Chapter 3 - the commander who came alone
Commander Elias Voss arrived at Vale Meridian Aviation twenty-three minutes after Mara’s call.
He came alone.
Adrian had expected a convoy, military police, or at least a team of armed security officers. A large response would have allowed Adrian to close the building under the excuse of protecting classified clients.
One man gave him fewer opportunities.
Elias entered through the main lounge wearing the dark-blue uniform he had worn at a veterans’ ceremony earlier that morning. The decorated jacket drew attention, but his expression kept people from approaching him.
The receptionist stood immediately.
“Commander, Mr. Vale is unavailable.”
“Where is Mara Ellison?”
“I am not authorized to discuss employee locations.”
Elias placed his military identification on the desk.
“I am asking about a civilian who used a protected emergency code to report unlawful detention.”
The receptionist’s face tightened.
“She is not being detained.”
“Then she can walk out with me.”
Before the woman could answer, Adrian appeared at the upper level of the lounge.
He descended the glass staircase slowly, as though welcoming an honored guest rather than confronting the man Mara had called for help.
“Elias,” Adrian said. “This is unnecessary.”
“That depends on where Mara is.”
“She is experiencing emotional distress after being questioned about stolen company records.”
“Did you touch her?”
Adrian continued down the stairs.
“I stopped an employee from leaving with classified property.”
“That was not my question.”
Several pilots had turned to watch.
Adrian noticed them and adjusted his tone.
“Mara accessed restricted government information. My security department is handling the matter according to federal procedure.”
“Which federal department?”
“I cannot discuss that in public.”
“Then discuss it privately with Investigator Cross. I contacted her on the way here.”
Adrian paused on the final step.
For the first time, Elias knew he had surprised him.
“Mara did not mention an investigator.”
“She did not need to.”
Adrian gave the receptionist a brief look.
A side door unlocked.
Mara emerged from the pilot preparation corridor accompanied by two security officers.
The marks on her arm were visible.
Elias saw them immediately.
Mara saw the change in his expression and shook her head slightly. She did not want him to react in a way Adrian could use against him.
Adrian walked toward her.
“Mara, give Commander Voss the pages you removed from the archive.”
“I don’t have them.”
“You printed the authorization record.”
“The printer failed.”
“Where is the copy?”
“I told you. I don’t have it.”
Adrian’s gaze sharpened.
One of the security officers moved closer to Mara.
Elias stepped between them.
The officer hesitated.
“This is private property,” Adrian said.
Elias looked around the lounge.
“Then ask me to leave.”
Adrian understood the challenge.
If he ordered Elias out, every witness would know he feared the commander’s presence. If he allowed Elias to stay, Mara could continue speaking.
Adrian turned to Mara.
“You are coming upstairs to complete a security interview.”
“No,” she said.
“You signed an agreement.”
“The agreement is forged.”
A murmur passed through the lounge.
Adrian’s face remained calm, but his hand tightened around the edge of his jacket.
“She is confused.”
Mara moved closer to Elias.
“I know what I signed.”
Adrian signaled to the officers.
They advanced.
Mara clung to Elias’s uniform as one of them reached for her.
Elias did not raise his voice.
“Touch her again, and you will explain your actions to military investigators, federal aviation enforcement, and every camera in this room.”
The officers stopped.
Adrian entered with two additional guards moments later, hoping the display of authority would force Mara to surrender.
Instead, Elias activated the lounge security alarm.
Investigator Naomi Cross arrived with the employment file.
Then the lights failed.
When they returned, Adrian and the original manifest were gone.
Elias searched the photograph Mara had found inside the file.
The man standing beside Adrian had Elias’s height, his posture, and even the same small scar near his left eyebrow.
But Elias had never owned the civilian flight jacket the man was wearing.
Cross returned from the service corridor.
“He used an executive elevator to reach the underground garage. Local officers are sealing the exits.”
“He won’t use the garage,” Mara said.
Cross looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Adrian never drives when he believes someone might be watching. He will go to the hangar.”
Elias turned toward the rain-darkened runway.
“Which aircraft?”
“Flight 714.”
Cross checked her phone.
“There is no aircraft registered under that number.”
“There is tonight,” Mara replied.
She pointed through the windows.
At the far edge of the airfield, a row of hangar lights switched on one by one.
The last hangar remained dark.
Its doors began to open.
Inside stood a black aircraft with no registration number.
A figure crossed in front of its landing lights.
May you like
Mara recognized Adrian.
Beside him stood the man from the photograph.
