Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside My Own Command
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Marcus stood in the doorway of his den, staring at me as though he had finally revealed the one secret that would make me afraid of him.
Agent Collins lowered her tablet.
"Mr. Reed, explain that statement.""
Marcus swallowed.
"I already told you. Someone inside her command gave me the photograph.""
"Who?""
"I don't know his real name.""
Agent Collins exchanged a glance with one of the officers.
"Then how do you know this person exists?""
Marcus looked toward me.
"Because he contacted me.""
I stepped closer.
"When?""
"About a year ago.""
"Why?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"He said he knew about my business. He said I had potential. He told me I could become a legitimate government contractor if I had the right connections.""
I stared at him.
"And you believed him?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"He showed me things.""
"What things?""
"Photographs. Documents. Information about people you work with.""
My mother appeared behind me.
"Marcus, what have you done?""
He ignored her.
"He said you were important, Jessica. He said you worked with people who needed outside support.""
I felt a cold sensation settle in my stomach.
"Did he know where I was assigned?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Sometimes.""
"Did he know when I was coming home?""
He looked away.
That was enough.
Agent Collins stepped forward.
"Mr. Reed, you're going to tell us everything you know about this individual.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"He told me what would happen if I talked.""
Agent Collins's expression hardened.
"Are you being threatened?""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You think I'm the dangerous one here?""
I watched him carefully.
For three years, I'd seen Marcus manufacture fear.
He used his voice, his posture, and his invented military stories to make people uncomfortable.
But this time, something was different.
His hands were trembling.
And he wasn't looking at me anymore.
He was looking at the windows.
I turned toward Agent Collins.
"Can we move my mother somewhere else?""
She nodded.
"Absolutely.""
Richard escorted Mom into the kitchen.
I followed them.
My mother grabbed my hand.
"Jessica, is someone going to hurt us?""
I looked into her eyes.
"I don't know yet.""
She began crying.
"I should have listened to you. I should have questioned him.""
"Mom, you loved someone. That's not a crime.""
"But I brought him into our home.""
I squeezed her hand.
"You didn't know.""
Richard stood beside us.
"Whatever happens, Linda, you're not dealing with this alone.""
I looked through the doorway.
Marcus was speaking to Agent Collins.
His voice rose and fell.
Then he suddenly stood up.
"You're not listening to me!""
The officer beside him stepped closer.
"Sit down, sir.""
"I want a lawyer!""
Agent Collins nodded.
"You're entitled to legal counsel. That doesn't prevent us from preserving evidence.""
Marcus dropped into the chair.
I returned to the den.
Agent Collins approached me.
"We found an encrypted folder on his laptop.""
"What's inside?""
"We haven't accessed it yet. However, the folder name is interesting.""
She turned the screen toward me.
It read:
*PROJECT MIRROR — J. REED.*
My blood ran cold.
"What is Project Mirror?""
"We don't know.""
I stared at the screen.
"How long has it existed?""
"The earliest associated file dates back eleven months.""
Marcus looked up.
"Don't open that.""
Agent Collins turned toward him.
"Why?""
He shook his head.
"Because you don't understand what you're looking at.""
I stepped closer.
"Then explain it.""
Marcus looked directly at me.
"That folder wasn't supposed to be on this computer.""
"Whose computer was it supposed to be on?""
He said nothing.
Agent Collins leaned toward the officer.
"Preserve the device. No further interaction until digital forensics takes over.""
The officer nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Colonel Hayes.
*We identified the internal credential used to access your photograph. The account belongs to Major Thomas Bennett.*
I read it again.
Major Thomas Bennett.
My direct operational supervisor.
The man who had personally recommended me for my current assignment.
The man who had signed my last performance evaluation.
The man who had once told me that trust was the foundation of every successful team.
I called immediately.
He answered on the second ring.
"Reed. What's happening?""
"Sir, I received a notification that your credentials accessed my personnel photograph.""
Silence.
Then a sigh.
"Jessica, this is a complicated situation.""
"Did you access my file?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"I was conducting a personnel review.""
"Was Marcus Reed involved?""
His breathing changed.
"Who told you that name?""
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Answer the question, sir.""
He lowered his voice.
"Jessica, I need you to stop discussing this over the phone.""
"Why?""
"Because you're making a serious mistake.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Sir, did you give my photograph to a private contractor?""
He didn't answer.
Then he said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"You were never supposed to find out about Project Mirror.""
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Agent Collins watched my face.
"What did he say?""
I slowly lowered the device.
"He knows about Project Mirror.""
She glanced toward Marcus.
Marcus was staring at me.
And for the first time, he looked less like a liar caught in a trap and more like a man who had been waiting for someone else to take responsibility.
He leaned forward.
"Now you understand, don't you?""
I turned toward him.
"Understand what?""
His answer was barely audible.
"Your commander didn't hire me to train soldiers, Jessica.""
May you like
He swallowed.
"He hired me to get close to you.""
