Chapter 13 - THE VAULT BENEATH THE TOWER
Sterling Tower was evacuated before dawn.
Federal agents entered the underground level with Maya, Vance, and Agent Brooks.
Ethan remained in surgery.
Victoria was transported from detention to identify the correct vault.
She looked exhausted.
Her evening gown had been replaced with a plain gray uniform.
When Maya showed her the photograph, Victoria stopped walking.
“You said you were afraid.”
“I was.”
“You were smiling.”
Victoria looked closely.
“That was not happiness.”
“What was it?”
“Relief.”
“Because I was alive?”
“Because Conrad believed I had joined him.”
Vance shook his head.
“You spent twenty-four years explaining every choice as protection.”
Victoria’s eyes hardened.
“You were not there.”
“No.”
“I spent those years searching.”
The vault stood behind two steel doors.
Maya inserted the medal into the first lock.
Victoria watched.
Ethan’s brass key had fallen onto the railway tracks.
But agents recovered it after Vaughn escaped.
Maya placed it into the second lock.
The door opened.
Inside were shelves of contracts, tapes, photographs, and military files.
The Cross insignia appeared on several boxes.
A computer terminal waited against the rear wall.
Maya found an envelope bearing her mother’s handwriting.
For Amelia.
Her fingers shook as she opened it.
My beautiful daughter.
If you are reading this, then someone failed to erase you.
The letter explained that Evelyn had discovered the conspiracy months before the convoy attack.
She created copies of every record.
She trusted Charles Sterling because he promised to protect Maya.
Instead, Charles joined Vaughn.
Victoria learned of the betrayal too late.
She had an opportunity to rescue both Evelyn and Maya.
But Vaughn threatened Ethan.
Victoria chose her son.
Maya read the line twice.
Victoria began crying.
“I was twenty-nine.”
“I thought I could return for Evelyn later.”
“You never did.”
“I tried.”
“No.”
Maya looked at her.
“You watched from a safe distance.”
“You let my mother disappear.”
“You let me grow up alone.”
“And then you punished me for surviving your decision.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
Agent Brooks searched the computer.
The main drive was encrypted.
The medal contained the access code.
A video opened.
Charles Sterling appeared on-screen.
He stood beside Conrad Vaughn.
The date was one day after the convoy attack.
Charles spoke clearly.
“The Cross child has been placed.”
“The mother is secured.”
“The general is dead.”
Vaughn asked one question.
“And Victoria?”
Charles smiled.
“She will remain silent as long as Ethan remains alive.”
The video shifted.
A third person entered the frame.
Colonel Marcus Vance.
Maya turned toward him.
May you like
Vance stood behind her.
His face had gone completely white.
