Small Town USA That Knot in Her Stomach

"Yes, I'm sorry. I had no idea what they were going to do. I had other things on my mind."

"You led me into the lion's den; now they're going to be after me, and you can't do anything to stop them Ms. Del Rio."

"Well, I know at least one person who can."

"Who?"

"Assistant Director Gutierrez. She can investigate Hilbaum. In fact, I better call her right now." Finding her cell phone in her handbag, she started to dial, and then said, "Shit the battery is dead!"

"Don't you charge it every night?"

"No, I forgot." When she plugged the phone into the power cord the cellular displayed two voice messages from Gutierrez.

"Oh no! She called and I didn't answer."

She pressed the dial button. "Hello, Mrs. Gutierrez please."

"Hello, Assistant Director Gutierrez."

"Ms. Del Rio, why didn't you answer my calls? I was ready to send agent Hilbaum to see if you were alright."

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but the cell phone wasn't working."

"Please be sure that the battery in your communications device is operational at all times. We must maintain communications in the field."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Agent Hilbaum called to brief me on the situation."

"And what was his story?"

"He tells me you are working with two civilians, a reporter George Reed and Peter Wells. He is holding Wells on a terrorism charge. He believes he is behind the recent accident."

Julie's stomach tightened and she blurted. "What? What is he talking about? We brought the evidence to him to show that it's Forsythe and his group who are behind the accident."