Chapter 17 - Blackridge
By the time we reached the safe house, the sun was rising.
Nobody had slept.
Nobody trusted anyone.
Hale had separated us into different rooms.
Victor tried to speak to me twice.
I refused both times.
Not because I hated him.
That would have been easier.
I didn't know what I felt.
He had lied to me for twenty-six years.
But he'd also watched over me from a distance.
He had protected me without ever asking me to forgive him.
Maybe that was love.
Maybe it was guilt.
Maybe it was both.
Blake entered with coffee.
"You should drink."
"I don't want it."
"You haven't eaten."
"I don't care."
He set the cup down.
"You don't get to collapse yet."
I looked at him.
"Was Hale right?"
"About using you as bait?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because bait only works if the trap is controlled."
I stared at him.
"And is it?"
"No."
At least he was honest.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Find your mother without telling anyone."
"How?"
"The drive."
I looked at the laptop.
Blake sat beside me.
"We need to assume the federal network is compromised."
"Agreed."
"We use a clean machine."
"Agreed."
"We don't tell Hale."
I looked toward the door.
"Agreed."
We worked for hours.
The drive contained layers of encryption.
Most files were decoys.
But one hidden directory opened with the number 17.
Inside were maps.
Old buildings.
Military sites.
A private rail line.
Then a facility.
BLACKRIDGE RESEARCH CENTER.
I zoomed in.
"Virginia."
Blake nodded.
"Three hours from here."
"What's the date?"
He pointed.
Thursday.
We had less than twenty-four hours.
Then I saw another file.
TRANSFER CHAIN.
I opened it.
Eleanor had not been transferred alone.
There were six names.
Five were marked deceased.
The sixth read:
SUBJECT E-01 — ACTIVE.
I stared.
"That's her."
Blake nodded.
A final note appeared.
SUBJECT MAINTAINS REGULAR CONTACT WITH AUTHORIZED FAMILY MEMBER.
I looked at him.
"My father?"
"Maybe."
"No."
I remembered Victor's words.
I saw her three years ago.
She told me not to let Maya find me.
What if he had been seeing her all this time?
I ran toward the room where Victor was staying.
He opened the door before I knocked.
His eyes were exhausted.
"What happened?"
"How often did you see my mother?"
His face changed.
"I told you."
"How often?"
He didn't answer.
"Victor."
"Once."
I stared.
"You said once."
"One physical meeting."
"Then who was the woman?"
"What woman?"
"The one who left messages for you."
His face drained.
I held up the laptop.
"The file says she maintained regular contact with an authorized family member."
"I don't know anything about that."
I believed him.
That scared me.
Because if it wasn't Victor—
"Who else was family?"
He looked at me.
"Your mother's sister."
"My aunt?"
"You've never met her."
"Why?"
"She disappeared before you were born."
"Name?"
"Evelyn."
My blood went cold.
Lorraine.
Evelyn Shaw.
I returned to the main room.
Lorraine was gone.
I searched every room.
Her coat was missing.
The safe house's rear door was open.
On the table sat a handwritten note.
Maya,
I'm sorry.
I looked at Blake.
"She's gone."
He read the note.
"Maybe she ran."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because she knew we found Blackridge."
A sound came from Hale's office.
We entered.
His secure phone was on the floor.
Broken.
A message had been carved into the desk.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT HER DEAD.
Hale stared.
I looked at him.
"Who?"
He whispered:
"Someone who knows about Blackridge."
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then a woman's voice said:
"Maya, listen carefully."
My heart stopped.
"Mom?"
"Do not come to Blackridge."
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"I will find you."
"No."
"Mom—"
"You need to understand."
Her breathing was uneven.
"Your father isn't the danger."
I looked at Victor.
"Who is?"
She whispered:
"Hale."
I froze.
The line went dead.
I turned toward the general.
He was already looking at me.
"She called?"
I nodded.
"What did she say?"
I couldn't answer.
Blake stepped forward.
"She said your name."
Hale's face tightened.
"Anything else?"
I looked at him.
"She said not to come to Blackridge."
For the first time, Hale looked relieved.
Then the safe house doors exploded inward.
Federal agents rushed inside.
Weapons raised.
One shouted:
"Colonel Caldwell, you're under arrest."
I looked at Hale.
May you like
He didn't move.
And suddenly I realized the trap had already closed.
