Inside was a small black recording device.
And beside it was an envelope.
The envelope had one name written across the front.
SERGEANT MARCUS COLE.
He opened it.
There was a single sheet of paper.
Only one sentence.
YOUR BROTHER IS ALIVE — BUT YOU MUST NOT TRUST THE MAN WHO SENT YOU HERE.
Marcus looked toward the doorway.
Dr. Lawson was gone.
And the security alarm had suddenly stopped.
7. THE VOICE FROM THE RECORDING
Marcus picked up the recording device.
A small red light blinked.
It had power.
He pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then a familiar voice emerged.
"Marcus..."
His knees almost gave way.
He knew that voice.
He had heard it in childhood, in old family recordings, and in the few memories he still carried of his older brother.
"Marcus, if you're hearing this, then Rex found you."
A pause.
"Listen carefully. I don't have much time."
Marcus stared at the device.
Emily stood beside him, silent.
The voice continued.
"They told you I died six years ago. They told you the mission failed. They told you there was nothing left to investigate."
A breath.
"Every word was a lie."
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
"Christopher?"
The recording continued.
"Rex remembers everything. He was there when they moved me. He was there when they took the original records. And he was there when I discovered what they were doing inside this hospital."
Marcus looked toward the dog.
Rex sat beside him.
The recording crackled.
"Don't let them take him away from you. The tag marked C.C. is not just my identification. It's the key to the original transfer record."
Emily frowned.
"Transfer record?"
Marcus continued listening.
"Room 417 is only the beginning. There's another file. It contains the names of everyone involved."
The voice lowered.
"One of them wears a military uniform."
Marcus looked down at his own uniform.
Then Christopher spoke again.
"And one of them works at St. Mary's."
The recording ended.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Emily whispered:
"Marcus..."
He looked at her.
"What?"
She glanced at the door.
"There's something I didn't tell you."
"What?"
Emily took a shaky breath.
"Six years ago, I was assigned to this hospital's military rehabilitation program."
Marcus stared.
"And?"
She looked toward Rex.
"Christopher was one of my patients."
Marcus's expression changed.
"You knew he was alive?"
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"I thought he was dead. They told me he died during treatment."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was threatened."
"By whom?"
Emily hesitated.
Before she could answer, footsteps echoed outside.
Several people were approaching.
Marcus moved toward the doorway.
A group of armed security personnel appeared at the end of the corridor.
At their center stood Dr. Lawson.
But he was no longer alone.
A military officer in a dark green uniform walked beside him.
The officer stopped when he saw Marcus.
Then he smiled.
"Sergeant Cole."
Marcus recognized him.
Colonel James Whitaker.
His former commanding officer.
The man who had personally informed him that Christopher was dead.
Whitaker looked at the German Shepherd.
"Well," he said calmly. "I see you found the dog."
Marcus tightened his grip on the recording device.
"Where is my brother?"
Whitaker's smile disappeared.
"That's a complicated question."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Then give me a complicated answer."
Whitaker looked at the security personnel.
"Take the dog."
Rex immediately moved in front of Marcus.
The German Shepherd bared his teeth.
Marcus raised one hand.
"Nobody touches him."
Whitaker sighed.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
"Understand what?"
The colonel looked directly at him.
"Your brother wasn't the reason we brought you here."
Marcus frowned.
Whitaker continued.
"Christopher was."
He paused.
"And now that you've found his recording, there's no reason to keep pretending."