Victoria stood.
“Then find him.”
Brooks hesitated.
“There's another issue.”
“What?”
“The aircraft he boarded was registered to a private medical transportation company.”
Victoria's expression tightened.
“Who owns it?”
Brooks turned the page.
The ownership record showed a holding company.
And the holding company belonged to a woman.
ELEANOR CARTER.
Victoria stared.
“Our mother?”
Brooks nodded.
“The company has been active for twelve years.”
Victoria sat slowly.
“Then she's alive.”
“Possibly.”
Victoria looked at the photograph again.
For the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that her family might still be together.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Victoria Carter.”
A woman's voice came through.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Victoria's hand trembled.
She recognized the voice immediately.
“Mom?”
There was a pause.
Then Eleanor spoke again.
“I know you found the archive.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Is Dad with you?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
“Why didn't you come home?”
Eleanor's voice became softer.
“Because I wasn't the only one hiding.”
Victoria frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I need you to listen carefully. Your father has something to tell you, but you must not come looking for us.”
“Mom, we've been searching for you.”
“I know.”
“General Cross is in custody.”
“I know that, too.”
“Then it's over.”
Eleanor was silent.
Finally, she said:
“No, sweetheart. Cross was only protecting the operation.”
Victoria stood.
“Who was running it?”
Eleanor answered with a single name.
“Someone inside the Department of Justice.”
Victoria's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
But before Eleanor could answer, another voice came through.
A man's voice.
Deep.
Familiar.
“Victoria?”
She could barely breathe.
“Dad?”
Thomas Carter spoke.
“Listen to me. You need to get David and Sophia out of that building.”
Victoria turned toward the window.
Outside, a black SUV had just pulled into the parking lot.
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark suit and carried a leather briefcase.
Victoria recognized him.
It was the Deputy Attorney General.
The man who had publicly praised her investigation.
The man who had approved the operation that placed General Cross in custody.
The man who had personally congratulated her for uncovering Harborlight.
Thomas's voice became urgent.
“Victoria, do not let him reach your brother.”
The call ended.
Victoria looked through the glass.
The Deputy Attorney General was already walking toward the entrance.
She grabbed her phone and called Agent Brooks.
“Lock down the building.”
“What's happening?”
“Someone just arrived.”
“Who?”
Victoria watched the man approach the security doors.
Then she answered:
“The man who approved our entire investigation.”
The doors opened.
He stepped inside.
And smiled at her.
“Good morning, Victoria.”
He placed a folder on her desk.
“I believe we need to discuss your family's history.”
Victoria looked at the folder.
On its cover was a single name.
DAVID CARTER.
Underneath it, in red letters, were four words:
TERMINATE SUBJECT FOUR IMMEDIATELY.
Victoria slowly raised her eyes.
The man smiled again.
“Your brother should never have survived Virginia.”