A figure stepped into the light.
It was Sergeant Miller.
He held a small device in his hand.
"Sorry, Miss Blake."
Eleanor slowly stood.
"What do you want?"
Miller glanced at Sarah.
"The original mission archive."
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're involved in."
Miller gave a nervous laugh.
"Actually, I know exactly what I'm involved in."
He raised the device.
"And so does Colonel Hayes."
For a moment, nobody moved.
Eleanor stood between Sarah and Sergeant Miller.
Miller's hand trembled as he held the device.
It was a small electronic detonator connected to an industrial security alarm system.
It was not a weapon designed for combat.
But in the confined motor pool, it was enough to create panic and chaos.
"Put it down," Eleanor said.
Miller shook his head.
"Don't come closer."
"Sarah has nothing to do with this."
"Neither did James Carter."
The name struck the room like a gunshot.
Eleanor's expression changed.
"What did you say?"
Miller looked away.
"I said he had nothing to do with it."
"How do you know his name?"
"Because I was there."
Eleanor took one slow step forward.
"You were part of Silent Harbor?"
Miller nodded.
"I handled logistics."
"You changed the coordinates."
"No."
"Then who did?"
Miller swallowed.
"Colonel Hayes."
Eleanor stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because someone paid him."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Miller looked desperate.
"I'm telling you the truth. I only handled the transmission."
Eleanor's voice became quieter.
"Did you know the team would be attacked?"
Miller's eyes filled with fear.
"I didn't know."
"Did you know James would die?"
"No!"
His voice cracked.
"I swear I didn't know."
Sarah slowly moved her hands behind the storage container, trying to loosen the rope.
Miller noticed.
"Don't move!"
Eleanor raised both hands.
"Listen to me. Whatever Hayes promised you, he won't protect you."
Miller laughed bitterly.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Then help us."
"He'll kill me."
"Not if you cooperate."
Miller looked at her.
"You don't understand. Hayes isn't the one making the decisions anymore."
Eleanor froze.
"What does that mean?"
Miller opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, a loud voice came from outside.
"Military police! Drop the device!"
Captain Reeves entered with four armed security personnel.
Miller panicked.
He pressed the button.
A deafening alarm sounded.
Red emergency lights flashed across the building.
Sarah covered her ears.
Eleanor moved quickly, pulling her away from the equipment area.
The security team restrained Miller within seconds.
The device fell to the floor.
Reeves approached Eleanor.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He helped Sarah stand.
"Medical team is on the way."
Miller was taken into custody.
As he passed Eleanor, he stopped.
"Miss Blake."
She turned.
He lowered his voice.
"Ask Whitmore about the second authorization."
"What second authorization?"
Miller looked toward the officers.
"Don't trust the first story you hear."
Then he was escorted away.
Twenty minutes later, the motor pool was secured.
Sarah sat in the medical department with a blanket around her shoulders.
Eleanor remained beside her.
"I'm sorry," Sarah whispered.
"For what?"
"They took me because of you."
Eleanor shook her head.
"They took you because they were afraid of the truth."
Sarah looked at her.
"Is this really about something that happened three years ago?"
"Yes."
"Did someone die?"
Eleanor looked down.
"Someone I loved."
Sarah reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry."
Eleanor gave a small nod.
Across the installation, Captain Reeves was reviewing the security footage from the motor pool.
He found something unusual.
Before Miller arrived, another vehicle had entered the compound.
Its license plate belonged to an administrative transport assigned to headquarters.
The driver was not Colonel Hayes.
It was a senior intelligence officer.
Reeves immediately printed the image and took it to General Whitmore.
The general examined it.
His expression became dark.
"Where is this officer now?"
"At headquarters, sir."
"Name?"
"Major Adrian Cole."
Whitmore slowly lowered the photograph.
He recognized the name.
Cole had served as an intelligence liaison during Operation Silent Harbor.
He had also been responsible for verifying the final extraction coordinates.
The general stood.
"Get me his current location."
"Yes, sir."
"And Captain?"
Reeves stopped.
"Sir?"
"Do not tell anyone about this photograph."
Reeves nodded.
Meanwhile, Eleanor entered the general's office.
She placed Miller's statement on the desk.
"He admitted Hayes changed the coordinates."
Whitmore nodded.
"We'll obtain a formal statement."
"There's more."
She explained Miller's warning about the second authorization.
Whitmore became very still.
"What second authorization?"
"He wouldn't explain."
The general turned toward his computer.
He opened the original mission file and searched for the authorization history.
One record appeared.
Then another.
The first approval belonged to Colonel Hayes.
The second belonged to Major Adrian Cole.
Whitmore stared at the screen.
"That can't be right."
Eleanor leaned forward.
"Who is Cole?"
"An intelligence officer who handled the final verification."
"Was he involved in the operation?"
"Yes."
"Could he have changed the transmission?"
Whitmore did not answer immediately.
Then he opened a personnel photograph.
A middle-aged officer appeared on the screen.
Major Adrian Cole.
Eleanor recognized him instantly.
She had seen him three years earlier.
He had been standing beside the extraction vehicle on the night James died.
She remembered his words.
"Everything is confirmed. You're clear to proceed."
Eleanor felt the room grow cold.
"General."
Whitmore looked at her.
"What?"
"He was there."
"Who?"
"Major Cole. He told us the route was safe."