Chapter 14: The Other Reed
Agent Collins arranged an emergency briefing in a secure office.
The room contained three chairs, a wall monitor, and a single table covered with printed photographs.
Elena sat opposite me.
Two investigators stood near the door.
"Start with the family connection," Agent Collins said.
Elena opened a folder.
"Michael Reed and Marcus Reed share the same parents. Michael is four years older.""
I stared at the document.
"Then why did Marcus tell my mother he was an only child?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
She placed another photograph on the table.
It showed two young men standing beside a motorcycle.
The resemblance was undeniable.
One was Marcus.
The other was the man in the warehouse photograph.
Agent Collins continued.
"Michael has used several identities over the past fifteen years. Some are associated with private security companies. Others are connected to financial consulting.""
"Has he served in the military?""
"No verified record.""
I almost laughed.
"Of course.""
Elena pointed toward the photograph.
"Michael appears to have developed a network of shell companies. Harrington Security is one of them.""
"Who owns it?""
"Officially, a registered business director. But financial records suggest Michael controls several associated accounts.""
I looked at the documents.
"And Marcus?""
"Marcus appears to have been recruited as the public face of the operation.""
I leaned back.
"So the fake medals, the military stories, the consulting company...""
"Were part of his cover," Elena replied.
I shook my head.
"He wasn't simply trying to impress people.""
"No.""
"He was trying to look credible to clients.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"His exaggerated military persona may have been intended to make the false credentials more believable.""
I looked at the photograph of my mother.
"Why was she included in the contingency plan?""
Elena hesitated.
"Because Michael knew Marcus was emotionally attached to her.""
I frowned.
"Marcus?""
"Yes. Michael believed your mother could be used to influence his decisions.""
I felt a wave of disgust.
"Influence him into doing what?""
"Keeping quiet.""
Agent Collins opened another document.
It was a payment record.
A transfer of twelve thousand dollars had been sent to an account associated with Marcus's consulting business.
Another payment had gone to an account registered under Michael's alias.
The final payment was labeled:
*FAMILY SECURITY ARRANGEMENT.*
I stared at the phrase.
"Was my mother paid?""
"We haven't established that.""
"Was she being watched?""
Elena nodded.
"At least twice.""
I closed my eyes.
The house.
The barbecue.
The den.
The fake medals.
Someone had been studying my family.
Agent Collins continued.
"We've also identified a second vehicle connected to Michael. It was recorded near your mother's house several times over the last six months.""
I looked at her.
"How many times?""
"Seven.""
My stomach tightened.
Seven times.
Seven occasions when someone had been close enough to watch my mother without her knowing.
I stood.
"I want to go to her.""
"We're arranging a secure location.""
"How long?""
"Jessica—"
"How long?""
Agent Collins held my gaze.
"Twenty minutes.""
I sat down again.
Elena leaned forward.
"There's something else.""
I looked at her.
"Go ahead.""
"Michael wasn't just using Marcus. He was using him to get close to you.""
I shook my head.
"Why me?""
"Because your position gave him access to information he couldn't obtain through ordinary contractor channels.""
"Then why didn't he approach me directly?""
"Because he knew you'd recognize the deception.""
I thought about Marcus's constant need to dominate every room.
His ridiculous stories.
His endless displays of fake authority.
His attempts to make me feel small.
"Then he chose someone I wouldn't suspect.""
Elena nodded.
"Someone who lived in your mother's house.""
I looked at the family photograph on the table.
Marcus stood beside my mother, smiling.
I remembered how happy she'd been at their wedding.
How she'd told me that Marcus made her feel safe.
Now I wondered whether he had ever loved her at all.
Agent Collins received a message.
She read it.
Then looked at me.
"We found Michael.""
I stood immediately.
"Where?""
"An industrial property outside the city. A vehicle registered to one of his companies was seen entering the site.""
"Is my mother there?""
"We don't know.""
"Then I'm going.""
Agent Collins shook her head.
"Absolutely not.""
I stepped closer.
"My mother has been taken by a man who has been using my identity for over a year. I'm not sitting here while you debate procedure.""
"Jessica, you're too personally involved.""
"Exactly.""
Elena stood.
"Agent Collins, I can help.""
"You are not cleared for an independent operation.""
"I'm not asking to lead one. I'm asking to identify the location.""
Agent Collins considered her.
Then she turned toward the investigators.
"Get me the site plans.""
The wall monitor came alive.
An industrial building appeared on the screen.
Two entrances.
A loading area.
A rear access road.
The property belonged to a company registered under a name I'd never heard.
But Elena recognized it.
"That's one of Michael's shell companies.""
Agent Collins zoomed in.
A vehicle was visible near the loading entrance.
A dark SUV.
I recognized the partial license plate.
It matched the vehicle from my mother's driveway.
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Jessica.""
A familiar voice responded.
"Hello, little sister.""
My blood ran cold.
Michael Reed.
He laughed softly.
"I've been waiting a long time to speak with you.""
"Where is my mother?""
"She's fine.""
"Let me speak to her.""
"Not yet.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What do you want?""
"Something Marcus promised me.""
"What's that?""
"Your cooperation.""
I glanced at Agent Collins.
She silently gestured for me to keep him talking.
I lowered my voice.
"You've spent a year using my name. You've stolen my photographs. You've compromised my work. What makes you think I'd cooperate with you?""
Michael laughed.
"Because I know something about you that your commander never told you.""
I said nothing.
He continued.
"Your father wasn't the man you think he was.""
My chest tightened.
"Don't talk about my father.""
"Why? Nobody ever told you what happened before he died?""
I stared at the wall.
My biological father had died when I was seventeen.
A car accident.
That's what I'd always been told.
Michael's voice became quieter.
"Your mother kept something from you, Jessica.""
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Where is she?""
"Bring the original file from Marcus's den. The one hidden behind the false certificate.""
Agent Collins shook her head slightly.
Michael continued.
"Bring it alone. No agents. No soldiers. No government friends.""
"How do I know my mother is safe?""
He laughed.
"You don't.""
Then the line went dead.
I lowered my phone.
Agent Collins looked at me.
"What did he say?""
I explained.
She immediately contacted the investigators who had secured my mother's house.
They searched the den.
Five minutes later, a message arrived.
*False certificate located. Hidden compartment discovered. Contents include an old photograph, a sealed letter, and a storage device.*
I stared at the message.
My father's photograph.
A letter.
A storage device.
I looked at Elena.
"Do you know anything about my father?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Agent Collins approached.
"Jessica, we're not handing anything to Michael Reed.""
"I know.""
"He's trying to manipulate you.""
"I know.""
But the words about my father had unsettled me.
Because there was one detail Michael couldn't have known unless someone had told him.
My mother had once mentioned that my father had been involved in government logistics before he died.
She'd never explained the details.
I'd never asked.
Now, after all these years, I wondered whether his death had been as simple as everyone claimed.
Agent Collins placed a hand on the table.
"We'll secure the file and examine it.""
I nodded.
Then Elena looked at the warehouse image.
"There's something strange about this location.""
"What?""
She pointed toward a side entrance.
"That's not a normal loading bay.""
I leaned closer.
"What is it?""
"An old secure storage entrance. It was built for controlled equipment transfers.""
I looked at the building again.
Then at the photograph of my father.
The industrial property wasn't just another shell company location.
May you like
It was connected to the same logistics network my father had once worked in.
And Michael knew it.
