Chapter 13 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Missing
Special Agent Ross released Rachel after midnight.
Officially, Mercer claimed there was insufficient reason to detain her.
Unofficially, Ross had intervened before he could isolate Rachel further.
Olivia waited outside the station.
Marcus joined them at a secured office maintained by Ross’s task force. There, Rachel finally accessed the location transmitted by the replica ring.
Brenda had not gone home.
The tracker showed movement toward the abandoned industrial site.
“She knows the ring is not original,” Marcus said.
“How?”
“She may have tested the compartment.”
“Then why take it?”
“To lead us somewhere.”
Ross studied the route.
“Or to send someone a signal.”
The tracker stopped near the coordinates written beneath Rachel’s name.
Ross refused to let Rachel accompany the team.
Rachel refused to remain behind.
The argument ended when Marcus pointed out that Brenda might not speak unless she saw Rachel.
They traveled in separate vehicles and parked half a mile from the site.
The abandoned industrial complex consisted of three concrete buildings surrounded by rusted fencing. Weeds grew through broken pavement. Most windows had been boarded.
The tracker led to the smallest building.
Ross’s agents entered first.
They found Brenda’s purse on the floor.
The replica ring rested inside.
Brenda was gone.
A metal door at the rear of the building stood open, revealing a staircase descending underground.
The air below smelled of damp concrete and old machinery.
Rachel followed Ross through a long corridor lined with faded warning signs. Several doors had been welded shut.
At the far end, voices echoed.
One belonged to Brenda.
The other belonged to a man.
Ross signaled everyone to stop.
The team moved closer.
“You promised she would sign,” the man said.
“She found the archive,” Brenda replied.
“Because you used the ring after I told you not to.”
“I needed current voice samples and account access.”
“You became careless.”
“I kept the operation functioning for twelve years.”
“And now Mercer is exposed.”
“He can be replaced.”
The man laughed quietly.
“No one is irreplaceable.”
Rachel recognized his voice despite never hearing it before.
Henry Vale.
Ross activated a recording device.
Brenda spoke again.
“Rachel still doesn’t know what is under the orchard.”
“She knows enough to become a problem.”
“She is Evelyn’s granddaughter. She may have access to the final key.”
“What final key?”
“The one Evelyn removed before the facility was sealed.”
A long silence followed.
Henry’s voice became softer.
“You told me that key was destroyed.”
“I believed it was.”
“Where is Rachel now?”
“I don’t know.”
Rachel felt Ross’s hand press against her arm, warning her not to move.
Then a third voice came through the corridor.
David.
“My mother knew exactly where Rachel was.”
Rachel turned.
David stood behind the agents with his hands raised.
A bruise marked his jaw.
Ross’s team aimed their weapons.
“Don’t shoot,” he said. “I followed her.”
Brenda emerged from the room at the end of the corridor.
When she saw David, anger overtook surprise.
“You were told to stay home.”
“You signed my name to a police statement.”
“I protected you.”
“You lied to me about everything.”
Henry appeared behind Brenda.
He was thinner than in the old photograph, with gray hair and a deeply lined face.
His gaze moved past David and stopped on Rachel.
“You look like Evelyn,” he said.
Rachel stepped forward before Ross could stop her.
“You knew my grandmother.”
“I knew what she was willing to protect.”
“Why did you frame Natalie?”
Henry showed no reaction.
“Natalie was Brenda’s project.”
Brenda turned on him.
“You approved every operation.”
“I approved acquisitions. Not personal revenge.”
Natalie had believed Brenda was the architect.
But Henry was above her.
Or claimed to be.
Rachel looked at the welded doors.
“What is inside this facility?”
Henry smiled faintly.
“Not what Brenda thinks.”
“Then tell me.”
“Your grandmother had the same impatience.”
Ross announced that Henry and Brenda were being detained for conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction.
Henry raised his hands.
He offered no resistance.
That frightened Rachel.
Men who believed they had lost did not smile.
As the agents approached, a low mechanical vibration moved through the corridor.
Lights flickered on one by one.
They were not powered by the task force.
Somewhere beneath them, an old system was waking.
Henry looked toward the ceiling.
Brenda whispered, “You said it was inactive.”
Henry’s smile disappeared.
“I thought it was.”
A digital voice echoed through hidden speakers.
Identity match confirmed.
May you like
Morgan access detected.
Rachel felt every person turn toward her.
