Alert Watchdogs
*** 21st Century Public Service ***


Conceal and Bamboozle

Henry H. McHenry

(mystery, 2026)

Disclaimer

Opening

Chapter 0: Dangerous Forest

Chapter 1: Love and Fear

Chapter 2: Holding Hands

Chapter 3: Louisiana Lessons

Chapter 3.3: Mr. D. Not Happy

Chapter 3.4: Dr. Dork

Chapter 3.5: Top Guy Undermined

Chapter 4: Workarounds

Chapter 4.3: Mr. Chalabi

Chapter 4.5: Beyond the Pale

Chapter 4.6: Frightened Boss

Chapter 4.7: Angry Stepson

Chapter 4.8: In God We Trust

Chapter 4.9: Eye on West Virginia

Chapter 5: Katrina

Chapter 5.1: Rubbish

Chapter 5.2: Speaker Phone Game

Chapter 5.3: Eavesdropper

Chapter 5.4: Groupie

Chapter 5.5: Enron-like Meetings

Chapter 5.55: Punch in the Face

Chapter 5.6: Grow too Fast

Chapter 5.7: The Real Boss

Chapter 5.75: The Wild Card

Chapter 5.8: Wilmington Proselytizers

Chapter 5.9: War Cheerleaders

Chapter 6: Mystery of the Bosses

Chapter 7: Insubordination

Chapter 7.5: Yellow Sticky Notes

Chapter 7.6: Information "Disappears"

Chapter 7.7: School of Government

Chapter 8: Undermined

Chapter 8.5: Aggravation

Chapter 8.7: The Big O

Chapter 9: Watch your Back JS

Chapter 10: Scold and Mock

Chapter 11: Red Flags

Chapter 11.3: Silent and Grinning

Chapter 11.5: Like Two Rock Stars

Chapter 11.7: Three Strange Men

Chapter 12: Appeals for Help

Chapter 12.1: Power & Cruelty

Chapter 12.2: Scapegoat the Women

Chapter 12.5: The Purging

Chapter 13: Time Travel

Chapter 13.2: Safety First

Chapter 13.5: Jello

Chapter 13.8: Mock the Lady Pirate

Chapter 15: The High-and-Mighty

Chapter 15.5: Attorneys & Engineers

Chapter 15.7: Jealousy

Chapter 16: Cape Fear Heart Attack

Chapter 17: Can't fight City Hall

Chapter 17.5: Workplace Conversations

Chapter 18: Ears to the Ground

Chapter 18.2: Wilmington Boss

Chapter 18.5: Unusual Dust Complaint

Chapter 19: Routine of Secrecy

Chapter 19.1: Triangle of High Horses

Chapter 19.2: Surprising Explanation

Chapter 19.3: Middle-Age Warlords

Chapter 19.4: Call the Police

Chapter 19.7: The Likely End Game

Chapter 20: Sudden Backlash

Chapter 20.5: Strange Departure

Chapter 20.7: Two Wars - Center Stage

Chapter 21: Falling

Chapter 22: Misdirection

Chapter 22.1: Soldiers & Lawyers

Chapter 22.2: The Upstream Secret

Chapter 22.3: The Pollution Police

Chapter 22.4: GD Due Diligence

Chapter 22.5: Don't Talk to Her

Chapter 22.6: Attila the Hun

Chapter 22.7: Not Political

Chapter 22.8: Black Box

Chapter 22.9: Joint Inspection Blowback

Chapter 22.95: Aberration?

Chapter 23: Elevator Doors

Chapter 23.5: Silence of the Scrubbers

Chapter 23.7: Swimming Pool Trick

Chapter 24: Kindegarten Lessons

Chapter 24.5: Not an Aberration

Chapter 24.7: Paperwork Mfg. Operation

Chapter 25: Speak Cautiously

Chapter 25.1: Upstream Downstream

Chapter 25.15: Peons

Chapter 25.2: Raleigh Headquarters

Chapter 25.3: Not Trustworthy

Chapter 25.4: The Curious Audit

Chapter 25.5: Eyes Don't See

Chapter 26: Colombo or Clouseau

Chapter 26.8: Buckeye Hero

Chapter 27: Time Machine

Chapter 27.3: Carolina Heroes

Chapter 27.35: The Uncertainty Principle

Chapter 27.4: Old-Boy Network

Chapter 27.5: The Wrong Lawyer

Chapter 27.55: Blood Boiling

Chapter 27.55: The List of Heroes

Chapter 27.55: Our Man in Hoke

Chapter 27.6: Wilmington Steps Up

Chapter 27.7: Too Many Fingerprints

Chapter 27.8: Large Sums of Money

Chapter 27.9: Change in Tone

Chapter 28: You're Just a Citizen

Chapter 28.5: Large Turnout

Chapter 29: Vainglory - Saving Face

Chapter 30: Curiousity, Humility & Empathy

Chapter 30.5: The Scapegoats

Chapter 31: Love and Self-Doubt

Chapter 31.5: License Plate Readers

Chapter 31.6: Divide and Conquer

Chapter 31.7: Female Superstars

Chapter 31.8: Dan West Speaks

Chapter 32: Full Circle

Chapter 32.5: On the Henry

Chapter 33: Touch Hands


2026