Chapter 9 - The Recording Beneath the Van
The phone contained nine hours of audio.
Most of it was noise from beneath the van.
Engine vibration.
Tires crossing rough roads.
Doors opening and closing.
But Nadia had managed to record several conversations before throwing it.
Agent Price transferred the files to a secure system.
Mara, Rowe, and the investigation team listened inside the military medical facility.
The first clear voice belonged to Caleb Mercer.
The girl copied the ledger before we reached her office.
Vivienne answered.
Then find the copy.
We searched her apartment.
Search Harrison’s house.
Mara felt her anger rise.
Caleb continued.
What about Rowe?
Keep him alive until we have his key.
The next section was recorded inside the hospital room.
Dr. Keel’s voice was quiet.
The medication is causing cardiac stress.
Vivienne responded without concern.
Then reduce it. She only needs to remain confused.
If she dies here, the review board will ask questions.
Then transfer her before that happens.
Mara looked toward Rowe.
His jaw tightened.
The recording continued.
Nadia’s voice appeared next.
What happened to the other patients?
A door slammed.
Then Vivienne answered.
They believed no one would ever find the first ledger.
The audio became unclear.
Agent Price adjusted the volume.
Nadia asked another question.
Did you start the fire?
A long silence followed.
Vivienne’s response was barely above a whisper.
I protected the people who built this country.
The next voice belonged to Caleb.
The van is ready.
Vivienne said, Take her to Vale Memorial. Use the original room.
The recording ended with footsteps and Nadia breathing quickly.
Captain Cho looked at the map.
“Original room could refer to the records archive.”
Rowe shook his head.
“The old hospital had an observation suite beneath the west wing. It was used for experimental neurological treatment.”
Mara stared at him.
“How do you know that?”
Rowe looked down.
“My wife was a patient there.”
No one spoke.
“Before Nadia was born?” Mara asked.
“Yes. Vivian Vale’s research foundation offered treatment for memory loss and trauma. My wife had been injured during a deployment.”
“What happened?”
“She died in the fire.”
Mara finally understood why Rowe had spent years following the hospital accounts.
“This was never only an audit for you.”
“No.”
“Why hide that from me?”
“Because personal involvement would have removed me from the investigation.”
“And because you were afraid I would see your judgment as compromised.”
“It was compromised.”
Rowe looked toward the frozen image of Vivienne on the screen.
“But not in the way they expected.”
Agent Price opened another file.
“Vale Memorial was officially demolished twelve years ago.”
Cho shook his head.
“Satellite records show the main structure is still standing. The property was transferred to Northlight Research Group.”
“The shell company,” Trent said.
Price nodded.
“And the electrical grid shows active power consumption.”
Lieutenant Reyes enlarged a map.
“There is one public road, but it is monitored by private cameras. Dense woods on the north side, river on the west, abandoned rail line to the east.”
Mara pointed to the rail line.
“We approach from there.”
Price looked at her.
“We still need a tactical warrant.”
“How long?”
“Several hours.”
“We do not have several hours.”
“Colonel, entering an unknown facility without support could get Nadia killed.”
Mara leaned over the table.
“Vivienne believes Nadia holds an encryption key to more than one billion dollars in criminal transfers. She will not release her. She will either break her or silence her.”
Price held her gaze.
“You cannot command a federal operation.”
“No. But you can.”
Price looked at the evidence surrounding them.
Then he picked up his phone.
“I will request immediate authority.”
As he stepped away, Mara noticed a file recovered from Nadia’s phone.
It was not audio.
It was a scheduled message.
The recipient was Mara.
The message had been created before Nadia was taken from Novaris.
Mara opened it.
Mom, if you are reading this, do not trust the person who brings General Rowe back.
May you like
Mara slowly turned toward the hospital bed.
Rowe was gone.
