Chapter 10: The Black SUV Outside My Mother's House
The black SUV remained motionless in the driveway.
Its headlights were off.
Its windows were tinted.
And nobody inside appeared interested in getting out.
I stared through the living-room curtains while Colonel Hayes continued speaking through my phone.
"Jessica, did you hear me?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Do not approach that vehicle. Do not allow anyone inside the house until local authorities verify their identities.""
Agent Collins moved toward the front window.
"Is that the vehicle you mentioned?""
I nodded.
She signaled to the two officers.
One moved toward the front entrance.
The other positioned himself near the hallway.
My mother stood beside the sofa, clutching Richard's arm.
"Who is outside?"" she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Mom, I need you to go upstairs.""
"Why?""
"Please.""
"I'm not leaving you.""
Richard touched her shoulder.
"Linda, come with me. We'll stay together.""
She shook her head.
"Jessica, tell me what's happening.""
I took both her hands.
"Someone may be looking for information connected to my work. I need you somewhere safe while the investigators handle it.""
Her eyes filled.
"Is this because of Marcus?""
I looked toward the den.
Marcus was standing near the doorway, pale and sweating.
"Partly.""
He suddenly spoke.
"They found me.""
Everyone turned.
Agent Collins approached him.
"Who found you?""
Marcus shook his head.
"Voss.""
"How do you know?""
"Because he said if anything went wrong, he'd send someone to collect the evidence.""
I looked at the SUV.
"Is that them?""
"I don't know.""
Agent Collins removed her phone.
"Then we're going to establish that before anyone moves.""
The doorbell rang.
My mother gasped.
Nobody answered.
It rang again.
Then a man's voice came through the front door.
"Federal security. We need to speak with Agent Collins.""
Agent Collins looked at the officers.
"Verify identification.""
The officer nearest the door approached cautiously.
"Show your credentials through the window.""
A wallet appeared beside the glass.
The officer studied it.
Then he looked toward Collins.
She nodded.
The door opened.
Two men entered.
Both wore dark business suits.
Neither carried visible weapons.
The first man was tall, clean-shaven, and in his forties.
He smiled at Agent Collins.
"Agent Collins. We received notification that a potential security incident was underway.""
She didn't smile back.
"Who notified you?""
"Regional operations.""
"Name?""
The man hesitated.
"Deputy Director Warren.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
The same official Colonel Hayes had mentioned.
The man extended his hand.
"Thomas Keller. Internal Security Liaison.""
Agent Collins didn't take it.
"Show me your authorization.""
Keller produced a folder.
She examined the documents.
Then she looked at his colleague.
"And him?""
"Specialist Grant.""
The second man nodded.
I watched both of them carefully.
Keller's suit was expensive.
His shoes were spotless.
But there was something unusual about his hands.
His right thumb had a fresh cut.
A small strip of adhesive bandage covered the injury.
I glanced toward Marcus.
He was staring at the man.
His lips parted.
Then he whispered something.
"That's him.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Who?""
"The man from the depot.""
My attention returned to Keller.
Marcus pointed at him.
"That's the man who met Daniel Voss.""
Keller's smile vanished.
Agent Collins immediately stepped between them.
"Mr. Keller, do you know Daniel Voss?""
He looked at Marcus.
"Who?""
"Daniel Voss," she repeated.
Keller shrugged.
"I don't recognize the name.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You're lying.""
Keller turned toward him.
"Sir, I don't know who you are.""
Marcus took one step forward.
"You were wearing that same jacket.""
Keller glanced down.
For the first time, I noticed a small silver pin attached to his lapel.
A geometric symbol.
Three intersecting lines.
I recognized it from one of the photographs inside Marcus's black envelope.
The same symbol had been stamped on a document beside the words PROJECT MIRROR.
Agent Collins noticed my expression.
"Jessica?""
I pointed toward the pin.
"That symbol.""
She looked at it.
Then at Keller.
"Mr. Keller, remove the pin.""
He frowned.
"Excuse me?""
"Remove it.""
Keller slowly touched his lapel.
"Is there a problem?""
"Yes.""
He glanced toward the front door.
It was subtle.
But I saw it.
So did the officer standing nearby.
"Sir, keep your hands visible.""
Keller stepped backward.
"You're making a mistake.""
Agent Collins raised her voice.
"Nobody moves.""
For a moment, the room became completely still.
Then Specialist Grant reached inside his jacket.
The officer reacted immediately.
"Hands!""
Grant froze.
Keller suddenly turned toward the hallway.
Marcus shouted.
"That's them! They're the ones who came to the depot!""
The two officers moved.
I pulled my mother behind the kitchen doorway.
There was a brief struggle near the entrance.
A chair fell.
Someone shouted.
Then the sound stopped.
When I looked back, Keller was on the floor with his hands restrained behind his back.
Grant stood against the wall.
His jacket had fallen open.
A badge lay on the carpet.
Agent Collins picked it up.
She examined the front.
Then she turned it over.
Her expression hardened.
"These credentials are counterfeit.""
Keller stopped struggling.
"That's impossible.""
She looked at him.
"Then perhaps you can explain why your authorization number belongs to a different employee.""
He said nothing.
My phone rang.
Colonel Hayes.
I answered.
"Sir.""
"Jessica, we just received an alert. Two individuals have been dispatched to your mother's address under an authorization from Deputy Director Warren.""
"They're here.""
"Are they verified?""
"No. Agent Collins has identified their credentials as counterfeit.""
There was a pause.
Then Colonel Hayes said:
"Get away from them.""
I looked at Keller.
"Already done.""
"Jessica, listen carefully. Warren has been placed under investigation. We have reason to believe he has been using compromised contractor credentials to move personnel and equipment.""
"What equipment?""
"We don't know yet.""
I glanced at the photographs.
The depot.
The black SUV.
The missing shipment.
Then I looked at Marcus.
He was sitting on the floor beside the den.
His face was buried in his hands.
"Sir, I think Marcus knows more than he's telling us.""
Colonel Hayes exhaled.
"Then make sure he stays available for questioning.""
I ended the call.
Agent Collins approached me.
"Jessica, we need to relocate your mother and secure the house.""
"Agreed.""
She nodded toward Marcus.
"And we need to know why these men came here.""
Marcus lifted his head.
"I told you.""
I looked at him.
"Then tell us again.""
He swallowed.
"They weren't here to collect evidence.""
"What were they here for?""
His eyes moved toward the black SUV outside.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"They were here to collect me.""
