"Miss Blake!" Reeves shouted.
She stopped.
"You're not assigned to security operations."
"I know."
"Then stay here."
Eleanor looked at the general.
"Sir, if Miller is accessing the old transmission system, he could erase the only remaining evidence."
Whitmore hesitated.
Then he handed her a secure communication device.
"You're not going alone."
Reeves stepped forward.
"I'll accompany her."
The three moved toward the communications wing.
As they approached, the lights flickered.
A security officer appeared around the corner.
"General! The suspect is inside!"
Whitmore raised his hand.
"Hold your position."
From behind the locked door came the sound of a computer shutting down.
Then a loud crash.
The team forced the door open.
The room was empty.
The terminal had been damaged.
A chair lay overturned.
And on the desk was a small envelope.
Eleanor opened it.
Inside was a photograph of James Carter.
On the back, someone had written:
ASK THE GENERAL WHAT HE KNEW.
Eleanor slowly looked up.
Whitmore was standing behind her.
For the first time, she wondered whether the man she had trusted for years had been hiding something too.
Colonel Hayes spent the morning pacing inside his quarters.
His access had been suspended.
His command responsibilities had been transferred.
His assistant had stopped answering his calls.
For the first time in twenty-seven years, he was powerless.
And he blamed Eleanor Blake.
He had underestimated her.
That was the mistake.
But he refused to accept defeat.
At 1100 hours, he contacted an old associate through an encrypted channel.
The man answered after three rings.
"Hayes."
"I need help."
"That's unusual."
"Things have changed."
"I heard."
Hayes glanced toward the window.
"Do you still have the original archive?"
A pause.
"Why?"
"Because the general has found the transmission records."
The other man said nothing.
Hayes continued.
"I need the remaining files destroyed."
"That's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible."
"Marcus Whitmore has already activated an internal security investigation. If those files disappear now, it will only make things worse."
Hayes clenched his jaw.
"Then we need another solution."
"What kind?"
Hayes looked toward the door.
"Make sure Eleanor Blake stops asking questions."
The line went silent.
Then the man answered.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hayes lowered his voice.
"She should have stayed retired."
Across the installation, Eleanor was sitting in the general's office.
The photograph of James lay between them.
"General, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Did you know the extraction route had been changed before the mission?"
Whitmore looked down.
"I approved the revised route."
Eleanor's expression changed.
"What?"
"I received a recommendation from the logistics command. The intelligence report indicated the original route was compromised."
"Then why did we receive the original coordinates?"
Whitmore rubbed his forehead.
"Because the communication package was altered after approval."
"Who altered it?"
"I don't know."
Eleanor stood.
"You approved a route without verifying the final transmission?"
"I believed the verification had been completed."
"People died."
"I know."
"James died."
Whitmore closed his eyes.
"I know, Eleanor."
She turned away.
For several seconds, the only sound was the ticking clock.
Then Whitmore spoke.
"I have carried that failure for three years."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Did you ever suspect Hayes?"
"Not until yesterday."
"Why?"
"Because the authorization code was linked to his office, but the final transmission passed through a separate intelligence channel."
Eleanor looked at the photograph.
"Someone used him."
"Or he used someone else."
A knock interrupted them.
Captain Reeves entered.
"General, we have a problem."
"What now?"
"Sergeant Miller's vehicle was found abandoned near the eastern gate."
"Was he inside?"
"No, sir."
Reeves placed another document on the desk.
"We also found a maintenance access card in the vehicle."
Eleanor examined it.
The card belonged to a medical supply technician.
Sarah Mitchell.
She immediately stood.
"Where is Sarah?"
Reeves frowned.
"She's missing."
Eleanor felt her stomach tighten.
"How long?"
"Approximately forty minutes."
Whitmore grabbed his radio.
"Initiate a search. Check all medical facilities, storage areas, and service vehicles."
Eleanor was already heading toward the door.
Whitmore called after her.
"Miss Blake!"
She turned.
"I'm going to find her."
"Take security personnel."
Eleanor nodded.
They searched the medical department first.
Sarah's desk was empty.
Her personal belongings were still there.
A half-finished cup of coffee sat beside her computer.
Then Eleanor noticed something.
The computer screen was still active.
A message had been left open.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR FRIEND AGAIN, COME TO THE OLD MOTOR POOL. COME ALONE.
Eleanor stared at the screen.
Captain Reeves read it over her shoulder.
"Absolutely not."
"Sarah could be in danger."
"Which is why we call security."
Eleanor nodded.
But her expression had changed.
She was no longer thinking like a civilian employee.
She was thinking like the officer who had once led Task Force Raven.
She looked at Reeves.
"Tell the general I have a location."
"You're not going alone."
"I know."
Reeves called the security team.
Minutes later, they arrived at the old motor pool.
The building was dark.
One vehicle stood inside.
Its engine was still warm.
Eleanor approached carefully.
"Sarah?"
A faint sound came from behind a storage container.
"Eleanor?"
She moved toward it.
Sarah was sitting on the floor with her hands tied.
Eleanor knelt beside her.
"Are you hurt?"
Sarah shook her head.
"No. They wanted something."
"What?"
"Your old personnel file."
Eleanor stopped.
"Who?"
Sarah looked terrified.
"Colonel Hayes."
Before Eleanor could answer, a door slammed behind them.