The assessment was not simple. Redirecting water could damage Harbor Point’s unfinished landscaping, equipment storage, and access roads. The team needed confirmation from field personnel that the basin’s perimeter was sound and that opening a controlled relief route would not endanger workers or people farther downstream.

Voss waited until the engineers finished speaking.

“You are proposing to flood private property,” he said.

The county attorney corrected him. “They are proposing an emergency measure subject to a documented safety assessment. Property damage is a serious consideration. So are occupied homes.”

“I will hold the county responsible.”

“You may pursue whatever remedies the law allows,” Elaine answered. “But you will not misstate the technical facts to delay an evacuation or protective action.”

For the first time, Voss lost his polished expression.

“You’re siding with her because she’s a state official.”

Lena looked at him with something close to disbelief.

“You think my title is the important part? My mother is on one of those buses. My old neighbors are carrying medical equipment through floodwater. One of your security officers used my arrival information to get me detained before I could check this gate. Tell me who provided that information, Mr. Voss.”

He said nothing.

“Was that a mistake in the document control process, too?”

Elaine lifted a hand. “That question goes to investigators. We have an active emergency to manage.”

The county field crew called with the result of its inspection. The old basin could be used under the specified conditions. Authorized personnel were standing by. The relief route would reduce pressure on the west channel, though nobody could promise it would prevent all flooding.

The incident commander approved the measure and the gate crew began its work.

Voss took one step toward Lena.

“You will ruin everything we’ve built.”

She looked beyond him, toward the river, where the red line had disappeared under muddy water.

“Everything you built isn’t the same thing as everyone who lives here.”

Chapter Nine: Six Inches of Difference

At 6:13, the river reached the forecast crest.

The floodgate crew had finished its assigned work under a safety supervisor. Gate Seven was now in the verified position specified by Incident Command. The emergency relief basin had begun accepting water. Pumps worked against a volume greater than the city’s plans had anticipated.