Daniel ordered an immediate search of the old family records.
Rebecca was brought into the investigation after Thomas finally explained what he had concealed.
She was furious.
“You knew Mom might be alive?”
Thomas looked at his daughter.
“I suspected.”
“You let us believe she was dead!”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“That's what you always say.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Rebecca, I know you're angry. I am too. But we need the truth.”
Thomas opened the wooden box he had brought from his old safe house.
At the bottom was a sealed envelope.
It contained photographs of Elizabeth, several identification documents, and a letter addressed to Daniel.
The letter was dated six months before her disappearance.
My dearest Daniel,
If something happens to me, remember that your father did everything he could to keep this family together. There are people who believe that information belongs to them simply because they have the power to hide it.
Your mother has never believed that.
If you ever discover the truth about my work, do not assume that everyone wearing a badge is your enemy. But never assume that a title makes someone trustworthy.
Daniel read the final paragraph.
And if you ever hear the name Black Veil, please remember that it was never created to protect people. It was created to decide which people were worth protecting.
Daniel lowered the letter.
“Mom knew about Project Black Veil.”
Thomas nodded.
“She knew more than I did.”
Rebecca looked at the photographs.
“Then we find her.”
Daniel placed the letter inside the evidence folder.
“Yes.”
He paused.
“But this time, nobody gets to disappear without us knowing why.”
CHAPTER 45 — THE FIRST BLACK VEIL FACILITY
Monica discovered that Northbridge Strategic had leased several abandoned government buildings over the previous decade.
One property was located outside Baltimore.
Another was in northern Virginia.
The third was an old communications facility near a military installation.
Daniel examined the locations.
“Which one has the most recent activity?”
“The Baltimore facility.”
“Any official purpose?”
“According to the lease, it's a document-storage center.”
Daniel looked at the photographs.
“Then why does it have a private security perimeter?”
Monica shrugged.
“That's what we're trying to determine.”
Daniel requested a judicial preservation order.
A federal investigative team accompanied him to the facility.
The building appeared deserted.
The parking lot was empty.
The main entrance was secured by a reinforced steel door.
A security guard approached.
“Can I help you?”
Daniel displayed his credentials.
“We're conducting a federal investigation. We need access to the premises.”
The guard examined the identification.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“Mr. Hayes, we've been expecting you.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Who told you?”
The guard did not answer.
He stepped aside and unlocked the door.
Inside, the facility was fully operational.
Rows of servers lined the walls.
Several offices contained active computer terminals.
On one monitor, Daniel saw a live image of himself standing at the entrance.
Monica stared at the screen.
“They've been monitoring the building.”
Daniel approached the terminal.
A file was open.
Its title read:
BLACK VEIL — SUBJECT 004: DANIEL HAYES.
CHAPTER 46 — SUBJECT 004
The file contained hundreds of pages.
Daniel's childhood photographs.
School records.
Employment history.
Military service records.
Professional evaluations.
Personal correspondence.
Even photographs taken outside his family home.
Monica began examining the database.
“Sir, this isn't just a personnel file.”
“What is it?”
“It's a behavioral profile.”
Daniel looked at the screen.
The system contained psychological assessments, decision-making patterns, stress responses, and predictions about how Daniel would react to specific situations.
One section described his response to authority.
Another analyzed his relationships with his father and sister.
A final section contained a detailed prediction.
SUBJECT LIKELY TO PURSUE INSTITUTIONAL CORRUPTION WHEN FAMILY CONNECTIONS ARE REVEALED.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“They predicted this?”
Monica nodded slowly.
“Apparently.”
A second document appeared.
It listed four other subjects.
SUBJECT 001 — UNKNOWN.
SUBJECT 002 — REBECCA HAYES.