Victor Hayes did not look like a dangerous man.
He was neither particularly large nor physically intimidating. His clothes were ordinary, his hair was neatly trimmed, and his expression remained surprisingly relaxed.
But Evelyn knew his history.
Victor had once worked as a technical intelligence specialist. He understood encrypted communications, restricted military systems, and the movement of sensitive equipment.
He had also been suspected of helping unauthorized organizations obtain classified transportation schedules.
When investigators attempted to question him, he disappeared.
Now he was sitting aboard Flight 708.
And he was not there by accident.
"How did you get on this flight?" Evelyn asked.
Victor smiled.
"Same way everyone else did. I bought a ticket."
"Under a false identity."
"Can you prove that?"
Evelyn glanced toward Daniel.
"Please keep the cabin secure and notify the captain that we have identified a person of interest."
Victor laughed.
"You still believe you control everything, don't you?"
Evelyn did not respond.
He leaned back.
"You haven't changed."
"Neither have you."
"That's where you're wrong."
Victor glanced toward Richard.
"Some people learn from their mistakes."
Richard looked away.
Evelyn noticed.
"Did Richard arrange your transportation?"
Victor shrugged.
"Ask him."
"Did he know you were on this aircraft?"
"Ask him."
Evelyn turned toward Richard.
"Mr. Whitmore?"
Richard's hands were trembling.
"I didn't know who he was."
Victor laughed loudly.
"That's an interesting statement."
Richard turned toward him.
"Shut up."
Victor continued.
"You knew exactly who I was when you received my message."
Lauren stared at her husband.
"You knew this man?"
Richard rubbed his face.
"I never met him personally."
Victor smiled.
"But you paid me."
The cabin went silent.
Lauren looked as though someone had struck her.
"What?"
Richard shook his head.
"He's lying."
Victor reached inside his jacket.
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
"Sir, don't move."
Victor stopped.
"Relax. I'm only showing you something."
He slowly removed a small black electronic device.
It was no larger than a smartphone.
He placed it on the tray table.
Evelyn studied it.
"Where did you get that?"
Victor smiled.
"Facility 0417."
The device contained encrypted files from the Northstar network.
Evelyn recognized the design immediately.
It was the missing storage unit.
"Give it to me."
Victor shook his head.
"Not so fast."
"What do you want?"
"Protection."
Evelyn stared at him.
"You're in federal custody the moment we land."
Victor laughed.
"You think I care about prison?"
"Then what do you care about?"
He looked toward Richard.
"I want the man who ordered Silent Harbor to pay for what he did."
Richard stood abruptly.
"You're insane!"
Victor ignored him.
"Do you know what happened after the explosion, Colonel? Do you know who gave the order to leave your team behind?"
Evelyn's face became completely still.
She had spent years searching for that answer.
Her official investigation had identified several possible suspects, but the evidence had always disappeared before it could be verified.
Victor leaned forward.
"Your team was betrayed."
Evelyn said nothing.
"Someone provided your location to the people waiting at the facility. Someone knew your exact route. Someone knew when your vehicle would arrive."
Victor looked directly at Richard.
"And someone paid for the information."
Lauren covered her mouth.
Richard's voice became desperate.
"That's not true!"
Victor smiled.
"Would you like me to show her the transfer records?"
Richard shook his head.
"No."
Victor tapped the electronic device.
"Every payment. Every account. Every authorization."
Evelyn stepped closer.
"Open the files."
Victor looked at her.
"Not until you promise me protection."
"I can promise you a fair legal process."
"I want immunity."
"That's not my decision."
"Then we have nothing to discuss."
Evelyn studied him.
Victor was trying to negotiate from a position of weakness.
He had an illegal identity, stolen classified information, and no guarantee that he would survive the flight.
But he also possessed evidence that could identify the person responsible for the deaths of two American service members.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"Victor, if you have the evidence, your best chance of survival is to hand it over."
He looked at her scar.
For a moment, his smile disappeared.
Then he whispered:
"You should be asking why your own government wanted you dead."
Evelyn did not move.
Victor continued.
"Because the person who authorized Silent Harbor wasn't a contractor."
He paused.
"He was a general."
Evelyn felt the words hit harder than she expected.
"Who?"
Victor looked toward the cockpit.
Then back at her.
"General Marcus Bennett."
Evelyn froze.
For the first time that evening, she had no immediate response.
Marcus Bennett had been her mentor.
Her commanding officer.
The man who had supported her investigation when everyone else had advised her to abandon it.
And now Victor Hayes was claiming that he had ordered the operation that killed her team.