Chapter 7 - The Evidence Folder
While Dominic and Chloe entered the cathedral through the front doors, Major Ortiz sat inside an unmarked surveillance van two streets away.
On the screen before her, recovered messages moved in chronological order.
The first conversations were subtle.
Dominic complained about Vivienne’s absences.
Chloe called him underappreciated.
Then came discussions of money, timelines, weather, and access to restricted systems.
Three months before the disappearance, Chloe wrote:
The policy is enough. We only need a qualifying event.
Dominic replied:
Training accident. No witnesses who matter.
A week later, he sent a photograph of the cabin’s steel room.
No interior handle, he wrote.
Chloe answered with a heart.
Ortiz had investigated fraud, corruption, and murder conspiracies for fourteen years. The small red symbol disturbed her more than many direct threats. It reduced a human life to a romantic promise between two greedy people.
The forensic team also recovered bank transfers to a contractor named Mason Pike. Pike had been paid to alter the route, disable communications, sedate Sergeant Hale, and move him away from the cabin.
Federal agents arrested Pike at an airport before dawn.
He confessed within two hours.
He claimed Dominic assured him Vivienne would be found after the storm, frightened but alive. Ortiz did not believe him, but the confession connected every piece.
Sergeant Hale regained his memory after investigators showed him photographs of the vehicles. He identified Dominic, Chloe, and Pike.
The cabin search produced Vivienne’s missing radio, tactical belt, and bootlaces. Investigators also found cleaning supplies, a shovel, and printed instructions for filing a death claim without recovered remains.
The evidence folder grew thick.
But Ward wanted one final safeguard.
Dominic’s confession.
Vivienne had sent the anonymous messages against Ortiz’s advice. She wanted to pressure him before the funeral. Fear might make him speak openly to Chloe, and investigators were monitoring both phones.
It worked.
Inside the cathedral’s private family room, Dominic whispered, “If Vivienne is alive, we need to say she planned this.”
Chloe stared at him.
“Planned what?”
“Her disappearance. To punish me.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“So is a dead woman sending photographs.”
“You locked the door.”
“You bought the jammer.”
“You changed the route.”
“You found Pike.”
Their blame became faster and louder.
The hidden microphone in Dominic’s boutonniere transmitted every word.
He did not know the funeral director who pinned it to his lapel was cooperating with investigators.
Chloe finally said, “We should never have waited six days.”
Dominic answered, “You said the cold would do it.”
Ortiz removed her headphones.
“That is enough.”
Ward stood behind her.
“Are you certain?”
“We have conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, evidence tampering, and unauthorized access. We also have their voices.”
Ward looked toward the cathedral.
“What about Vivienne?”
Ortiz glanced at the live feed from a military vehicle parked near the rear entrance.
Vivienne sat inside, dressed in the same damaged uniform she had worn when rescued. She had refused a ceremonial uniform.
“I want them to see what they tried to bury,” she said.
Ward had not argued again.
Ortiz closed the folder.
May you like
“Bring her in.”
Outside, snow began to fall.
