Chapter 3 - The Empty Safe
Derek practically ran out of the luxury hotel, his mind racing with sheer panic.
He ignored the confused shouts of his colleagues and threw himself into the driver's seat of his SUV.
He needed to get back to his secure office on the military base immediately.
Operation Sandstorm was the classified mission where Captain David Bennett had died in a violent ambush.
Derek had personally ordered the tactical retreat that left David's unit completely stranded without air support.
He had later falsified the combat logs to make it look like David had disobeyed a direct order.
If Eleanor Bennett somehow had access to the real, unedited combat logs, Derek was going to spend the rest of his life in federal prison.
He slammed his foot on the gas pedal, running two red lights on his way back to Fort Liberty.
He flashed his identification badge at the heavily armed gate guards and sped toward the command building.
His office was located on the third floor behind two reinforced steel doors.
He locked the heavy wooden door of his private office behind him and rushed to the large painting on the wall.
He tore the painting down, revealing a state-of-the-art biometric wall safe.
He pressed his thumb against the glowing green scanner, praying the original files were exactly where he had left them.
The heavy steel door clicked open with a quiet hiss.
Derek reached his hand inside the dark metal cavity, expecting to feel the thick manila folder containing his damning secrets.
His fingers grasped nothing but cold, empty air.
He grabbed a flashlight from his desk and shined the bright beam directly into the safe.
The classified folder was entirely gone.
In its place sat a single, pristine white envelope with his name written on it.
Derek opened the envelope with trembling hands and pulled out a small index card.
May you like
The handwriting on the card belonged to the dead soldier he had abandoned in the desert.
"Did you really think I wouldn't leave a backup for my mother?" the note read.
