Chapter 12: The Woman Who Knew the Truth
Captain Elena Brooks was waiting in a secure interview room when I arrived.
She looked exhausted.
Her dark hair was tied back, and a small bandage covered her left eyebrow.
Two investigators stood outside the door.
Colonel Hayes met me in the corridor.
"Jessica.""
"Sir.""
He looked at me carefully.
"I want you to understand something before you go inside. Brooks has refused to answer questions for six hours.""
"Did she explain why?""
"She says she won't speak until she knows the investigation is being handled by someone she can trust.""
I glanced through the glass.
She was sitting with her arms crossed.
"What happened to her?""
"She was located at a safe property outside the city. She claims she was conducting an independent investigation into the missing equipment.""
"Was she injured during that investigation?""
"She won't say.""
I looked at Colonel Hayes.
"Why did she ask for me?""
He hesitated.
"Because she believes you're the only person who hasn't been compromised.""
I opened the door.
Brooks looked up immediately.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she stood.
"Jessica.""
"Elena.""
She studied my face.
"You're okay?""
"I'm fine.""
She exhaled.
"Good.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Tell me what's happening.""
She sat down.
Then she looked toward the observation window.
"Are they listening?""
"Yes.""
"Then we need to be careful.""
I folded my arms.
"Elena, my stepfather has been collecting photographs of me. My supervisor has been using compromised credentials. Someone tried to remove me from an assignment. And your name is all over the evidence.""
She closed her eyes.
"I know.""
"Then explain.""
She leaned forward.
"Three months ago, I discovered irregularities in a logistics transfer. Equipment was being moved under legitimate authorization numbers, but the receiving locations didn't match the official records.""
"Who authorized the transfers?""
"That's what I was trying to establish.""
"Did you find anything?""
She nodded.
"Several shipments were redirected through private contractors. One company appeared repeatedly.""
"Harrington Security.""
Her eyes widened.
"How do you know that?""
"Marcus.""
She stared at me.
"Your stepfather?""
"He's been working with Daniel Voss.""
Brooks rubbed her forehead.
"Of course.""
I leaned closer.
"Who is Voss?""
"Former logistics contractor. He was removed from a sensitive project after irregular access activity. He disappeared from the official system, but I suspected he was still operating through private companies.""
"And Major Bennett?""
She looked down.
"Bennett was providing access.""
"To whom?""
"I don't know if he was working directly with Voss or being manipulated by someone above him.""
"Deputy Director Warren?""
Her expression changed.
"You know about Warren?""
I nodded.
She exhaled.
"Then things are worse than I thought.""
I waited.
Brooks looked at the table.
"Warren authorized a review of the logistics records shortly before the first shipment disappeared. The review was supposed to identify discrepancies.""
"But?""
"Someone altered the records before the review began.""
"Who?""
"An account with senior administrative privileges.""
I stared at her.
"Was it Warren's account?""
She nodded.
"That's what I suspected.""
The room seemed colder.
I looked through the glass.
Colonel Hayes was watching us.
"Why didn't you report him?""
"I did.""
"What happened?""
"Two days later, my access was restricted. My supervisor told me the investigation had been closed.""
"Then why keep looking?""
Brooks looked directly at me.
"Because one of the missing shipments contained equipment connected to an operation scheduled for next month.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The assignment I was supposed to join.""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why was my name added to the transfer list?""
Brooks looked away.
"Because someone needed an operator with your particular clearance and logistics experience.""
I frowned.
"To transport equipment?""
"Not exactly.""
"Then what?""
She took a breath.
"The shipment was going to be intercepted.""
I stared at her.
"By whom?""
"That's what I haven't established.""
"Why involve me?""
"Because the official personnel list was supposed to make the transfer look legitimate. Your name would have given the operation credibility.""
I leaned forward.
"Would I have known?""
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
"Elena, what was I being sent into?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and removed a folded piece of paper.
"I found this inside the vehicle where they held me.""
I unfolded it.
It was a printed assignment sheet.
My name appeared at the top.
Below it was a scheduled transport route.
Three locations.
One final destination.
A signature at the bottom.
Deputy Director Warren.
I stared at the document.
"Is this authentic?""
"The route is real. The authorization isn't.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I checked the original system record before my access was removed.""
I looked up.
"Then someone forged his authorization?""
Brooks shook her head.
"Not necessarily.""
She tapped the signature.
"Look at the date.""
I examined it.
The document had been signed two days before the shipment was scheduled.
Then I noticed the small notation in the corner.
*TRANSFER CLASSIFICATION: INTERNAL PERSONNEL RECOVERY.*
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
Brooks's expression darkened.
"It means the shipment wasn't the only thing being moved.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Explain.""
She leaned closer.
"The operation included a personnel extraction. Someone was supposed to be transported along with the equipment.""
"Who?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she pointed at the second page.
A photograph was attached.
It showed a man in civilian clothing standing beside a loading vehicle.
I recognized him.
Daniel Price.
The same sergeant whose photograph had appeared inside Marcus's envelope.
"Why is Daniel involved?""
Brooks looked at me.
"Because he's the person who discovered the original shipment discrepancy.""
I sat back.
"Where is he now?""
"Missing.""
I stared at her.
"Missing?""
"His vehicle was found abandoned outside a training facility. His official records say he requested emergency leave.""
"Did he?""
"No.""
I looked at the assignment sheet.
The transport route.
The personnel recovery notation.
My name.
Daniel's photograph.
Everything suddenly connected.
Someone wanted me assigned to a transfer operation that would allow them to move a missing soldier under false authorization.
And they had used Marcus to determine whether I would accept the assignment.
"Elena, did you know Marcus was involved?""
"No. I only discovered his name when I saw the photograph of him at the depot.""
"Then why did you meet Keller?""
"Because I believed he was arranging the illegal transfer.""
"Did you confront him?""
She nodded.
"And?""
"He told me I was too late.""
I looked at the paper.
"What happened after that?""
Brooks leaned back.
"Someone attacked me outside the facility. I managed to escape, but I couldn't return to my official residence without exposing my location.""
"Who attacked you?""
"I didn't see his face.""
I studied her.
"Why did you disappear instead of contacting Colonel Hayes?""
She gave a tired laugh.
"Because Bennett was still controlling the internal communications.""
I understood.
She hadn't trusted the system.
Not anymore.
Then she looked at me.
"Jessica, there's something I haven't told you.""
I waited.
"Before the attack, I managed to recover one final piece of information.""
"What?""
She reached beneath the table and slid a small photograph toward me.
It showed a group of men standing beside a warehouse.
At the center was Daniel Voss.
Beside him stood Thomas Keller.
And behind them, partially obscured by a vehicle, was a familiar figure.
A man wearing a military-style jacket.
My stepfather.
I looked at Brooks.
"Marcus was there?""
She nodded.
"But that's not the important part.""
She pointed toward the far end of the photograph.
A fourth man stood near the warehouse entrance.
His face was clearly visible.
I recognized him immediately.
My stomach dropped.
It was Colonel David Hayes.
My commander.
The man who had been guiding the investigation.
The man who had warned me to stay away from Marcus.
The man who had told me that Bennett and Warren were under investigation.
I looked at Brooks.
"How long have you known?""
"Since yesterday.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I needed to know whether he was involved willingly.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Colonel Hayes.
*Jessica, the interview is over. Come outside immediately. We need to discuss a critical development.*
I looked through the observation window.
Hayes was standing in the corridor.
Watching the room.
Then another message arrived.
This one came from an unknown number.
*Do not leave with Hayes. Look at the photograph again. The man standing behind him isn't Marcus. It's his brother.*
I stared at the image.
Marcus had told us he was an only child.
But the man in the photograph had the same face.
The same dragon tattoo.
The same unmistakable scar near his left eyebrow.
Brooks whispered:
May you like
"Jessica, I think we've been investigating the wrong Reed.""
And outside the room, Colonel Hayes reached for the door handle.
