Chang held up a hand, not aggressively. Just an assuring gesture that she didn’t have to go on. That he knew all this. “No one is questioning your father’s character or the many, many contributions he’s made to this community. It’s just that, given his condition, I’m not sure we have the ability to give him the care he needs and deserves.”

Liv felt her eyes welling up. Perhaps it was seeing her father, being back in this town, but her emotions were raw. “Is there anything we can do? Maybe we could arrange to have an extra caregiver check on him periodically. Or maybe we can talk to his doctor about his meds. I saw him today. He was a bit confused, but—”

She turned to Cindy for backup. But her sister just sat silently, something resembling a scowl on her face.

Liv added, “He’s lived in Adair his whole life. And the other facilities are so far away, and…” She didn’t finish the sentence, noticing that Chang was about to say something.

“As your sister may have mentioned to you, we’ve been talking about possible solutions,” Chang said.

Liv looked at Cindy, who remained quiet.

“Here’s the thing,” Chang said, leaning forward. “My company has been trying to open several other facilities around the state, and we’ve been having licensing issues. One of our competitors has been raising baseless complaints. Not about resident care,” he added quickly. “But that we’re unfairly undercutting on price and trying to run other facilities out of business.”

Liv wasn’t sure where this was heading.

“Governor Turner wasn’t receptive, but the lieutenant governor—an Adair native, as you know—was always willing to at least hear us out. But his hands were tied.” Chang shifted in his chair. “You may have heard that—”

“That Noah Brawn will take over for Turner,” Liv said, finishing his sentence. And there was the rub.

Chang nodded. “I understand you were high school friends, and you may hold some sway with Brawn.…”

Liv’s hard stare returned to her sister, who didn’t look back at her. Then, against her better judgment, Liv said, “Tell me what you need me to do.”

CHAPTER 23

SARAH KELLER

Even in the late afternoon, the State Department lobby was bustling. Men and women in business suits stood in line to check in at the long security desk stationed at the center of the atrium. Flags from around the world lined the perimeter. Keller thought she saw a national news correspondent, blond hair and big sunglasses, walking out of the building with an entourage.