“The people who created the false identities are still operating. They have access to law enforcement databases, federal records, sealed court files, and witness protection information.”
“Who leads them?”
Thomas looked at her.
“Someone who is supposed to be dead.”
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Thomas took a breath.
“Former Attorney General Charles Whitmore.”
Agent Carter looked stunned.
“Whitmore died fifteen years ago.”
Thomas nodded.
“That's what the public record says.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“And you have evidence?”
Thomas nodded.
“An audio recording. Financial transfers. Original identity documents. And a list of every official who participated.”
“Where?”
Thomas looked at Catherine.
She opened her handbag and removed a small silver key.
“Room 214.”
Evelyn recognized the number.
The same number written on the note recovered from the abandoned vehicle.
She looked at Catherine.
“You have the original file?”
Catherine nodded.
“Not the entire file.”
“What do you have?”
“The part that proves who ordered the operation.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“But we need to get there before Grant's people do.”
Evelyn looked toward Agent Carter.
“Secure the building.”
Carter nodded.
“Already doing it.”
“Contact the federal field office. Request an independent team. No local personnel.”
“Understood.”
Evelyn turned back to Thomas.
“One more question.”
He waited.
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
Thomas's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely ashamed.
“Because I was told that if I contacted you, they would kill you.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“And you believed them?”
Thomas nodded.
“I had no choice.”
Catherine spoke quietly.
“He was protecting you.”
Evelyn turned toward her.
“Don't defend him.”
Catherine looked down.
Evelyn continued.
“I spent eleven years believing I had failed my partner. I carried that failure into every investigation. I watched people die because I thought I wasn't fast enough to save them.”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't know what it feels like to attend a funeral for someone who might still be alive. You don't know what it feels like to see his photograph every morning and wonder whether you could have done something differently.”
Thomas said nothing.
Evelyn's voice softened.
“Why didn't you trust me?”
He looked at her.
“Because I knew you would come looking.”
She stared at him.
“And?”
“And they would have found you.”
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she placed the photograph back into her folder.
“We're going to Room 214.”
Thomas nodded.
Catherine looked toward the entrance.
“Then we need to move now.”
A sudden crash sounded behind them.
The lobby lights went out.
Someone shouted.
A security alarm began ringing.
Agent Carter reached for his radio.
“Control, this is Carter. Report.”
Static.
He tried again.
“Control, respond.”
Nothing.
Evelyn looked toward the front doors.
They were closing automatically.
A figure appeared on the other side of the glass.
A man in a dark suit.
He raised one hand.
And waved directly at her.
Thomas went pale.
“That's him.”
Evelyn looked at the man.
“Who?”
Thomas whispered:
“Charles Whitmore.”
The man outside smiled.
Then he held up a small device.
Every security monitor in the lobby switched on simultaneously.
A message appeared across all the screens.
WELCOME BACK, AGENT BROOKS.
Underneath it was a second line.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
Evelyn stared at the screens.
Then the final message appeared.
YOUR SISTER IS NOT WHO SHE SAYS SHE IS.
Catherine slowly stepped away from Evelyn.
Thomas turned toward her.
“Catherine?”
She said nothing.
Evelyn looked at her twin sister.
For the first time since they had met, Catherine seemed frightened.
And Evelyn realized that the investigation had just become far more dangerous than she had imagined.
End of Part 2.