Chapter 11: The Witness Who Was Supposed to Disappear
Marcus looked smaller sitting on the living-room floor.
The man who had once filled my mother's house with oversized trophies and stories of secret combat missions now seemed unable to meet anyone's eyes.
Agent Collins crouched several feet away.
"Mr. Reed, why would someone want to collect you?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Because I know what happened at the depot.""
"What happened?""
"I saw the equipment being transferred.""
"What equipment?""
He looked at me.
"Military communications equipment.""
I frowned.
"How much?""
"Several cases. Maybe more.""
"Where was it going?""
"I don't know.""
"Who transported it?""
He shook his head.
"Voss arranged everything.""
Agent Collins opened her notebook.
"Start from the beginning.""
Marcus stared at the carpet.
"About a year ago, Daniel Voss contacted me through a business networking site. He said he'd heard about my military background.""
I almost laughed.
"Your military background?""
Marcus flinched.
"I know what you're thinking.""
"Do you?""
He looked away.
"Anyway, he offered to help me build a consulting company. He said I could get contracts if I had the right references.""
"And you told him you were a special operations instructor.""
"I told him I had experience.""
"Which you didn't.""
He didn't answer.
Agent Collins interrupted.
"Continue.""
Marcus took a breath.
"Voss introduced me to Thomas Keller. Keller said he worked in government security coordination. He promised to arrange a legitimate training contract.""
"Did you meet him in person?""
"Three times.""
"Where?""
"Two meetings at restaurants. One at the depot.""
Agent Collins showed him the photograph.
"Was this taken during the depot meeting?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who was present?""
"Voss, Keller, me, and another man.""
"Name?""
"I never got it.""
"Description?""
"Late forties. Gray hair. Thin glasses.""
I looked at the photograph.
The man standing beside Captain Brooks was partially obscured.
Could that be him?
Marcus continued.
"At first, I thought the contract was legitimate. They gave me paperwork to prepare. They asked me to create a training proposal.""
"What happened next?""
"Then they started asking about Jessica.""
My mother stepped forward.
"What did you tell them?""
Marcus looked at her.
"That she worked for the government.""
"That's all?""
He hesitated.
"No.""
My mother's face tightened.
"What else?""
"I told them she worked with military personnel.""
She closed her eyes.
"Marcus.""
"They already knew. They had her photograph.""
Agent Collins leaned forward.
"Did they offer you money to obtain information?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Five thousand initially. Then additional payments.""
"Where did the money go?""
Marcus looked toward the kitchen.
"Linda's bank account.""
My mother froze.
"What?""
"I transferred some of it.""
"Into my account?""
"You gave me access.""
Her expression changed.
"You told me those deposits were business reimbursements.""
Marcus lowered his head.
"I was going to replace the money.""
Richard stepped forward.
"How much did you take?""
Marcus didn't answer.
My mother whispered:
"How much?""
"Forty-two thousand.""
She gripped the back of the sofa.
"Forty-two thousand dollars?""
Marcus began talking quickly.
"I was going to pay it back. The contract was supposed to be worth hundreds of thousands. Once it went through, everything would have been fine.""
My mother stared at him.
"You stole from me to fund a fake company.""
"I didn't steal!""
"You lied about where the money came from!""
He raised his voice.
"I was trying to provide for us!""
My mother shook her head.
"You were trying to become somebody you weren't.""
The words hit him harder than any accusation.
He looked down.
Agent Collins waited until the room quieted.
"Mr. Reed, what happened at the depot?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Three weeks ago, Voss called me. He said there was an equipment transfer and I needed to be present to photograph the shipment.""
"Why?""
"He said it was part of the contract verification.""
"Did you know the equipment was stolen?""
"No.""
"Did you see anyone carrying weapons?""
Marcus nodded.
"Two men.""
"What kind?""
"I don't know. They were wearing dark clothing.""
Agent Collins exchanged a glance with the officer.
"Did you recognize either man?""
Marcus shook his head.
"Not then.""
He paused.
Then looked at me.
"But I recognized one afterward.""
"Who?""
"Specialist Grant.""
The man who had entered my mother's house with Keller.
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Are you sure?""
Marcus nodded.
"He was at the depot.""
Agent Collins immediately contacted the officers restraining Grant.
"Keep him separated. Do not allow him access to any communications equipment.""
She turned back to Marcus.
"What happened after the shipment?""
Marcus looked frightened.
"Voss told me to delete the photographs.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I thought they might be useful.""
Agent Collins stared at him.
"Useful for what?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Protection.""
I shook my head.
"You kept evidence because you wanted leverage?""
He looked at me.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
"You could have contacted the authorities.""
He laughed bitterly.
"And tell them what? That I was pretending to be a military instructor? That I'd been using your identity?""
He looked at the floor.
"I knew I'd be finished.""
I stared at him.
He had endangered my mother, stolen her money, and exposed sensitive information because he couldn't bear the possibility of losing his fake reputation.
Agent Collins stood.
"Where is the original recording from the depot?""
Marcus pointed toward the den.
"On the laptop.""
"We've already preserved the device.""
"No. There's another copy.""
She stopped.
"Where?""
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
"On a memory card inside the shadow box.""
I turned toward the fireplace.
The glass cabinet.
The fake medals.
The plastic trophies.
One of the officers carefully approached it.
"Which section?""
Marcus pointed.
"Behind the seventh-degree certificate.""
The officer opened the cabinet.
He removed the framed certificate.
Behind it was a small black memory card taped to the backing.
Agent Collins accepted it.
"Is this the only copy?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at the memory card.
"What's on it?""
Marcus swallowed.
"The entire depot meeting.""
Agent Collins turned toward the officer.
"Preserve it for forensic examination.""
Then she looked at Marcus.
"Does the recording identify the person who authorized the transfer?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Maybe.""
"What do you mean?""
He looked directly at me.
"There's a part near the end where Voss mentions who approved everything.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Colonel Hayes.
*Urgent: We located the vehicle associated with the missing equipment. It was registered to a shell company connected to Harrington Security.*
Another message arrived.
*Jessica, Captain Brooks has been located. She is alive but refuses to explain her involvement.*
I showed Agent Collins.
She read the messages carefully.
Then she asked Marcus:
"Did Captain Brooks attend the depot meeting?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did she speak to anyone?""
"She spoke to Keller.""
"About what?""
"I couldn't hear everything.""
"Did she mention Jessica?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Yes.""
My throat tightened.
"What did she say?""
He hesitated.
Then answered.
"She said the plan wouldn't work unless Jessica accepted the transfer assignment.""
I felt the room tilt slightly.
"Why me?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Agent Collins studied him.
"Mr. Reed, you're withholding something.""
"No.""
"Your behavior changed when we mentioned Captain Brooks.""
Marcus looked away.
I stepped closer.
"Marcus, what aren't you telling us?""
He stared at the fireplace.
Then whispered:
"Because she wasn't supposed to be working with them.""
"Who?""
"Captain Brooks.""
He swallowed.
"She was supposed to be the person who stopped them.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Marcus looked at me.
"That's what Voss said. Brooks was investigating the missing equipment. But then she disappeared from the investigation.""
Agent Collins immediately straightened.
"Are you saying Captain Brooks was working undercover?""
Marcus nodded.
"That's what I was told.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The black SUV.
The depot.
The silver symbol.
Suddenly, the entire situation looked different.
Perhaps Brooks wasn't involved in stealing the equipment.
Perhaps she had been trying to stop it.
And perhaps the reason someone had placed her name inside Marcus's evidence was to make sure nobody trusted her.
My phone rang.
Colonel Hayes.
I answered.
"Sir.""
"Jessica, we recovered Captain Brooks.""
"Is she safe?""
"Physically, yes. But she's refusing to speak to our investigators.""
"Why?""
Colonel Hayes paused.
"Because she claims the entire investigation is compromised.""
I glanced at Agent Collins.
"Who does she trust?""
Another pause.
May you like
Then he answered:
"She asked for you.""
