Chapter 13: The Brother Nobody Knew Existed
Colonel Hayes stood outside the interview room with one hand resting on the door handle.
Through the glass, I watched his reflection.
He looked exactly as he always had.
Perfectly pressed uniform. Straight shoulders. Calm expression.
The man who had taught me to question everything was now the man I couldn't afford to trust.
I turned toward Elena.
"You're telling me Marcus has a brother?""
She nodded.
"That's what the photograph suggests.""
"Marcus told everyone he was an only child.""
"Maybe he lied.""
"Why?""
She looked toward the door.
"Because his brother may have been involved in the operation from the beginning.""
I examined the photograph again.
The man standing behind Hayes had Marcus's face, but something about his posture was different.
His shoulders were broader.
His hair was shorter.
And the scar near his eyebrow was unmistakable.
I remembered Marcus's family stories.
He'd once told my mother that his parents had died when he was young.
He'd never mentioned siblings.
Not once.
"What's his name?"" I asked.
Elena hesitated.
"Michael Reed.""
I looked up.
"How do you know?""
"Because I found an old contractor record with that name. Same birth date. Same address as Marcus's previous residence.""
"Are they twins?""
"Not according to the records.""
A knock came from the door.
Hayes's voice followed.
"Jessica. We need to leave. Now.""
I didn't move.
Elena leaned toward me.
"Don't let him separate you from the investigators.""
I nodded.
Then I opened the door.
Hayes smiled.
"There you are.""
"Sir.""
He glanced at Elena.
"Captain Brooks, your interview is finished.""
She remained seated.
"By whose authority?""
"Mine.""
She shook her head.
"That's not good enough.""
Hayes's smile disappeared.
"Don't make this difficult.""
I stepped into the corridor.
"Sir, I have a question.""
"Of course.""
"Do you know Michael Reed?""
His expression barely changed.
But his eyes shifted toward Elena.
It lasted less than a second.
I noticed.
"Who?""
"Marcus Reed's brother.""
Hayes gave a short laugh.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
I held up the photograph.
"Then perhaps you can explain this.""
He looked at it.
His face became unreadable.
"Where did you get that?""
"Captain Brooks.""
"She shouldn't have that.""
The answer came too quickly.
I tilted my head.
"Why?""
Hayes reached for the photograph.
I pulled it away.
"Jessica, give me that.""
"No, sir.""
His jaw tightened.
"You're allowing yourself to be manipulated.""
"By whom?""
"Brooks.""
Elena stood behind me.
"Then explain why your face is in the same photograph as Daniel Voss and Thomas Keller.""
Hayes turned toward her.
"You're making accusations without context.""
"Then provide the context.""
He looked at me again.
"Jessica, you have known me for years. You know I would never compromise your safety.""
I remembered the messages.
The forged authorization.
The photographs.
The black SUV.
The missing equipment.
"That's exactly what I'm trying to establish.""
Hayes lowered his voice.
"Come with me. We'll discuss everything privately.""
I shook my head.
"Not without Agent Collins.""
His expression hardened.
"She's not part of your command.""
"She's part of the investigation.""
Hayes stared at me.
Then he reached into his jacket.
Elena moved immediately.
"Don't.""
Hayes froze.
His hand was inside his jacket pocket.
Two security officers appeared at the far end of the corridor.
One looked toward Hayes.
"Sir, please step away from the personnel.""
Hayes slowly removed his hand.
He was holding a phone.
Nothing else.
But the officers approached anyway.
"Colonel Hayes, we're requesting that you remain available for questioning.""
He laughed.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
Agent Collins emerged from the adjoining office.
She looked at Hayes.
"Colonel, we're going to need your credentials.""
He stared at her.
"On whose authority?""
"Mine, pending verification.""
Hayes looked at me one final time.
"You have no idea what you've just done.""
I met his gaze.
"Then explain it.""
He didn't.
Instead, he turned toward the officers.
And as they escorted him down the corridor, he whispered something I barely heard.
"Your mother is in danger.""
My entire body went cold.
I immediately reached for my phone.
"Mom?""
No answer.
I called Richard.
Straight to voicemail.
Then a message appeared.
*Jessica, your mother and Richard have been moved to another location. Don't contact anyone from the original team.*
The sender was unknown.
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Who moved my mother?""
She frowned.
"What?""
I showed her the message.
She immediately contacted the local officers assigned to my mother's protection.
The answer came thirty seconds later.
They hadn't moved anyone.
My mother was still supposed to be at the house.
I called her again.
This time, someone answered.
But it wasn't my mother.
A man's voice spoke quietly.
"Jessica Reed?""
"Who is this?""
"Your stepfather wants to speak with you.""
My blood ran cold.
"Where's my mother?""
A pause.
Then I heard her voice.
"Jessica?""
"Mom! Are you okay?""
"Sweetheart, I—"
The call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Agent Collins was already moving.
"Get a location on that number.""
One officer hurried toward the communications room.
Elena grabbed my arm.
"Jessica, listen to me.""
I turned.
"That's my mother.""
"I know.""
"I need to go.""
"Not alone.""
Agent Collins returned.
"We've traced the call to a temporary mobile device. It originated near the old depot.""
I looked at the photograph.
Michael Reed.
Daniel Voss.
Thomas Keller.
And Colonel Hayes.
Then I noticed something I hadn't seen before.
The man standing behind Hayes wasn't holding a weapon.
He was holding a folder.
On its cover was a handwritten label.
*REED FAMILY — CONTINGENCY PLAN.*
I pointed toward it.
"Can you enlarge that?""
Agent Collins did.
The image sharpened.
At the bottom of the folder, beneath the label, was a second name.
*LINDA REED.*
My mother's name.
And suddenly I understood why Marcus's brother had never wanted his identity discovered.
May you like
He hadn't just been hiding from the law.
He had been hiding inside my family.
