Chapter 6 - Black Lantern
Hale wanted the base sealed.
Olivia stopped him.
"If we lock everything down, the mole destroys whatever we haven't found."
"And if we don't, Reed may die."
"He may already be dead."
Hale slammed one hand onto the desk. "You don't know that."
Olivia's voice softened. "No. I don't. Which is why we follow what they gave us."
The photograph contained almost nothing useful: concrete wall, folding chair, Reed's uniform, one strip of yellow paint behind him.
Ortiz noticed the paint.
"Old fuel depot. Building twelve has yellow safety bands at chair height."
They arrived with four trusted MPs.
Building Twelve was empty.
No Reed.
No kidnappers.
Only the chair from the photograph.
On the seat sat a lantern painted black.
Hale stared at it. "Cute."
Olivia turned it over.
A memory card had been taped underneath.
The card contained an audio recording of Reed.
His breathing sounded ragged.
"If you're hearing this, I ran out of time. Black Lantern isn't one person. It's a clearance path. Somebody built a chain so every theft looks legal because each approval belongs to somebody real."
Static.
Then Reed continued.
"Ward found part of it. That's why they're making him look guilty."
Hale exhaled slowly.
"So Ward isn't the mole."
"Maybe."
The recording ended with Reed whispering one final sentence.
"Check the casualty reports from the last four training accidents."
Olivia's stomach tightened.
They returned to secure records.
Four accidents.
Four different units.
Every one had involved equipment routed through Fort Redstone logistics.
And every deceased soldier had one thing in common.
Each had filed a maintenance complaint within thirty days of dying.
Ortiz went pale.
"Somebody wasn't just stealing."
May you like
Olivia looked at the names.
"They were removing witnesses."
