Chapter 3 - The Ghost in the System
“The car’s plate was registered to a rental agency at the Norfolk airport,” Officer Bell said, tossing a notepad onto the kitchen counter. He looked exhausted, the weight of the developing federal nightmare pressing heavily on his shoulders. “They used a fake ID to pick it up three days ago. Whoever is running this operation is a professional, Major. Local police jurisdiction ends the second national security and potential espionage enter the picture.”
“I know,” I said, pacing the length of the kitchen.
Lily was currently at the local hospital under the care of social services and a secure guard detail I had personally requested through my chain of command. My superior, Colonel Vance, had already been briefed. By morning, military investigators would descend on this house like a swarm of locusts.
“You need to leave,” Bell urged, looking me in the eye. “If Derek’s associates are watching this house, you’re a target. They didn't just lock a closet, Hannah. They built an intelligence-gathering cell in a residential neighborhood.”
“I’m not running,” I snapped, pulling a thumb drive from the Pelican case in the hallway closet. “Derek thinks he can hide behind a cruise ship in the Caribbean while selling out my unit? I’m going to find out who he was talking to.”
Before Bell could argue, the front door rattled.
We both froze. I slipped the thumb drive into my pocket and drew my service pistol, clicking off the safety with a sharp click. Bell stepped to the side of the entryway, his weapon raised, posture low.
The brass knob turned slowly. The door creaked open.
A tall man in a tailored grey suit stepped into the foyer. He stopped dead in his tracks, staring down the barrel of two drawn firearms. He didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hands slowly, a calm, chilling smile playing across his lips.
“Major Nolan, I presume,” the man said, his voice smooth and cultured. “Put the gun down. Shooting a federal investigator is frowned upon, even in your line of work.”
“Show me your credentials or you won't live to regret it,” I growled, stepping forward to close the distance.
The man slowly reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a leather folio, flipping it open to reveal a badge that made Officer Bell’s eyes widen.
“Special Agent Vance, Department of Justice, Counter-Intelligence Division,” the man said smoothly. He glanced at the ruined hallway closet, then back to me. “It looks like you found your husband’s little project sooner than we anticipated.”
“You knew about this?” I demanded, my grip tightening on my grip.
May you like
“We’ve been tracking Derek Nolan’s financial anomalies for six months,” Agent Vance replied calmly. “We were hoping to use him to roll up a much larger syndicate operating out of the shipping ports. But your little homecoming just blew our cover wide open.”
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