Chapter 5 - The Admiral's Private War
Blackwood was waiting in the conference room when I arrived.
Two senior officers stood beside him. A legal adviser sat at the far end of the table with a thick folder open in front of him.
The admiral looked composed again.
That worried me.
"Commander Ward," he began, "I've received troubling reports about your handling of classified material."
"From whom?"
"Multiple sources."
"Names?"
"That's not relevant."
"It becomes relevant when you're accusing me of misconduct."
His jaw tightened.
The legal adviser intervened.
"Commander, the admiral is requesting that you surrender your access credentials pending a formal review."
I placed a copy of the authorization on the table.
"My credentials were issued under direct federal authority. You don't have the jurisdiction to suspend them."
Blackwood leaned forward.
"You've made quite a spectacle of yourself today."
"You slapped me in front of two thousand witnesses."
His expression hardened.
"I was maintaining discipline."
"No. You were angry because I refused to obey an unlawful demand."
One of the officers beside him looked down.
Blackwood noticed.
"You should be careful, Commander. Careers can end very quickly."
"So can investigations."
He rose from his chair.
"You're dismissed."
I remained seated.
"Not until I receive a copy of the records you requested me to surrender."
His hand struck the table.
"You insolent—"
The legal adviser stood.
"Admiral, I strongly recommend that we take a recess."
Blackwood glared at him, then at me.
I gathered my documents and left.
Outside, General Cross was waiting.
"I heard about the meeting."
"Then you heard him threaten me."
"I did."
"Are you going to stop him?"
Cross's face was grave.
"I'm going to make sure the investigation remains within the law."
It wasn't the answer I wanted.
But it was the answer of a man who understood that rushing could destroy a case.
That evening, we reviewed the financial evidence with a federal investigative liaison.
Meridian had received payments from a shell company connected to a classified logistics budget. Some of that money had been used to purchase intelligence about allied military movements.
The payments had continued after Reaper Seven.
A portion had also been directed toward a private account belonging to a relative of Blackwood's.
The evidence suggested a serious scheme, but it didn't yet prove the admiral had personally ordered every transaction.
We needed the original communications.
We needed a witness.
And we needed Daniel.
At 9:36 p.m., my secure phone rang.
The caller ID was blocked.
I answered.
"Commander Ward."
A familiar voice came through the speaker.
"Still answering like you're standing in formation."
I gripped the phone.
"Daniel?"
"Hello, Elena."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
I had imagined this conversation a thousand times. In some versions, I shouted at him. In others, I demanded to know why he had abandoned us.
Now all I could manage was one question.
"Are you alive?"
A quiet laugh.
"Last time I checked."
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you over this line."
"Daniel, I buried you."
"I know."
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I didn't have a choice."
"Everyone has a choice."
Silence.
Then he spoke softly.
"Not when the people threatening your family have access to your commander's credentials."
The anger in my chest faltered.
"Your family?"
"My sister and her children. They were watched for months. Every time I tried to contact you, someone reminded me what would happen if I came back."
"Who?"
"Blackwood arranged the operation. Someone higher up protected him."
"Cross?"
"I don't know."
The answer surprised me.
Daniel continued.
"I sent you those messages because I finally have the original files. The payment records. The mission logs. Everything."
"Then bring them in."
"I will. But not until I know you're safe."
I almost laughed.
"You know what happened to my face today?"
"I saw the footage."
"Then you know I'm not the one who needs protection."
"Elena, listen to me. Blackwood isn't trying to protect his career anymore. He's trying to protect someone else's secret."
A vehicle passed near his end of the call.
He lowered his voice.
"Meet me at the old coastal observation station tomorrow at dawn. Come alone."
"Absolutely not."
"Then bring the people you trust."
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
May you like
For the first time in twelve years, I knew Daniel was alive.
And tomorrow, I would discover why he had stayed hidden.
