Chapter 16: The Night My Father Disappeared
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
My mother sat motionless, her hands wrapped around the brass key. Agent Collins had stopped writing. Even Elena, who had spent the last several days uncovering secrets buried beneath official records, looked genuinely unsettled.
I stared at Linda.
"You said Dad died in a car accident.""
"He did.""
"You just told me he went to meet Colonel Hayes that night.""
"He said he was going to meet him. I don't know whether they actually met.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"Because I was afraid you'd start looking for answers.""
"That's exactly what I should have done.""
"I was seventeen, Jessica. Your father was gone. I had a funeral to arrange, a daughter to protect, and people asking questions I couldn't answer.""
I softened my voice, but not my expression.
"Who asked questions?""
She looked toward Agent Collins.
"Two men came to the house three days after the funeral. They weren't police officers. They said they worked with your father's department.""
"Did you recognize them?""
"No. One was older, with gray hair. The other was younger. They asked whether your father had spoken about his work.""
"And you told them?""
"That he handled transportation records.""
"Did they ask about his meeting with Hayes?""
My mother nodded.
"They asked whether he had mentioned a colonel.""
Agent Collins leaned forward.
"Did they identify themselves?""
"One said his name was Warren.""
The room seemed to shrink.
Deputy Director Warren.
The same official whose name appeared on the photograph.
The same man suspected of authorizing the manipulated transfers.
"Did you recognize him?"" I asked.
"No. Not then.""
Agent Collins made a note.
"Mrs. Reed, do you remember anything else about that evening?""
My mother looked down at the key.
"Your father called twice. The first time, he sounded nervous. The second time, he said he had to change the meeting location.""
"Did he say why?""
"He said someone had been following him.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did he tell you where he was going?""
"He mentioned a storage facility.""
I looked at the brass key.
"Was it this one?""
She nodded.
"He told me to keep it somewhere safe. He said if anything happened, I should give it to you when you were old enough to understand.""
I swallowed.
"Why did you give it to Marcus?""
"I didn't.""
She looked genuinely frightened.
"Michael asked about it when he visited. I told him I didn't have it.""
Agent Collins stood.
"Then we're going to secure that locker before anyone else gets there.""
I rose immediately.
"I'm coming.""
"Jessica, we need to assess the location first.""
"My father's evidence is there. If Michael knows about it, we can't assume it will remain untouched.""
Agent Collins considered me.
"You're not going in alone.""
"I didn't ask to.""
Elena stood.
"I'll accompany the team. I know the logistics network your father was investigating.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"Fine. But we follow the investigators' lead.""
Within forty minutes, we were on the road.
The storage facility stood outside the city behind a row of industrial buildings. It was surrounded by a high fence, security cameras, and a small administration office.
The facility manager met us at the entrance.
"Unit 214," he said after checking the key against the records.
"The account is still active.""
"Who pays for it?"" Agent Collins asked.
The manager examined his computer.
"The account is under the name David Reed.""
My father's name.
"Has anyone accessed it recently?"" I asked.
He checked.
"Someone came yesterday.""
Agent Collins looked up.
"Who?""
"An authorized visitor. He provided identification and the account access code.""
"Name?""
The manager hesitated.
"Michael Reed.""
I felt my fingers tighten.
"Was he alone?""
"Yes.""
Agent Collins turned toward the investigators.
"Secure the perimeter.""
Two officers moved toward the storage building.
I looked at the manager.
"Did he remove anything?""
"He opened the unit. He was inside for approximately twelve minutes.""
"Did he take anything out?""
The manager shook his head.
"I didn't see him carrying anything.""
Twelve minutes.
Long enough to find something.
Long enough to destroy it.
The investigators opened Unit 214.
Inside were several cardboard boxes, a metal filing cabinet, and an old desk lamp.
The air smelled of dust and damp paper.
My father had kept his things organized.
Even after all these years, I recognized his handwriting on the labels.
*PERSONNEL.*
*TRANSPORTATION.*
*AUDIT RECORDS.*
I approached the filing cabinet.
A drawer stood slightly open.
Inside were folders, photographs, and a small portable drive.
Elena picked up a document.
"These are shipment reconciliation records.""
Agent Collins examined another folder.
"These are copies of internal authorization forms.""
I looked at the portable drive.
"Can we see what's on it?""
"Not here," Agent Collins replied.
"It goes through evidence processing.""
I nodded.
Then I noticed a photograph beneath the desk.
I picked it up.
My father stood beside Colonel Hayes and Deputy Director Warren.
But this photograph was different from the one in the letter.
There was a fourth person.
A woman.
Her face was partially turned away from the camera.
I showed Elena.
"Do you recognize her?""
She stared.
Then her expression changed.
"Captain Brooks.""
Elena stepped closer.
"That's not me.""
I looked at her.
She pointed toward the photograph.
"That's Captain Brooks's predecessor. Major Caroline Shaw.""
Agent Collins frowned.
"Wasn't Shaw reported deceased?""
Elena nodded slowly.
"Her official record says she died in a training accident six years ago.""
I looked at the date written on the back.
The photograph had been taken seven years ago.
One year before her reported death.
And standing beside her was Michael Reed.
Not Marcus.
Michael.
Agent Collins took the photograph.
"Add this to the evidence inventory.""
A noise came from the corridor.
One of the investigators hurried toward us.
"Agent Collins. We have a problem.""
"What?""
"The facility manager just received a call. Someone claiming to be from the federal archive office has requested immediate access to this unit.""
Agent Collins's expression hardened.
"Who authorized it?""
The investigator shook his head.
"No one. The request came through an official government account.""
I looked at the documents.
Someone was trying to reach the evidence.
Again.
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*You found the wrong locker. The important evidence is in the one your father opened the night he died.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Ask Hayes why he arrived at the accident scene before the police.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Agent Collins was already looking at me.
"Jessica?""
I showed her the messages.
She read them twice.
Then she turned toward the investigator.
"Find the original accident report. Every version. I want the dispatch logs, response times, and the first officer's statement.""
Elena looked at me.
"Your father may not have died where the official report says he did.""
I glanced at the photograph.
My father.
Hayes.
Warren.
Michael.
May you like
Four people connected by a secret that had survived for years.
And somewhere among the records was the answer to why my father had never come home.
