Chapter 9 - The Enemy Inside
Claire had never been more frightened.
Not because she was facing a threat.
Because the threat knew her.
Every screen around the terminal displayed fragments of her life.
Her assignments.
Her promotions.
Her deployments.
Her family photographs.
Her wedding pictures.
Even photographs of her as a teenager.
Someone had been watching her for decades.
Ethan stood beside her.
“This isn't possible.”
Claire looked at him.
“It is.”
Daniel studied the screens.
“They've been collecting information.”
“For how long?”
“Probably longer than we think.”
Claire turned toward him.
“Who is behind it?”
“I don't know.”
“You know more than you're saying.”
Daniel looked away.
Claire stepped closer.
“You were inside this before I ever knew it existed.”
“I was.”
“Then tell me.”
He hesitated.
“My mother worked for them.”
Claire's expression tightened.
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Sarah?”
“No. My biological mother.”
Claire processed that.
“Who was she?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Someone who believed the organization could be controlled.”
“And?”
“She was wrong.”
Claire studied him.
“Was Mom trying to expose them?”
“Yes.”
“Was Dad?”
“Eventually.”
“What about Harrington?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Claire understood.
“That means you don't trust him.”
“No.”
“Neither do I.”
Outside, sirens sounded.
Mercer rushed into the terminal.
“Colonel!”
Claire turned.
“What?”
“We have a security problem.”
“How bad?”
“Someone accessed the installation's internal command network.”
“From where?”
Mercer looked at the screens.
“Inside this building.”
Claire understood.
There was a traitor among them.
The team locked down the terminal.
Every soldier was searched.
Every device was secured.
But the breach continued.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
He answered before Claire could stop him.
A voice spoke.
“You're looking in the wrong direction.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
He put the call on speaker.
Claire listened.
“Who is this?”
The voice said:
“Your mother knew the truth.”
“Which mother?” Claire asked.
“The one they buried.”
Claire's blood ran cold.
“What do you want?”
“I want the ledger.”
“You don't have it.”
“We don't need it.”
The caller laughed softly.
“Because you already found the master record.”
Claire stared at the documents.
“What master record?”
“The one under the floor.”
Her eyes widened.
The caller continued.
“It contains every operation, every transfer, every compromise.”
Claire looked at Mercer.
“Secure the case.”
They hurried back to the command room.
The metal case was missing.
Claire froze.
“Who had access?”
Mercer looked at the personnel list.
Everyone.
Then one name disappeared from the screen.
General William Harrington.
Claire's stomach sank.
“No.”
Mercer said nothing.
“Where is he?”
A soldier answered.
“Gone.”
Claire grabbed the secure phone.
Harrington's number rang.
No answer.
Then a text arrived.
MEET ME ALONE.
LOCATION ATTACHED.
Claire looked at the coordinates.
An old Army chapel.
She recognized it.
The place where she'd once received her first command.
Ethan shook his head.
“Don't go.”
“I have to.”
“That's exactly what they want.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then we make sure they regret it.”
She arrived at the chapel alone.
Harrington stood at the altar.
No weapon.
No body armor.
Just his uniform.
He looked exhausted.
Claire kept her distance.
“You took the case.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To prevent it from being destroyed.”
“Destroyed by whom?”
He looked toward the chapel doors.
“Everyone.”
Claire said nothing.
Harrington approached.
“I failed your mother.”
“You've said that.”
“I failed you too.”
“How?”
“By believing secrecy could protect you.”
Claire's voice was hard.
“Did you monitor my career?”
“Yes.”
“Did you manipulate assignments?”
“Not directly.”
“Did you know my father was using information connected to me?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because your father threatened to expose your identity as an Army intelligence officer.”
Claire stopped.
“My identity?”
“You weren't just operations staff.”
Claire stared at him.
“No.”
“You were recruited into a compartmented program after your promotion to major.”
“I know.”
“Your work in Sentinel Dawn was partly designed to identify the network that had infiltrated defense logistics.”
Claire's mind raced.
“So my entire career was connected to this.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why did my father hate me?”
Harrington looked at her.
“He didn't hate you.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then explain.”
“He knew you were getting closer.”
“To what?”
Harrington opened the case.
Inside lay the master record.
He pointed to the final page.
Claire read the names.
Her father.
Victor Sloane.
Several defense executives.
Two retired generals.
A senator.
Three intelligence contractors.
Then a final name.
Claire Bennett.
She stared.
“What?”
Harrington's voice was quiet.
“Your name was entered twenty years ago.”
“Why?”
“Because someone marked you as a potential threat.”
Claire felt the floor disappear beneath her.
“To whom?”
Harrington didn't answer.
The chapel doors opened.
Victor Sloane entered.
Behind him stood Richard.
And someone else.
Claire's eyes widened.
Madison.
Her sister was crying.
Sloane smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Claire stepped backward.
“What did you do to her?”
“Nothing.”
Madison shook her head.
“Claire, please.”
Claire looked at her sister.
“Why are you here?”
Madison whispered:
“Because Dad asked me to come.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Claire felt something inside her shatter.
“Dad?”
Richard stepped forward.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain now.”
He looked at the master record.
“You were never supposed to find that.”
Claire's voice became cold.
“Why?”
“Because your name isn't a target.”
“Then what is it?”
May you like
Richard stared at her.
“It's an inheritance.”
