Chapter 5 - THE MESSAGE FROM THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD
Mom saw the photograph over my shoulder.
She stopped walking.
“Delete it.”
“No.”
“Lucas.”
“Who sent it?”
“I don't know.”
Carter took the phone.
His face became serious.
“Don't respond.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever sent this wants to know whether you received it.”
I looked at Mom.
“Did you lie about Dad?”
She looked away.
That hurt more than the message.
“Mom.”
“I didn't lie about everything.”
“That isn't an answer.”
She finally said, “I didn't know who killed him.”
“But you suspected someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Evan Cole.”
Carter's jaw tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Evan wasn't alone.”
The hallway suddenly felt too small.
“Who was with him?”
Mom didn't answer.
Then Carter said:
“Northstar.”
We left through a side entrance.
Carter's security team moved us into an SUV.
I sat between Mom and Carter.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Finally I asked:
“What happened to Evan Cole?”
Carter looked out the window.
“He was the operations commander during your mother's final deployment.”
“And?”
“He ordered her to abandon Daniel Hayes.”
Mom shook her head.
“That isn't what happened.”
“Then tell him.”
She looked at me.
“Daniel's aircraft was disabled.”
“By Northstar?”
“We believed so.”
“Did you see it?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Because Michael found the evidence.”
My father's name again.
“What evidence?”
Mom pulled out her phone.
She opened an old photograph.
A metal component.
A serial number.
“This was recovered from your father's aircraft.”
Carter leaned closer.
“Where did you get that?”
“Michael sent it to me the night before he died.”
“Why didn't you report it?”
“Because the report disappeared.”
“Who took it?”
“I don't know.”
I stared at the component.
“What does it prove?”
“That Northstar's navigation system was deliberately altered.”
I looked at Carter.
“Then why wasn't anyone arrested?”
“Because the evidence wasn't admissible.”
“Why?”
“Because the chain of custody was broken.”
I didn't understand.
Mom did.
“Someone inside the Air Force took it.”
Carter nodded.
“Exactly.”
The SUV slowed.
We were approaching my house.
But Carter suddenly told the driver to keep going.
“Why?”
“Because we're being followed.”
I looked through the rear window.
A black sedan was three cars behind us.
Mom recognized it.
“That's him.”
“Evan?”
She nodded.
The sedan followed us for six blocks.
Then turned away.
Carter exhaled.
“He wanted us to see him.”
“Why?”
“To scare us.”
Mom looked at me.
“He wants the watch.”
I touched the silver watch in my pocket.
“Why?”
“Because your father hid something inside it.”
I stared.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know what.”
Carter took the watch.
He examined the back.
Then he noticed something.
A tiny seam.
He looked at Mom.
“Rachel.”
She stepped closer.
“What?”
“This isn't the original casing.”
Mom's eyes widened.
“What?”
“The back was replaced.”
He pressed a small indentation.
The case opened.
Inside was a tiny strip of paper.
My hands shook.
I unfolded it.
Three numbers.
17-04-22.
Carter stared.
“Coordinates.”
“For what?”
He looked at Mom.
She whispered:
“Michael's locker.”
My heart stopped.
“My father had a locker?”
“At the old air base.”
“Is it still there?”
Carter nodded.
“Maybe.”
Then the phone rang.
Mom answered.
Her face changed.
“Who is this?”
A man's voice came through.
I couldn't hear the words.
Then Mom whispered:
“Evan.”
She ended the call.
“What did he say?”
She looked at me.
“He said if we open your father's locker…”
She paused.
“He'll release everything.”
“What everything?”
May you like
Mom's voice broke.
“Your father's final flight recording.”
