Chapter 24 - THE PERSON SHE REFUSED TO SUSPECTThe traitor was Inspector Reyes.
But not willingly.
Keene had placed a tracking implant inside her medical brace after she was wounded during the Rourke investigation.
Reyes had unknowingly broadcast every secure location she visited for months.
She went pale when Mara showed her the scanner.
“I led them to the island.”
“Yes.”
“The safe houses?”
“Yes.”
“Eleanor's aircraft?”
“Probably.”
Reyes sat down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because guilt makes people unpredictable.”
Reyes looked furious.
“You used me.”
“I used their confidence in using you.”
Mara had deliberately kept the implant active.
It currently told Keene that Reyes was twenty miles away aboard a patrol vessel.
Keene's own surveillance system had become their alibi.
They reached the council archive.
Nathan inserted Eleanor's key.
The door opened.
Inside were no stacks of classified files.
There was one computer.
One red button.
And Thomas Vance sitting beside it.
Alive.
Bruised.
Handcuffed.
“Mara.”
She ran toward him.
Thomas shouted:
“DON'T!”
A thin red laser crossed the room.
Pressure sensors.
The entire floor was rigged.
Then Admiral Keene's voice came through the speakers.
“Welcome, Commander.”
The steel doors locked behind them.
“You wanted the truth.”
Lights illuminated the walls.
Thousands of names appeared.
Politicians.
Officers.
Executives.
Judges.
Journalists.
Black Tide's complete network.
Keene spoke again.
“Here it is.”
Mara stared at the list.
Then Keene delivered the choice.
“Press the red button and every name becomes public.”
Nathan whispered:
“That's what we want.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
Keene laughed.
“Tell her why.”
May you like
Thomas looked at Mara.
“Because half the names are innocent.”
