Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
The woman beside my father and General Whitmore wore my mother's old military uniform, but it wasn't the uniform that frightened me.
It was her face.
I knew her.
Not personally.
But I had seen that face hundreds of times.
On plaques.
In official photographs.
In archived military records.
Colonel Evelyn Morgan.
My mother's older sister.
My aunt.
The woman my family had spent twenty-five years refusing to discuss.
Madison whispered, “That's Aunt Evelyn.””
I nodded.
“I thought she was dead.””
“So did I.””
Grant took the photograph from my hand.
“Who is Evelyn Morgan?””
“My mother's sister.””
“Military?””
“Former Army intelligence.””
Grant's eyes narrowed.
“How former?””
“Retired before I was born.””
He studied the photograph.
“That's not what the records say.””
“What do they say?””
“She never retired.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
Grant turned the photograph over.
“According to the personnel database, Colonel Evelyn Morgan disappeared during an overseas intelligence operation twenty-three years ago.””
Madison shook her head.
“Our mother said she died.””
“When?””
“When I was little.””
“How?””
Madison looked at me.
“Plane crash.””
Grant's expression changed.
“There was no plane crash.””
The room seemed to shrink around us.
I looked at the photograph again.
Twenty-three years.
That was the same year written on the back.
The same year my mother supposedly stopped talking about Evelyn.
The same year my father began working with Whitmore.
The same year the operation that eventually became the procurement network apparently began.
I turned to Grant.
“Find her.””
“We're trying.””
“No.””
I pointed at the photograph.
“She wants me to find her.””
Grant looked at me.
“How do you know?””
“Because someone left this for me.””
I held up the burner phone.
“And whoever sent it knew exactly which photograph would make me start asking questions.””
Madison walked toward the window.
“She may be alive.””
I looked at her.
“If she is, she knows everything.””
A car passed outside.
We all watched it.
It continued down the street.
Grant checked his watch.
“We need to move.””
“Where?””
“Back to Fort Carson.””
“Why?””
“Because Jason's lawyer just contacted me.””
My stomach tightened.
“What happened?””
“He wants to revise his statement.””
“Why?””
Grant looked directly at me.
“Because Jason remembered something.””
We drove back to the base.
Jason was in a secure medical room, his shoulder bandaged.
When we entered, he looked at me.
“You found her.””
It wasn't a question.
I stopped.
“You know Evelyn.””
Jason closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
Madison moved toward him.
“You knew my aunt was alive?””
“I knew she might be.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Jason looked at her.
“Yes.””
Her face hardened.
“How long?””
“Six years.””
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the room.
Jason didn't react.
Madison stepped back, breathing hard.
“You knew she was alive for six years.””
“Yes.””
“And you watched us mourn her.””
“I was told never to speak about her.””
“By who?””
Jason looked at me.
“Your mother.””
My pulse jumped.
“What did she want?””
“She wanted Evelyn hidden.””
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn was the only person who could expose everything.””
I sat down.
“Start at the beginning.””
Jason nodded.
“Twenty-three years ago, Evelyn discovered that military procurement contracts were being manipulated.””
“By Whitmore?””
“Yes.””
“And my father?””
“Your father wasn't involved yet.””
I stared at him.
“Then how did he get involved?””
“Because Evelyn needed someone outside military intelligence.””
“Why him?””
“Your father was a financial auditor.””
I remembered.
My father had always described his old job as boring.
Numbers.
Budgets.
Contracts.
Paperwork.
Nothing dangerous.
Jason continued.
“He helped Evelyn trace the money.””
“And my mother?””
“She knew.””
“Did she help?””
Jason hesitated.
“She was the one who betrayed Evelyn.””
Madison shook her head.
“No.””
Jason looked at her.
“Your mother believed Evelyn was going to expose people who could destroy the entire family.””
“So she stopped her.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She gave Whitmore Evelyn's location.””
I felt sick.
“What happened to Evelyn?””
“Nothing.””
I stared at him.
“Nothing?””
“They captured her.””
“Then what?””
“She escaped.””
“When?””
“Three weeks later.””
“Where did she go?””
Jason shook his head.
“I don't know.””
I leaned forward.
“You've been lying to us.””
“No.””
“You said you didn't know where she was.””
“I don't.””
“Then how do you know she escaped?””
“Because she contacted me.””
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
My breathing stopped.
“After my case?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
Jason looked toward the window.
“She told me your mother had made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“She hadn't forged your signature to protect you.””
I felt cold.
“Then why?””
Jason's eyes met mine.
“Because your mother believed you were Evelyn's successor.””
I didn't understand.
“What does that mean?””
“She had trained you without telling you.””
Madison frowned.
“Our mother never trained Rachel for intelligence.””
Jason shook his head.
“She didn't have to.””
He pointed toward me.
“Rachel had the same instincts Evelyn had.””
I laughed once.
“That sounds ridiculous.””
“It isn't.””
He continued.
“Your mother knew you were asking questions about procurement accounts. She knew you'd eventually discover the money trail. So she forged the authorization to make it look like you were part of the operation.””
I stared at him.
“She destroyed my career to stop me from investigating.””
“Yes.””
“But why would she protect Whitmore?””
“Because Whitmore threatened Madison.””
My sister froze.
“What?””
Jason nodded.
“He knew your mother would do anything to keep you safe.””
Madison whispered, “Me?””
“He threatened to make you disappear.””
I looked at Jason.
“And you married her because of that?””
“Yes.””
“You were assigned to protect her.””
“Yes.””
Madison's face crumpled.
“You never told me.””
“I couldn't.””
“You could have trusted me.””
“I was afraid you'd be killed.””
She turned away.
I looked at Jason.
“Where is Evelyn now?””
“I don't know.””
“Who does?””
Jason hesitated.
Then he said, “Your mother.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Static.
Then a woman's voice.
“Rachel.””
I knew immediately.
My heart stopped.
“Evelyn?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
Madison covered her mouth.
I stood.
“Where are you?””
“You're asking the wrong question.””
“What should I ask?””
“Why did your mother let you come to Fort Carson?””
I looked at Jason.
“What does that mean?””
“She knew you'd be chosen.””
“How?””
“Because she made sure you would be.””
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
“What?””
“Rachel, listen carefully. Your appointment wasn't a coincidence.””
My throat tightened.
“She manipulated the selection?””
“No.””
A pause.
“She manipulated the person who made the recommendation.””
“Who?””
Evelyn breathed quietly.
Then said one name.
“General Whitmore.””
The call ended.
Jason looked at me.
“You understand now?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You were never brought here to replace me.””
I stared at him.
“Then why?””
“Because Whitmore wanted you where he could see you.””
The door opened.
Commander Grant stepped inside.
His face was pale.
“Captain.””
“What?””
“We have a problem.””
He held up his phone.
“General Whitmore just ordered your immediate arrest.””
I stared at him.
“On what charge?””
May you like
Grant's expression hardened.
“Espionage.””
