She followed the route with her finger.

The printed map had a new black line running across it, showing a service road that had opened with Harbor Point.

“Why does this evacuation route go through the construction yard?”

Frank frowned. “That’s the road they told us to use.”

“It’s not in the approved traffic plan.”

“They said it was an improvement.”

Another improvement. Another document. Another safe green light on a screen while brown water rose outside.

Lena called Tessa King.

“I need Incident Command on a recorded line. Tell them Gate Seven’s remote reading is unreliable, the revised operating certificate is disputed, and the west evacuation route needs immediate field verification. I am recommending that they prepare a precautionary evacuation of Willow Court now.”

“How long do we have?” Tessa asked.

Lena looked at the marker outside the window.

“Not enough to wait for a committee.”

Chapter Three: A Siren Nobody Heard

At 4:39 a.m., county emergency management director Elaine Rhodes joined the call. Her voice sounded as though she had spent the past hour speaking into every telephone in the state.

“Mercer, I have Grayline on another line telling me this is a sensor discrepancy, not a flood emergency. The city’s public works director says we could cause a panic. What are you seeing that they aren’t?”

Lena looked at the screen showing green.

“Water, Elaine. A physical marker that predates their equipment, and three readings from three separate people. Grayline is giving you a number from a system we have not independently verified. I have a revised certificate in front of me claiming my approval. I did not approve it.”

A faint scraping sounded over the call. Elaine was writing.

“What do you need?”

“A precautionary evacuation order for Willow Court and the low end of Maple Street. Buses sent to the ridge entrance. A traffic officer at the old mill crossing. Somebody to confirm that the shelter route is actually open. And I need Grayline to release the gate controls to city operators under emergency supervision.”

“Can the gate be closed?”

“I haven’t seen enough to promise that.”