The first-class cabin erupted into confusion.
Several passengers began speaking at once.
A woman near the window grabbed her husband's arm. An elderly man demanded an explanation. Someone called for a flight attendant.
Daniel moved quickly through the aisle.
"Everyone, please remain seated. The crew is handling the situation."
Evelyn stood beside seat 1A.
She looked toward Victor.
"Explain."
Victor shook his head.
"Not me."
"Then who?"
He looked toward the rear of the cabin.
Evelyn followed his gaze.
The passenger who had identified himself as David Miller was no longer sitting.
His seat was empty.
Daniel turned around.
"Where did he go?"
Patricia checked the aisle.
"I saw him heading toward the rear galley."
Evelyn immediately understood.
The mysterious passenger had never been interested in the Northstar device itself.
He had been waiting for the right moment to access the aircraft's communication equipment.
"Daniel, notify the captain. We have an unidentified passenger moving toward the rear section."
Daniel nodded and hurried away.
Evelyn turned toward Victor.
"Who is he?"
Victor hesitated.
"His real name is James Keller."
"What's his role?"
"Communications specialist. He worked with Hale."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Because I wasn't sure he was aboard."
Richard suddenly stood.
"James?"
Evelyn turned toward him.
"You know him?"
Richard looked terrified.
"He was supposed to handle the transfer."
"What transfer?"
Richard swallowed.
"The files."
Victor laughed bitterly.
"There's your answer."
Evelyn looked at Richard.
"You knew about the device."
Richard shook his head.
"I knew there was a storage unit. I didn't know it was on this flight."
"Who arranged the transfer?"
"I don't know."
"Richard."
He looked at her.
Then he whispered:
"General Bennett."
Evelyn felt her jaw tighten.
She had suspected it.
Now she had confirmation.
But before she could ask another question, the aircraft shook slightly.
A loud voice came from the rear.
"Everybody stay where you are!"
Daniel appeared near the galley entrance.
His face was tense.
"Captain, we have a passenger refusing crew instructions."
Evelyn began moving toward the aisle.
"Stay behind me," Daniel said instinctively.
She looked at him.
"Daniel, I appreciate your concern. But I know how to handle this."
She walked toward the rear section.
The passengers watched her pass.
The woman in the charcoal-gray blazer who had been humiliated over a seat assignment was now moving with complete confidence.
Her steps were measured.
Her shoulders were relaxed.
Her eyes never stopped scanning the cabin.
When she reached the rear galley, she found James Keller standing beside a service compartment.
He held a small communication device.
"Put it down," Evelyn said.
James turned.
His expression changed when he recognized her.
"Colonel Carter."
"James."
He laughed.
"I didn't think you'd make it this far."
"Neither did the people who tried to kill me."
James looked toward Daniel.
"Stay out of this."
Daniel raised his hands.
"I'm just trying to keep everyone safe."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Who gave you the override command?"
James smiled.
"You already know."
"General Bennett?"
"You're smarter than I expected."
"Then you should know that the system you're using is being recorded."
James glanced at the device.
His confidence weakened.
Evelyn continued.
"The airline has already preserved the communication logs. The authorization codes are being traced. Every attempt to interfere with this aircraft is becoming evidence."
James shook his head.
"You don't understand. Bennett has people everywhere."
"Then perhaps it's time we found out who they are."
James suddenly moved toward the communication panel.
Daniel stepped backward.
Evelyn reacted immediately.
"Don't!"
James stopped.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then the communication device slipped from his hand and landed on the carpet.
Daniel quickly moved away from it.
Evelyn looked at James.
"Step away from the panel."
He hesitated.
Then he raised both hands.
The situation had changed.
James was no longer controlling the aircraft's communication system.
But Evelyn knew that the danger was not over.
She returned to the first-class cabin.
Victor was still seated.
Richard was staring at the floor.
Lauren was crying quietly.
"Colonel," Victor said, "you should check the final file."
Evelyn picked up the Northstar device.
"What's in it?"
"The authorization record from Silent Harbor."
She opened the file interface.
A list of encrypted documents appeared.
She scrolled through them until she found a folder marked:
OPERATION SILENT HARBOR β FINAL AUTHORIZATION
Her fingers stopped.
She opened it.
A scanned document appeared on the screen.
At the top was the official military seal.
Below it was a list of names.
Two names belonged to the colleagues who had died during the operation.
Another belonged to Evelyn.
At the bottom was the authorization signature.
GENERAL MARCUS BENNETT.
But something else caught her attention.
The document contained a second authorization.
A signature from someone who had approved the operation before Bennett.
Someone whose name appeared above his.
Evelyn leaned closer.
Her face lost its color.
It was not the signature of a military officer.
It belonged to a senior official in the United States government.
Victor watched her reaction.
"You see it now."
Evelyn slowly looked up.
"Who is this person?"
Victor's voice became quiet.
"The man who created the entire network."
Before he could say the name, the aircraft intercom sounded again.
"Colonel Carter, this is Captain Reynolds."
Evelyn picked up the handset.
"Go ahead."
"We have established contact with an independent federal security team. They are waiting for us at our destination."
"Which team?"
The captain paused.
"An investigative unit operating under the authority of the Department of Justice."
Evelyn exhaled.
"Have you verified their credentials?"
"Yes. Through two independent channels."
"Good. Maintain the flight plan."
She returned the handset.
For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to breathe.
But Victor was still watching her.
"There's one final thing."
Evelyn turned.
"What?"
Victor looked at the authorization document.
"The person who signed above Bennett isn't waiting for you in Washington."
Evelyn stared at him.
"Where is he?"
Victor answered with a faint smile.
"He's already at the airport."