“Major Ellis?”
A figure appeared at the top of the stairs.
His face was older, thinner, and marked by a long scar.
But David recognized him.
Robert Ellis.
The missing major.
The man whose evidence had started everything.
He looked at David.
Then at Victoria.
And finally at the photograph in her hand.
“You shouldn't have opened that box.”
CHAPTER 7 — THE WITNESS WHO NEVER TESTIFIED
Robert Ellis descended the stairs slowly.
He wore civilian clothes and carried no visible weapon.
But Victoria immediately moved Sophia behind her.
“Stop there.”
Ellis raised both hands.
“I'm not here to hurt anyone.”
David stared at him.
“You were dead.”
Ellis gave a tired smile.
“That's what the records say.”
“You disappeared.”
“I was moved.”
“By whom?”
Ellis looked at Victoria.
“By the same people you're investigating.”
Victoria kept her eyes on him.
“Why didn't you contact us?”
“Because I was told your family was being watched.”
“You could have contacted me through the Inspector General.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
Victoria frowned.
“I never received anything.”
Ellis nodded.
“Exactly.”
He looked toward David.
“Your mother knew I was alive.”
David shook his head.
“No.”
“She visited me twice.”
“Where?”
“A secure medical facility in Maryland.”
David looked devastated.
“Mom knew?”
Ellis nodded.
“She told me she was trying to protect you.”
Victoria's voice sharpened.
“From whom?”
Ellis looked toward the window.
“General Cross.”
He explained that Cross had used Project Harborlight to relocate witnesses connected to unauthorized military operations.
The official justification was national security.
But the real purpose was to prevent testimony.
Some witnesses were placed under new identities.
Others were moved between facilities.
A few had simply vanished.
Ellis had discovered the operation after reviewing a flight manifest.
One aircraft had transported three civilians who were never entered into the destination facility's records.
He had reported it.
Then he had been accused of stealing classified documents.
Within forty-eight hours, he was declared missing.
David sat down.
“What happened to Captain Carter?”
Ellis looked at him.
“James?”
David nodded.
“He was on the aircraft.”
Ellis hesitated.
“He survived the transfer.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Is he alive?”
Ellis looked down.
“I believe so.”
David rubbed his forehead.
“Fourteen years.”
Ellis approached.
“I know.”
“You let us believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
David looked up angrily.
“You always had a choice.”
Ellis didn't defend himself.
Instead, he removed a small device from his pocket.
“This is why I came.”
Victoria studied it.
“What is it?”
“A copy of the original flight manifest.”
“Why bring it here?”
“Because the version inside your mother's box is incomplete.”
He placed the device on the table.
“The original contains one additional passenger.”
David frowned.
“Who?”
Ellis looked at him.
“Your father.”
The room went silent.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Thomas was on that aircraft?”
Ellis nodded.
“He was not killed on the highway. He was taken from the airfield and placed under a protected identity.”
David's voice cracked.