Chapter 16 - The Drive to Norfolk
The four black SUVs tore down Interstate 64 under the dark Virginia night sky, driving in flawless tactical formation.
I sat in the back seat of the lead vehicle, holding the faded manila envelope tightly in my lap like a holy relic.
Commander Luis Alvarez sat in the front passenger seat, monitoring military radio frequencies and keeping quiet.
"You knew about Marcus Vance, didn't you, Luis?" I asked softly, looking out at the passing highway lights.
Luis turned slightly in his seat, his eyes full of deep respect and gentle, honest empathy.
"Vice Admiral Vance reached out to Master Chief Mason two days ago, ma'am," Luis admitted quietly.
"When Mason told him your father was harassing you about your uniform, Vance told us the whole story."
"Vance wanted to blow the whistle thirty years ago, but NCIS lacked the physical proof without Thomas's testimony."
"And Thomas refused to testify because he didn't want you growing up with a father in federal prison."
I pressed my lips together tightly, feeling an intense, crushing wave of grief for the uncle I never truly knew.
He had sacrificed his freedom, his reputation, and his entire life to ensure I had a stable home to grow up in.
And my father had rewarded that ultimate sacrifice by poisoning my mind against him for nearly four decades.
"Where is Thomas living now?" I asked, my voice steady despite the intense turbulence inside my soul.
"A small house near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard," Luis replied, handing me a small piece of paper with an address.
"He works the night shift as a master machinist at the dry docks. He's on break right now."
"Driver," I said, my tone shifting instantly to absolute command authority.
May you like
"Change route directly to the Norfolk Shipyard dry docks."
"Aye, Admiral," the driver responded, stepping down hard on the accelerator as the SUV surged forward into the night.
