Chapter 5 - THE MAN IN THE BASEMENTThe mansion became a fortress before dawn.
Robert called two trusted officers.
He didn't call local police.
He didn't trust the local police.
He didn't trust anyone.
The first officer arrived at 3:14 a.m.
Colonel Marcus Reed.
Robert had known him for seventeen years.
Marcus entered through the rear entrance.
He looked at Robert.
“You look like hell.”
Robert answered, “My family is compromised.”
Marcus glanced toward Emily.
“Who is she?”
“My daughter.”
Jonathan, standing in the shadows, corrected him.
“His daughter by choice.”
Marcus looked at Robert.
Robert said nothing.
Marcus understood.
Then the basement door opened.
Everyone turned.
Daniel stood there.
“I found something.”
Robert followed him downstairs.
Behind a wine rack was a concealed metal door.
Inside was a small room filled with hard drives, documents, photographs, and military identification cards.
Robert stared.
“This is mine.”
Marcus picked up a folder.
“Black River.”
Robert opened it.
Inside were photographs of himself, Margaret, Emily, Daniel, and Jonathan.
Someone had been monitoring the family for years.
Then Robert found one photograph that made his stomach turn.
It showed Emily as a child.
Standing beside a man.
The man was Adrian Cole.
Robert stared.
“She met him?”
Marcus shook his head.
“She was six.”
Robert looked at the date.
The photograph had been taken twenty-two years ago.
Emily had been six.
Robert had been deployed overseas.
Margaret had told him Emily stayed with her grandmother.
It had been a lie.
Robert confronted Margaret.
She finally admitted the truth.
Adrian Cole had returned secretly.
He claimed he was protecting Emily.
But he had taken a blood sample.
Robert's anger became uncontrollable.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he threatened you.”
“Everyone threatened me!”
Margaret cried.
“You don't understand what Cole knew.”
“What?”
“He knew about Black River.”
Robert froze.
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Margaret whispered:
“You weren't supposed to survive that operation.”
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