Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The gunshot echoed across the concrete.
Ruby ducked against Harris's chest.
Lewis shouted into his radio.
“Shots fired outside the east perimeter! Lock down the gate!””
Soldiers scattered behind the concrete barriers.
Amelia dropped to the ground outside the chain barrier.
“Mom!””
Ruby tried to run toward her.
Harris held her back.
“Stay down!””
“She fell!””
“She knows what she's doing.””
“You don't know that!””
Harris looked toward Amelia.
She was crawling toward the base entrance.
Her face was terrified.
Not for herself.
For Ruby.
Lewis moved to the gate.
“Ma'am, stay down!””
Amelia ignored him.
“Harris!””
The colonel looked over.
“Get Ruby inside!””
Amelia pointed toward the road.
“They're coming!””
Harris pulled Ruby behind the concrete guard wall.
Another shot cracked.
A military vehicle rolled across the entrance, blocking the line of sight.
Lewis shouted, “Move!””
Two soldiers rushed toward Amelia.
They pulled her behind the barrier.
She collapsed against the concrete.
Ruby broke free from Harris and ran to her.
“Mom!””
Amelia grabbed her daughter.
“Are you hurt?””
Ruby shook her head.
“Are you?””
“No.””
“You're bleeding.””
“It's nothing.””
Harris crouched beside them.
“Where were you hit?””
Amelia looked down.
Her sleeve was torn, but the blood was coming from a shallow cut along her forearm.
Harris stared at her.
“You came here knowing someone would shoot at you.””
“I didn't know.””
“You knew enough.””
Amelia looked toward him.
“I knew they would follow me.””
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
Harris stood.
“Lewis, seal every exit.””
“Already doing it.””
“Search that sedan.””
“There are two vehicles on the perimeter.””
“Search all of them.””
Lewis nodded.
Amelia grabbed Harris's wrist.
“Don't.””
He looked down at her hand.
“Why?””
“Because that's what they want.””
“What do they want?””
“You.””
Harris stared at her.
“Why me?””
Amelia's voice dropped.
“Because you're the only person who can prove Daniel didn't betray the Army.””
Harris went silent.
Ruby looked up.
“My father?””
Amelia closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
Harris whispered, “Daniel wasn't a traitor.””
“No.””
“The report said he stole classified material.””
“It was fabricated.””
“He was accused of selling information.””
“I know.””
“You watched me believe it.””
“I watched you survive it.””
Harris stepped away.
His face twisted with anger.
“You should have told me.””
“I couldn't.””
“You always could have.””
“No.””
Amelia looked at Ruby.
“Not while they were watching.””
Ruby's voice was small.
“Who was watching?””
Amelia looked toward the road.
“The people who wanted Daniel gone.””
Harris stared at her.
“Military intelligence?””
Amelia didn't answer.
“That wasn't a question.””
She looked at him.
“Yes.””
The word hit harder than the gunshot.
Harris looked at Lewis.
“Get me the old personnel records.””
Lewis hesitated.
“Sir, those files are classified.””
“I know.””
“You're asking me to access them without authorization.””
“I am giving you an order.””
Lewis nodded.
“Yes, sir.””
He moved away.
Ruby looked at Harris.
“Why did they take my dad?””
Harris crouched.
“We don't know if they took him.””
Amelia interrupted.
“I know.””
Harris turned.
Amelia stared at him.
“Daniel wasn't captured.””
Harris's eyes narrowed.
“Then where was he?””
“He escaped.””
“From whom?””
“The people inside the operation.””
“What operation?””
Amelia looked at Ruby.
Then she whispered:
“The one that created you.””
Harris stared at her.
Ruby frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Amelia pulled the birth certificate from Harris's hand.
She turned it over.
On the back was another document.
A hospital record.
Ruby's name was there.
*Ruby Amelia Harris.*
Below it was a line marked:
*Biological Father: Daniel Harris.*
But beneath that was a handwritten note.
*PATERNITY UNVERIFIED.*
Ruby stared.
“So he might not be my dad?””
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
Harris looked at her.
“What are you saying?””
Amelia took a trembling breath.
“Daniel was listed as your father because that was the identity we used.””
Ruby stepped backward.
“Used?””
Amelia nodded.
“I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From the truth.””
Harris's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Amelia.””
She looked at him.
“Tell her.””
Amelia shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You brought her here.””
“Because I had no choice.””
“You gave her my base.””
“Because I knew they'd never search for her here.””
Harris stared at Ruby.
Then something clicked.
The wallet.
The photograph.
The eviction notice.
The message.
The sedan.
None of it had been random.
He turned toward Lewis.
“Where is the wallet?””
Lewis looked over.
“Inside the security office.””
“Bring it.””
Lewis returned carrying the wallet.
Harris opened it.
Cash filled the main compartment.
But beneath the money was a second identification card.
Not military.
A civilian ID.
The photograph showed a man Harris had never seen.
But the name beneath it made his stomach drop.
*MICHAEL REED.*
Amelia saw it.
Her face went white.
Harris looked at her.
“Who is Michael Reed?””
She didn't answer.
“Amelia.””
Still nothing.
Ruby stepped closer.
“Mom?””
Amelia whispered, “He was the man who helped Daniel disappear.””
Harris turned the ID over.
A handwritten message was taped to the back.
He read it aloud.
“Ask Colonel Harris why he signed the order.””
Amelia covered her mouth.
Harris stared at the words.
“I never signed anything.””
Amelia looked at him.
“You did.””
“No.””
“You just don't remember.””
Harris's face hardened.
“I would remember signing an order that destroyed my brother.””
Amelia shook her head.
“You wouldn't.””
“Why?””
“Because you were unconscious.””
Harris froze.
Amelia reached into her coat and pulled out one final photograph.
She handed it to him.
It showed the base gate eight years earlier.
Harris was standing beside Daniel.
But behind them was a third man.
Harris recognized him immediately.
The man was wearing a military uniform.
And on the photograph's back was a date.
The exact date Daniel disappeared.
Harris turned pale.
“Where did you get this?””
Amelia whispered:
“He took it the night before Daniel vanished.””
“Who?””
Amelia looked directly at Ruby.
Then at Harris.
“Your commanding officer.””
A vehicle suddenly screeched to a stop outside the gate.
Lewis shouted.
“Colonel!””
Harris turned.
A black military SUV had pulled up.
The rear door opened.
An older Black man stepped out in a dress uniform.
Harris stared at him.
The man looked straight at Ruby.
Then he said,
“Colonel Harris, step away from the girl.””
Harris didn't move.
The man's expression hardened.
“That's an order.””
Amelia grabbed Ruby's hand.
Harris looked from the commander to the child.
Then he noticed the man's uniform.
The same insignia.
The same one visible in the torn photograph.
Harris whispered,
“That uniform was discontinued eight years ago.””
May you like
The older man smiled.
“Then perhaps you should ask yourself why I'm still wearing it.””
