Chapter 25 - THE WOMAN ABOVE THE GENERALS
Eleanor Shaw had overseen military intelligence policy for nearly a decade.
She had also signed the order declaring Ethan killed in action.
Commander Keene entered behind her with two agents.
“Deputy Secretary Shaw requested access under executive authority,” Keene said carefully.
“She doesn’t come near my brother,” I answered.
Shaw’s smile never changed.
“You are understandably emotional.”
“And you are standing beside the woman who helped surveil me.”
Amelia lowered her eyes.
Shaw glanced at her as though she were an inconvenient object.
“Mrs. Logan provided information during a lawful counterintelligence inquiry.”
“Dominic Vance called it blackmail.”
“Sheriff Vance is a criminal attempting to reduce his sentence.”
Ethan struggled to sit upright.
“You ordered Miller to abandon our unit.”
Shaw stepped closer.
“You have been injured and psychologically isolated for two years. Your recollection may not withstand scrutiny.”
“I recorded you.”
The room changed.
For the first time, Shaw’s expression shifted.
Ethan reached toward the water pitcher beside his bed. His fingers found a narrow plastic tube taped beneath it.
Inside was a micro-storage chip.
“Miller thought the metal drive held everything,” Ethan said. “That was the copy I wanted him to chase.”
Shaw took one step backward.
Keene’s agents moved toward her.
Shaw produced a small device from her sleeve and pressed it.
The hospital lights went out.
Emergency alarms sounded.
Through the darkness, I heard Amelia scream.
A shot struck the wall above Ethan’s bed.
I threw myself across him while Keene fired toward the doorway.
Backup lights flickered on.
Shaw was gone.
Amelia lay on the floor, blood spreading across her side.
She had stepped between the bullet and Ethan.
“I didn’t know,” she gasped. “I swear I didn’t know what Shaw was.”
I pressed my hands against her wound.
“You’re going to keep breathing.”
Tears ran into her hair.
“I don’t deserve you helping me.”
“This isn’t forgiveness.”
“I know.”
Keene recovered the micro-storage chip and placed it in a shielded evidence case.
Her radio crackled.
“All units, Deputy Secretary Shaw has accessed the rooftop helipad.”
Ethan grabbed my sleeve.
“The chip contains her voice, her orders, and the location of the network’s reserve archive.”
“Where?”
“Under the Trident Seven memorial at Fort Grant.”
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Before Keene could respond, the hospital shook with a distant explosion.
Someone had just attacked the memorial.
