Chapter III: The Call from the Shoulder
From his breast pocket, Frank pulled out a modern black smartphone.
He dialed a priority direct line that bypassed every local dispatcher and connected straight to the highest command echelon in the state.
Bringing the phone to his ear, Frank watched the two officers strutting back toward their idling cruiser.
His voice dropped into a chilling, razor-sharp baritone:
"It's me."
He paused for half a second as the state police general on the other end responded with breathless urgency.
"Is Marshall still in charge of these two?"
Miller stopped right at the cruiser door. Hearing the tone of cold, supreme authority resonating from behind him, Miller turned his head around, his smug grin suddenly faltering into uneasy confusion.