Chapter 3 - The Cold Truth of Power
Frank was dragged into his own living room, his hands secured behind his back with heavy-duty zip ties. Two armed soldiers stood over him, their rifles held at the low-ready position. He looked small now, stripped of his uniform cap and his weapon. The loud-mouthed lieutenant was gone, replaced by a confused, desperate man.
"Evelyn... what is the meaning of this?" Frank stammered, his voice shaking. "You can't do this. I'm a police officer. This is a local jurisdiction."
I walked into the living room, standing over him. Agent Vance stood by my side, holding a leather folder containing my official credentials and the direct deployment orders signed by the executive branch.
"Local jurisdiction doesn't apply when you assault a commanding General of the United States Armed Forces, Frank," I said coldly. "And it certainly doesn't apply when you compromise a classified security link to the Pentagon during an active strategic operation."
"General?" Kyle whispered from the corner of the room, where he was being watched by another soldier. "You're... you're really a general?"
"Brigadier General Evelyn Voss," Agent Vance announced, his voice booming. "Director of Special Operations Liaison at the Pentagon. Her security clearance is five levels above anyone in your entire state, Lieutenant Hale. You just committed an act of treason against a high-ranking official."
Frank swallowed hard, looking toward my mother for help. "Ellen, tell them! Tell them who I am! I was just trying to protect the house!"
My mother couldn't even look at him. She was sitting on the sofa, her face buried in her hands. For years, she had watched Frank bully everyone around him. She had watched him belittle me, trying to erase my achievements because he couldn't stand the fact that a woman from this small town had gone further than he ever could.
"You weren't protecting anything, Frank," I said, leaning down so I was inches from his face. "You saw a woman you thought you could dominate. You saw a stepdaughter you wanted to humiliate because your own career stalled out a decade ago. You thought that badge gave you the right to put your hands on me."
"This is a mistake," Frank pleaded, sweat pouring down his face. "I didn't know. The phone looked strange. I thought you were involved in something illegal. I was just doing my duty."
"Your duty didn't require you to slam my face into the floor," I replied. "Your duty didn't require you to point a loaded weapon at an unarmed person. You are a tyrant with a badge, Frank. But today, you picked the wrong target."
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Agent Vance looked at me. "General, the Chief of Police is outside. He arrived a minute ago after our convoy triggered an automatic federal alert in the local dispatch system. He is demanding to know what's happening."
I straightened my uniform jacket, adjusting the collar. "Let him in. It's time Frank's boss sees exactly what kind of men he has on his payroll."
