CHAPTER SEVEN — A GOVERNOR WITHOUT A MAGIC KEY

Daniel insisted on attending the public hearing without a personal speaking platform.
His security officer, Adrian Cole, considered that decision unwise.
“You have already been attacked outside your home,” Adrian said.
“My car was attacked.”
“The difference is not reassuring.”
“The distinction matters.”
Adrian pointed toward the damaged photographs on his tablet.
“Someone was willing to use a hammer three feet from your front door.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“Then we investigate what happened without assuming every angry resident intends to hurt me.”
Lena entered the room carrying a revised seating plan.
“The interpretation contractor says it can provide only two languages tomorrow.”
“How many were requested?” Daniel asked.
“Seven.”
“Then the hearing cannot proceed as advertised.”
“We can postpone.”
“And residents who took time off work will lose that time.”


Daniel thought for a moment.
“Find an independent provider for the missing languages and pay the emergency rate if procurement permits.”
“Finance will object.”
“Finance can object in writing.”
Lena almost smiled.
“What about the contractor?”
“Tell them we are checking the service failures before we draw conclusions.”
She handed him the latest complaint packet.
One page contained a note from Farah Haddad about her sister’s appointment.
Daniel read it twice.
“Someone marked her as declining assistance,” he said.
“Which may be a simple clerical error.”
“Once is an error.”
He turned another page.
“Six times is a pattern worth examining.”
Lena nodded.
“There is another complication.”
“What?”
“Carol Haines signed committee statements supporting the contractor’s performance.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Was she paid?”
“Only travel expenses, according to the disclosed records.”


“Then we need to know what she understood when she signed.”
Adrian studied him.
“You are not planning to interview the woman who smashed your car.”
“No.”
Daniel set the packet down.
“Someone without my personal involvement should do that.”

CHAPTER EIGHT — THE VISIT

Nolan arrived at Carol’s house after sunset.
She watched him approach through the curtain and left the chain on the door.
“Open up, Carol,” he said.
“I told you not to come.”
“I am trying to keep you out of trouble.”
“You should have tried that before you filled my head with nonsense about the neighbor.”
Nolan lowered his voice.
“You made your own choices.”
“I know that.”
“Then stop accusing me.”
Carol did not open the door.
He stepped closer to the narrow gap.
“The governor’s office is investigating our contract,” he said.
“I heard.”
“They are claiming residents were denied interpretation services.”
“Some were.”
“You do not know that.”
“I have spoken to them.”
Nolan looked over his shoulder.
“Who?”
Carol said nothing.
He held up a printed sheet.
“I need you to sign a clarification saying your committee approvals were based on the information presented at the time.”
“Were they?”
“That is a fair description.”
“Then why did your summaries say everybody was satisfied?”
“Because your committee was generally satisfied.”
Carol remembered her own complaints, which Nolan had classified as individual inconveniences.
“I was not,” she said.
Nolan’s expression tightened.
“If you turn against us, the district may lose its only functioning interpretation provider.”
“That is what you always tell me.”
“Because it is true.”
He placed the sheet through the door opening.
Carol let it fall onto the hallway rug.
“I am going to ask an independent person to read it,” she said.
Nolan’s voice hardened.
“You have already shown you are not capable of making sound decisions.”
Carol looked toward Daniel’s house.
For the first time, the insult she had thrown at a stranger returned to her in another man’s voice.
“Good night, Nolan.”
She closed the door without taking the paper.