Chapter 9 - The General's Brother
Brigadier General Elias Voss did not look nervous when Olivia entered his office.
He looked offended.
"Commander Mitchell. I've been told your cover is no longer intact."
"It isn't."
"Then perhaps Ghost Division should remove you before your presence becomes disruptive."
Olivia placed the surviving contract on his desk.
"Your brother's company received twelve million dollars from a contractor you personally approved."
Voss barely glanced at it.
"Northline provides consulting services to dozens of firms."
"For what?"
"Ask Northline."
"I'm asking you."
His mouth tightened.
"Be careful, Commander. Suspicion isn't evidence."
"Neither is a rank."
The room went silent.
Voss leaned back. "I knew your father."
That caught her.
"Don't."
"Daniel Mitchell believed rules applied to everyone except Ghost Division."
Olivia stood perfectly still.
Her father had commanded special operations logistics before dying twelve years earlier.
Officially, heart failure.
Voss continued. "He destroyed careers with accusations he couldn't prove. You seem to have inherited the habit."
Olivia gathered the contract.
"Then you won't mind us proving this one."
Outside, Hale waited near the elevator.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"That's commander language for no."
Olivia ignored him.
Her secure phone rang.
It was the base hospital.
Captain Reed had been found alive beside a rural service road.
They reached him twenty minutes later.
His face was bruised. One wrist was broken. He was conscious.
Olivia leaned close.
"Who took you?"
Reed struggled to speak.
"Didn't see faces."
"Who is Black Lantern?"
His eyes filled with fear.
"Your father knew."
Olivia froze.
May you like
Reed swallowed painfully.
"He didn't die from heart failure."
