And he said the people making allegations were simply angry because they had been caught breaking the law.
Sarah had listened without arguing.
Then she requested the relevant records.
Cleary told her he'd consider the request.
He never asked her name.
Or perhaps he heard it and didn't remember.
Either way, Sarah hadn't expected him to recognize her on the roadside.
She'd chosen not to announce her position during the initial stop because she wanted to understand the legal basis for what was happening, and because her official role should not have been necessary to receive lawful treatment.
Now, sitting inside the holding room, she understood how frightening that choice might have been for someone who lacked her experience.
Sarah's father had once told her a story about being stopped during a late-night drive through a rural Virginia county.
He had been returning home from work.
The officer accused him of failing to signal.
Her father asked which turn he had made improperly.
The officer became angry.
He ordered him out.
Then he spent nearly an hour searching the car.
Nothing was found.
No citation was issued.
But her father returned home shaken.
Sarah was twelve at the time.
She remembered seeing him sit at the kitchen table with both hands wrapped around a cup of coffee.
She asked why the police had stopped him.
He smiled sadly.
"Because sometimes a person wearing a badge forgets he's supposed to explain what he's doing."
Sarah had never forgotten the answer.
Years later, when she entered public service, she promised herself that she would never treat authority as proof of honesty.
People could be honorable.
They could be corrupt.
They could be mistaken.
They could be courageous.
And they could be afraid.
A uniform didn't eliminate those possibilities.
Neither did an impressive title.
She opened her eyes.
The clock read 8:21.
Somewhere beyond the holding-room door, footsteps approached.
A moment later, Denise Walker appeared.
She carried a clipboard.
"Ms. Hayes?"
Sarah stood.
"Yes?"
"Is there someone you'd like us to notify?"
Sarah nodded immediately.
"Yes. My office."
Denise took down the contact information.
Then she asked, "Are you an attorney?"
Sarah looked at her.
"No. I'm a state investigator."
Denise's pen stopped.
She looked up.
"What kind of investigator?"
Sarah considered the question.
Then answered plainly.
"Public integrity."
Denise stared at her.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Finally, Denise asked, "Are you here about the county review?"
Sarah nodded.
"Yes."
The booking officer looked toward the hallway.
Then back at Sarah.
"Does the sheriff know?"
"I don't believe so."
Denise seemed suddenly uncomfortable.
She glanced toward the security camera.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Ma'am, I think someone needs to contact your office immediately."
Sarah nodded.
"I agree."
Denise left.
But before she could finish making the call, Sheriff Cleary appeared at the booking counter.
CHAPTER 8
He was holding a paper cup of coffee.
"What's going on?"
Denise straightened.
"Sir, the woman in holding has requested notification of her office."
Cleary gave an irritated sigh.
"She can make her calls when I'm finished."
Denise hesitated.
"Sheriff, I think she may be connected to the state review."
He stared at her.
"What?"
"She says she's a public integrity investigator."
Cleary laughed.
"Of course she does."
Denise continued.
"Her name is Sarah Hayes."
The sheriff waved one hand.
"People say all kinds of things when they get arrested."
"Sir, I think we should verify—"
Cleary slammed his coffee onto the counter.
"Denise."
She stopped.
"Do your job."
Then he walked toward his office.
He shut the door.
And at 8:42 a.m., the red telephone on his desk began to ring.
The red telephone had been sitting on Boyd Cleary's desk for nearly twelve years.
It was an old-fashioned instrument with a heavy receiver, a bright red plastic body, and a short label beneath the handset.
REGIONAL EMERGENCY COORDINATION — PRIORITY LINE
The county installed it after severe flooding disrupted ordinary communications across several neighboring communities.
The line connected the sheriff's headquarters to a regional emergency coordination network used for urgent interagency communications.
It wasn't a secret presidential telephone.
It wasn't connected directly to a governor's private office.
And it didn't grant special powers to whoever called.
But Cleary knew that calls arriving through it were supposed to be answered promptly.
The first ring sounded while he was reviewing the preliminary arrest paperwork.
He looked at the telephone.
Then he looked back at the file.
The second ring came.
Cleary sighed.
He set down his pen.
On the third ring, he picked up.
"Sheriff Cleary."
A woman's voice answered.
"This is Captain Evelyn Price with the Virginia State Police regional command office. I need to confirm the location and welfare of Sarah Elizabeth Hayes."
Cleary sat straighter.
"Who?"
"Sarah Hayes. She was traveling to Oak Haven for an official meeting this morning."
Cleary stared toward his office door.
"What about her?"
"We've received information indicating your department detained a woman with that name. Can you confirm?"
He hesitated.
Then he answered.
"We have a Sarah Hayes in custody."
There was a brief silence.
The captain's voice became more serious.
"Is she injured?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"What is the basis for her detention?"
Cleary frowned.
"Disorderly conduct."
"Please describe the alleged conduct."
He leaned back.
"She was argumentative during a traffic stop."
"Argumentative how?"
"She refused to cooperate."
Another pause.
Then Captain Price spoke carefully.
"Sheriff, Sarah Hayes is the lead investigator assigned to the state public integrity review involving your department."
Cleary's fingers tightened around the receiver.
He stared at the wall.
"That's impossible."
"Her identity has been confirmed."
He swallowed.
"She didn't identify herself."
"Her professional title isn't the issue. We need to establish the basis for her detention and ensure that her welfare is protected."
CHAPTER 9
Cleary looked toward the arrest report.
His own handwriting stared back at him.
Subject displayed a hostile attitude.
He felt a sudden pressure in his chest.