Chapter 7 - The Grave with His Name
Michael stood beside his own grave.
Lisa recognized him before he turned.
Older.
Gray at the temples.
Lean.
But still her brother.
For one second, neither moved.
Then Lisa ran.
Michael caught her.
She hit his chest with both hands.
Once.
Twice.
Then held him.
“You were alive.”
“I know.”
“You were alive.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you left.”
His face broke.
“I know.”
She pulled away.
“Why?”
Michael looked toward the headstone.
DANIEL CROSS.
BELOVED SOLDIER.
1998.
“I was supposed to testify.”
“Against Thomas Bennett.”
“Against two officers.”
“Against a contractor network.”
“Margaret was running the investigation.”
“The helicopter crash was supposed to kill all of us.”
“Who arranged it?”
“We never proved it.”
“Evelyn?”
Michael hesitated.
“I don’t know.”
Lisa was frustrated.
“After the crash, Margaret and I were hidden by an internal security team.”
“Then we realized the team itself had been compromised.”
“So we disappeared.”
“For twenty-two years?”
Michael looked ashamed.
“At first, months.”
“Then years.”
“Every time we got close to exposing it, someone vanished.”
“Witnesses died.”
“Records disappeared.”
Lisa looked at him.
“And Dad?”
“Evelyn told him you would be hurt.”
“He believed her.”
“So did I.”
Lisa felt tears.
“You believed she would hurt me?”
“I watched what happened to people who crossed the network.”
Michael continued.
“Then Evelyn started demanding money from Dad.”
“When he died, she shifted toward you.”
Lisa’s monthly six thousand.
She understood.
“Why didn’t you contact me after Dad died?”
“I tried.”
Michael looked toward her.
“Ryan intercepted it.”
Lisa froze.
“When?”
“Before your wedding.”
Michael sent a letter through a private courier.
Ryan received it.
He never gave it to Lisa.
Instead, he contacted Evelyn.
That was when Evelyn realized Michael was still actively watching.
“So she pushed Ryan toward me.”
Lisa whispered.
Michael nodded.
“The marriage gave them access.”
“To you.”
“To your company.”
“To anything Dad might have left.”
Lisa thought she might be sick.
Then Michael said.
“Ryan was supposed to find the Founder Archive.”
“He never did.”
“Until now.”
“Who stole the drive?”
Michael looked toward the cemetery road.
“Margaret.”
Lisa’s face changed.
“She stole from me?”
“To keep Evelyn from getting it.”
“Then why not ask me?”
Michael almost smiled.
“Because Margaret still thinks like intelligence.”
“That means she assumes everyone is compromised until proven otherwise.”
Lisa looked at him.
“Is she?”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Compromised?”
May you like
Michael looked away.
“That’s the question I came here to answer.”
