Chapter 3 - The Black Briefcase
Federal agents sealed the Resolute before sunrise.
Hannah sat in a security office wrapped in a blanket while technicians opened Marsh’s briefcase.
Inside were coded payment sheets, inspection exemptions, contractor lists, and a rugged drive.
One document carried her father’s initials.
M.M.
Beside them:
REPORT RECEIVED - E.T.
Hannah stared.
“Who is E.T.?”
Kane stood in the doorway.
“Rear Admiral Elias Thorne.”
The name hit hard.
Thorne had been Michael Mercer’s commanding officer.
He had spoken at the funeral.
He had handed Hannah the folded flag.
“My father trusted him.”
“So did I,” Kane said.
Hannah looked up.
“You knew my father?”
“I knew his report.”
“What report?”
Kane closed the door.
“Twelve years ago, Michael inspected three support vessels. He found contractors who didn’t exist, medical supplies assigned to units that never received them, and sealed spaces added during maintenance.”
“Deck Four.”
“He called them ghost corridors.”
Hannah’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
STOP READING YOUR FATHER’S REPORT.
A second message followed.
ASK CLARA MERCER WHAT HE GAVE HER THE NIGHT HE DIED.
Hannah’s stomach tightened.
Clara was her mother.
She had always said Michael came home with nothing.
Hannah stood.
Kane blocked the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To ask my mother why someone thinks she lied to me for twelve years.”
Kane lowered his voice.
“Hannah, if they’re watching your phone, they’re watching her too.”
She stepped around him.
“Then I’m already late.”
Behind her, a technician called out.
“We opened part of the drive.”
Hannah turned.
A grainy video filled the monitor.
Her father stood in a shipboard corridor.
He looked younger.
Angrier.
An unseen man said, “Sign it.”
Michael answered, “No.”
“You already did.”
“My signature was forged.”
The camera shifted.
Michael looked directly at someone outside the frame.
Then he said a name.
“Victor.”
Hannah slowly turned toward Kane.
May you like
On the screen, her father asked:
“How much did they pay you?”
