“Amara, where are you? Call immediately. The FBI has advised that the Pell County investigation is moving today. Agents may be on the ground in Halvorsen Springs this afternoon. Please confirm you are safe and away from the sheriff’s office.”
Miller turned ashen.
I finally raised my eyes to Voss.
“Sheriff,” I said, “you told me nobody was coming to save me.”
Distant sirens approached.
“You were right about one thing,” I said. “Someone is coming. But they aren’t coming for me.”
Voss stood motionless behind the booking counter, gripping my credentials as though he might make them disappear by staring at them long enough. His deputies exchanged anxious looks. Their assurance had turned to fear.
Still handcuffed in my chair, I watched my recent tormentor struggle to speak.
“This has to be a mistake,” he finally muttered. “Nobody told me a federal judge was in my county.”
