Chapter 8: The Father of the Boy I Saved
I read the name on the report.
Colonel Thomas Reddick.
For three years, I had considered him one of the few people who truly understood what my sacrifice meant.
He had visited me during rehabilitation.
He had sent flowers on the anniversary of the rescue.
He had once written a letter thanking me for bringing his son home.
And now his voice was appearing in a recording from the night someone deliberately destroyed my leg.
“That can't be right,” I said.
Agent Grant remained silent.
“Colonel Reddick was the first person who visited me after surgery.””
“I understand.””
“He thanked me for saving Michael.””
“I understand, Commander.””
“He stood beside my bed and cried.””
Agent Grant closed the folder.
“People can have more than one reason for visiting someone.””
I looked at the recording again.
“Have you spoken to him?””
“Not yet.””
“Then I want to.””
“That's not advisable.””
“I'm not asking whether it's advisable.””
She studied me.
“Commander, Colonel Reddick has significant influence within the military. We need to approach this carefully.””
I leaned forward.
“He was involved in the operation that cost me my leg. I deserve an explanation.””
Agent Grant finally nodded.
“I'll arrange a controlled interview.””
Three hours later, Colonel Reddick arrived at the hospital.
He wore his dress uniform.
His silver hair was perfectly combed.
His expression carried the same solemn kindness I remembered from my rehabilitation days.
“Claire.””
He approached my wheelchair and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I heard what happened. I'm so sorry.””
I looked at his hand.
Then at his face.
“Please don't touch me.””
His hand dropped.
He pulled a chair beside the bed.
“Of course.””
For a moment, he seemed genuinely wounded.
Then he looked at the investigators.
“Could we speak privately?””
Agent Grant shook her head.
“No, sir. This interview is being recorded.””
Reddick sighed.
“Very well.””
I studied him.
“Do you remember the day you visited me after the operation?””
“Of course.””
“You told me Michael was alive because of me.””
“He was.””
“You cried.””
His eyes softened.
“I had nearly lost my son.””
I nodded.
“Did you know what Derek and Evelyn had planned?””
His expression didn't change.
“Planned?””
“The explosion. The operation. My medical records.””
He leaned back.
“Claire, these are serious accusations.””
“That's why I'm asking you.””
He glanced at Agent Grant.
“I was not involved in any medical decision concerning you.””
“Then why does your voice appear on the operating-room recording?””
For the first time, his face changed.
It was subtle.
A tightening around the eyes.
A slight movement of his jaw.
Then he smiled.
“I don't know what recording you're referring to.””
Agent Grant placed a transcript on the table.
“We have a statement attributed to you.””
Reddick glanced at it.
“Make sure she survives.””
His own words.
He read them without blinking.
Then he looked at me.
“Claire, you have to understand the circumstances.””
“What circumstances?””
“Your recovery program was more important than you realize.””
I stared at him.
“My invention?””
He nodded.
“Your system had enormous potential. It could change military rehabilitation across the country.””
“I designed it to help injured soldiers.””
“And that's precisely why it needed proper management.””
“By Derek?””
“Derek had the business connections.””
“Evelyn?””
“She had financial resources.””
“And you?””
Reddick looked down at his hands.
“I had access.””
The room went quiet.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
“You helped them steal my work.””
“I helped secure an opportunity.””
“You destroyed my body to get it.””
He shook his head.
“That's not what happened.””
“Then explain the recording.””
Reddick leaned forward.
“Your leg was severely injured. You were bleeding internally. The doctors faced an impossible decision.””
“Dr. Warren said there was still healthy tissue.””
“Dr. Warren was emotional.””
“And Derek?””
“He was trying to help.””
I stared at him.
“Do you hear yourself?””
He stood.
“I came here because I thought you deserved the truth. But you're clearly not ready to understand it.””
Agent Grant moved toward him.
“Colonel, sit down.””
Reddick ignored her.
He looked at me.
“Your injury was unfortunate. But you were alive. You had a husband willing to stay. You had a future.””
I felt my fingernails dig into my palms.
“You think I should be grateful?””
“I think you should understand that people made difficult decisions.””
I looked at the military medals on his chest.
One of them was awarded for distinguished service.
The irony was almost unbearable.
“I saved your son,” I said.
His expression softened again.
“Yes.””
“And this is how you repay me?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his uniform pocket and placed a small envelope on the table.
“What is that?”” I asked.
“Something Michael asked me to give you.””
My heart skipped.
“Michael?””
Reddick nodded.
“He knows more about the explosion than you realize.””
“Where is he?””
“Currently stationed overseas.””
“Call him.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
Reddick looked at Agent Grant.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
“Because Michael disappeared two days ago.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“He was investigating the convoy records independently.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Reddick's expression hardened.
“Because I didn't want you involved.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded photograph.
Michael stood beside a military vehicle.
Behind him was Nathan.
Both men looked exhausted.
On the back, Michael had written:
*Claire, Nathan didn't cause the explosion. He tried to stop it. But the person who planted the device was wearing our uniform.*
I looked up.
“Who was it?””
Reddick's face had become unreadable.
“That's what Michael was trying to find out.””
“Did he discover the identity?””
The colonel hesitated.
Then he stood.
“I think you should read the rest of the letter.””
I unfolded the second page.
There were only three lines.
*The explosion wasn't meant to kill you.*
*It was meant to make you disappear from the project.*
*The person responsible was someone who had access to your recovery room every day.*
I looked at Reddick.
“Who had access?””
He walked toward the door.
“Your husband. His mother. Your medical team.””
I glanced at the final line.
It was written in a different pen.
Smaller.
More hurried.
*And someone else. Someone you called your closest friend.*
My heart sank.
I remembered the person who had visited me every morning during rehabilitation.
The woman who had helped me bathe, dress, and learn to use my prosthetic.
The woman who had cried with me when I took my first steps.
My best friend.
Captain Rebecca Lawson.
I looked at Agent Grant.
“Find Rebecca.””
Her expression changed.
“Commander, Rebecca Lawson was the first person we contacted.””
“Where is she?””
Agent Grant slowly turned her laptop toward me.
A photograph appeared.
Rebecca was standing beside Derek outside a private airport terminal.
The timestamp was from that morning.
I stared at the image.
“They're together?””
Agent Grant nodded.
“And there's something else.””
She opened another document.
“Rebecca Lawson has been receiving monthly payments from Halston Recovery Systems for thirty-six months.””
Thirty-six months.
The entire time I had been learning to walk again.
My best friend had been paid to stand beside me.
Then Agent Grant enlarged the photograph.
Rebecca was holding a small white envelope.
May you like
On it was a handwritten message.
*Project Claire — Final Phase.*
