Chapter 5 - WHAT THEY HID IN MY HOME

The search happened under legal authority that evening.

I did not go inside.

I watched from an unmarked vehicle across the street.

Ryan paced on the porch while investigators moved through the house.

Linda shouted about constitutional rights she could not explain.

Then an agent carried out a laptop I had never seen.

Another brought a locked metal box from the garage.

Major Ellis returned after forty minutes.

“We found copied documents.”

“What kind?”

“Your travel orders. Old evaluation reports. Copies of your passport. Social Security card. Security-clearance paperwork.”

My mouth went dry.

“Why?”

“We’re still determining that.”

Inside the metal box were prepaid phones, cash and pages of handwritten notes.

Some were Ryan’s handwriting.

Dates.

Locations.

Nothing classified by itself.

Together, it looked like someone had been building a profile of my movements.

Then Ellis showed me one more image.

A photograph of my CAC card.

Front and back.

“That’s credential theft.”

“I know.”

“Could they access anything with a photograph?”

“Not secure systems. But it shows intent.”

I looked toward the house.

Ryan was arguing with an investigator.

Linda stood behind him.

Two people I had supported for years.

Two people who had complained when I worked late, mocked my promotions and spent my salary.

And now this.

Sarah called.

“The judge signed the temporary protective order.”

“Good.”

“Ryan and Linda have to leave the house tonight.”

For the first time all day, I felt something close to relief.

He listened.

“What?”

He ended the call.

“Victor Hale was picked up twenty minutes ago.”

“Did he talk?”

“Not yet.”

“Then why do you look like that?”

“Because his phone contained a message from Ryan.”

It had been sent the night before Linda shaved my head.

TOMORROW WE BREAK HER. ONCE SHE QUITS, WE GET EVERYTHING SHE HAS ACCESS TO.

I stared at the words.

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They had never wanted me simply unemployed.

They wanted me compromised.