"Then make sure he looks like the problem."
Eleanor swallowed.
"What do you mean?"
"You called the police because he appeared dangerous."
"He wasn't."
"That doesn't matter."
Eleanor stared out her window.
"Gregory..."
"Tomorrow, he'll be chief."
"I know."
"Then tonight may be your last chance."
Her voice became quiet.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Find something."
"What?"
"Anything."
Eleanor ended the call.
She didn't know that someone else had been listening.
Her adult daughter, Rachel.
Rachel stood in the hallway.
"Mom?"
Eleanor turned.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough."
"What did you hear?"
Rachel stared at her.
"Everything."
The next morning, Daniel arrived at headquarters at 6:45.
His new office was on the second floor.
There was no celebration.
No photographers.
No ceremony.
He preferred it that way.
Holloway placed a folder on his desk.
"The Willow Creek case."
Daniel opened it.
Inside were property complaints.
Financial records.
Association notices.
And photographs.
"Twenty-two houses?"
"Yes."
"All pressured to sell?"
"Looks like it."
Daniel studied the documents.
"Who benefited?"
Holloway placed another folder on the desk.
"Vale Development."
Daniel looked up.
"Gregory Vale?"
"Yes."
Daniel knew the name.
Vale had donated money to city charities.
Sponsored police events.
Appeared at political fundraisers.
He was considered a respectable businessman.
"Why would he want Willow Creek?"
Holloway handed him a map.
Daniel studied it.
The planned development surrounded the neighborhood.
If the remaining houses were acquired, the entire area could be redeveloped.
Daniel looked at the property boundaries.
Then stopped.
"What's this?"
Holloway leaned over.
A narrow strip of land crossed behind the houses.
"Utility corridor."
"Who owns it?"
"County."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"What?"
"This document says county."
He pointed.
"But this deed says private."
Holloway looked closer.
"That's strange."
Daniel closed the folder.
"Find the original survey."
"Already requested."
"Good."
Holloway started to leave.
Daniel stopped him.
"One more thing."
"Yes?"
"The leather case in my truck."
Holloway looked confused.
"What about it?"
"Nobody touches it."
"Understood."
The case contained Daniel's formal badge.
Not the badge he had worn for twenty-eight years.
A new one.
Chief of Police.
He had planned to open it during the ceremony.
Instead, the first person to see it would be Eleanor Whitmore.
And Daniel had a feeling she would regret it.
At 11:14 a.m., Eleanor called 911 again.
This time she claimed Daniel had threatened her.
He hadn't.
A patrol unit arrived.
The officer checked the security footage.
Daniel had been inside his house.
Eleanor had stood on his property line.
The footage showed her shouting.
Daniel never approached her.
The officer turned to her.
"Ma'am, you need to stop."
"I am being harassed."
"By whom?"
"Daniel Reed."
The officer sighed.
"Chief Reed?"
Eleanor's face tightened.
"Yes."
The officer looked at the camera.
"Then you know he can see this."
Eleanor didn't understand.
"What?"
"The department has already documented your previous complaint."
Her face went pale.
"That's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible when there's video."
Eleanor walked away.
But Rachel watched from her car.
She had been there for everything.
Later that afternoon, Rachel went to Daniel's house.
He opened the door.
"Can I help you?"
"My name is Rachel Whitmore."
Daniel recognized the surname.
"You're Eleanor's daughter."
Rachel nodded.
"I need to tell you something."
Daniel stepped aside.
"Come in."
Rachel hesitated.
Then entered.
"My mother is involved with Gregory Vale."
Daniel said nothing.
"She has been pressuring homeowners to sell."
"Why?"
"I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you do know."
Rachel pulled a flash drive from her purse.
"My mother keeps copies of everything."
Daniel stared at it.
"Why give this to me?"
"Because I don't want to become her."
Daniel took the drive.
Rachel stood.
Before leaving, she said:
"She isn't afraid of you because you're chief."