Mayor Matthew Du Pont POV
I go to the bookshelf that occupies the entire left wall. I hold on to two tomes and pull them halfway down like levers. A churning sound ensues, gears grumbling before a section of the bookcase pushes back, revealing the narrow compartment. I hurry inside and kneel down to access the vault that requires my biometrics. Once it clicks, the door opens automatically. I push past the stacks of cash and four sets of different passports; each for a different alias. Each set belongs to each person, myself and my children. I hope to God they'll never need it.
A knock on the door sends a kick to my heart. I rise steadily, turning to leave and hitting the button on my way out as I walk briskly to the door. I pause to fix the collar of my white dress shirt and my hand does a clean sweep of my hair to make sure everything is in place.
I open the door. My secretary.
