The command-center voice answered:
“Understood. Remain available.”
Sarah lowered the receiver slightly.
Boyd whispered:
“You’re really a general?”
“You had my full name for forty minutes.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“You should've told me.”
That sentence landed exactly as Sarah expected.
She lifted the phone again.
The command-center voice returned.
“General Hayes?”
“Your location is confirmed. General Reed has been notified. Federal coordination is underway. Remain where you are unless your safety requires movement.”
“Understood.”
Sarah hung up.
Nobody spoke.
The booking deputy looked at Boyd.
Boyd looked at Sarah.