Chapter 7 - THE CHIEF OF STAFFBy sunrise, Washington was already awake.
Television helicopters circled the city.
News alerts announced that General Robert Hayes had abruptly canceled a Pentagon briefing.
Nobody knew why.
Inside the mansion, Robert watched the news without blinking.
His chief of staff, Victor Shaw, appeared on television.
He was calm.
Professional.
Concerned.
He told reporters Robert was “taking personal time.”
Robert stared.
“He knew.”
Marcus nodded.
“Someone briefed him.”
Robert called the Pentagon.
Victor answered immediately.
“General.”
“Come to my house.”
There was a pause.
“Of course.”
Robert hung up.
Marcus looked at him.
“You're setting a trap.”
“Yes.”
Victor arrived twenty minutes later.
He entered with two security officers.
Robert watched him.
Victor smiled.
“Sir.”
Robert pointed to a chair.
“Sit.”
Victor obeyed.
Robert placed the Black River file on the table.
Victor's expression didn't change.
But his right hand tightened.
Robert saw it.
“You recognize it.”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
Victor laughed.
“Sir, that's a serious accusation.”
Robert leaned forward.
“Who is Adrian Cole working for?”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You should stop asking questions.”
Robert stood.
“That's not an answer.”
Victor looked toward Emily.
“She's the answer.”
The room went silent.
Victor continued.
“Her blood contains something they need.”
“What?”
“A genetic sequence.”
Emily whispered, “For what?”
Victor looked at her.
“To unlock a system.”
Robert frowned.
“What system?”
Victor smiled again.
“The one you spent seventeen years believing was destroyed.”
Black River had never been about money.
It had been about control.
A classified defense system had been designed to predict military threats using genetic, behavioral, and biometric data.
Emily's father had been one of the scientists involved.
Adrian Cole had stolen the research.
Robert had stopped him.
Or thought he had.
Victor stood.
“It's already operational.”
Robert looked horrified.
“How?”
Victor pointed at Emily.
“Because she completed the missing sequence.”
Emily stepped backward.
“No.”
Victor's security officers moved.
Robert reacted instantly.
The first went down.
Marcus disarmed the second.
Victor ran.
Robert chased him through the hallway.
But Victor reached the front door.
Outside, a black SUV waited.
The door opened.
Victor disappeared inside.
The vehicle accelerated.
Robert stood on the steps.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Jonathan's voice came through.
“You're running out of time.”
Robert asked, “Where is Cole?”
May you like
Jonathan answered:
“Where you buried him.”
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