"I told her he was inside. She said that was impossible because she had watched him leave the building."
The technician glanced at Vanessa.
She raised her hand.
"Continue."
Thomas's voice became quieter.
"Then I heard a gunshot."
The room went silent.
"I ran toward the door. Vanessa was standing in the hallway. There was blood on the floor. She was holding a key."
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
The recording continued.
"She looked at me and said something I will never forget."
A pause.
"She said, 'If they ask, I was never here.'"
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The recording continued.
"I didn't understand. I thought she was in shock. But then she looked directly at me and said..."
Another pause.
"Thomas, you need to forget everything you saw tonight."
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Ethan slowly turned toward Vanessa.
"Did you shoot him?"
Vanessa opened her eyes.
"I don't remember."
Bell looked at her.
"Carter..."
She stood abruptly.
"I need the full archive."
Bell rose.
"We'll get it."
"No. I need it now."
"You're not going alone."
Vanessa looked at him.
"Then come with me."
She walked toward the door.
Ethan followed.
"Agent Carter, wait."
She stopped.
He looked at her.
"My father trusted you."
Vanessa said nothing.
Ethan continued.
"He gave you the key. He left you the recording. He believed you were the person who could finish this."
Vanessa looked at him.
"And what if he was wrong?"
Ethan shook his head.
"He wasn't."
She studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Let's find Room 17."
PART 13 — THE ARCHIVE THAT NEVER EXISTED
The federal archive was located beneath an administrative building that had been scheduled for demolition.
It was not listed on the public facility map.
Its official designation had been removed from the agency directory years earlier.
Only a handful of senior officials knew it existed.
Vanessa entered with Bell and Foster.
Ethan remained in the vehicle with another agent.
At the security entrance, Bell presented the federal authorization.
The guard scanned it.
A red light appeared.
He scanned it again.
Another red light.
"Access denied."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Try my credentials."
The guard hesitated.
"Agent Carter, your access has been suspended."
Vanessa looked at him.
"By whom?"
The guard checked the screen.
"Assistant Director Mitchell."
Bell turned toward her.
Vanessa's face became unreadable.
"Open the manual log."
"I can't."
"Then call your supervisor."
The guard hesitated.
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Someone has already used my credentials to access a classified archive. If you refuse to document this denial, you may become part of the investigation."
The guard picked up the phone.
A few minutes later, the security door opened.
A senior archivist appeared.
His name was Walter Price.
He looked at Vanessa for a long moment.
Then he said something unexpected.
"You're not supposed to remember this place."
Vanessa stared at him.
"Do I know you?"
Price shook his head.
"You don't remember me."
"Why?"
"Because you asked us to erase the records."
Vanessa's expression tightened.
"Which records?"
"Room 17."
Bell stepped forward.
"What happened in Room 17?"
Price looked at him.
Then he turned back to Vanessa.
"Your former supervisor was not the only person in that room."
Vanessa felt a chill.
"Who else?"
Price lowered his voice.
"Yourself."
She stared at him.
"Explain."
Price opened a drawer and removed a thick paper file.
"Six years ago, you came here under a different identity. You requested access to the original Nightfall archive."
Vanessa looked at the file.
"That wasn't possible. I was assigned to another division."
Price shook his head.
"Not according to the record."
He placed a photograph on the counter.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a younger man.
She recognized herself.
But she did not recognize the man.
Price tapped the photograph.
"His name was Daniel Mitchell."
Vanessa looked at him.
"Daniel died six years ago."
Price nodded.
"That's what the official report says."
He opened the file.
Inside was a signed access request.
The signature belonged to Vanessa.
The date was six years earlier.
She read the handwritten note at the bottom.
I AUTHORIZE THE REMOVAL OF ALL RECORDS RELATING TO ROOM 17.
Vanessa stared at it.
"I didn't sign this."
Price looked at her.
"Then someone has been using your identity for longer than you think."
Bell turned toward the archivist.
"Who authorized the removal?"
Price hesitated.
Then he opened the final page.
A name appeared.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HELEN MITCHELL.
Vanessa looked up.
"Who is Helen Mitchell?"
Price studied her.
"Your current supervisor."
Vanessa's phone began vibrating.
She looked at the screen.
A secure message had arrived.
FROM: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MITCHELL
DO NOT OPEN ROOM 17.
A second message followed.
I'M COMING TO YOU.
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Then she looked at Bell.
"Lock the building."
Bell nodded.
"What's happening?"
Vanessa looked toward the corridor.
"Someone has finally realized we're close."
A door opened at the far end.
Footsteps echoed through the archive.
A woman emerged.
She wore a dark blue suit and carried a black leather folder.
Her hair was silver at the temples.
Her face was calm.
It was Assistant Director Helen Mitchell.
She looked directly at Vanessa.
"Vanessa."
Vanessa did not move.
"Director."
Mitchell glanced at the file.
Then at the photograph.
"Put it down."
Vanessa looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you don't understand what you're looking at."
"Then explain it."
Mitchell sighed.
"I was hoping we could avoid this."
Vanessa closed the folder.
"That was your mistake."
Mitchell looked toward Bell.
"Agent Bell, step aside."
Bell remained still.