Chapter 8 - THE GRAVE THAT WAS EMPTYThe military cemetery was silent beneath a gray afternoon sky.
Robert stood before the grave of Adrian Cole.
The stone had been there for seventeen years.
The name.
The rank.
The date.
Everything looked real.
Robert knelt.
He touched the stone.
Then noticed something.
The ground was disturbed.
Marcus brought in a forensic team.
Within minutes, they opened the grave.
The coffin was empty.
Inside was only a note.
Robert unfolded it.
YOU NEVER BURIED ME. YOU BURIED THE TRUTH.
Emily stood behind him.
“Dad…”
Robert turned.
A black sedan had stopped near the cemetery gate.
A woman stepped out.
She was wearing a dark business suit.
She approached slowly.
“General Hayes.”
Robert raised his weapon.
“Identify yourself.”
“Sarah Bennett.”
“FBI?”
She nodded.
“I've been investigating Meridian Strategic for three years.”
Robert lowered the weapon slightly.
“Why approach me now?”
“Because someone inside the Bureau is compromised.”
She handed him a file.
“Your daughter is not the target.”
Robert looked confused.
“Then who is?”
“You.”
Sarah opened the file.
“Emily is leverage.”
Robert stared.
“Why me?”
“Because you were the only person who could expose Black River.”
Robert looked at the empty grave.
“What happened to Cole?”
Sarah hesitated.
“He never died.”
“Where is he?”
“We don't know.”
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
Her face changed.
“What?”
She listened.
Then looked at Robert.
“They found the mansion.”
Robert immediately grabbed Emily.
“Move.”
But Sarah shook her head.
“It's not them.”
“Who?”
Sarah whispered:
“Your wife.”
Robert froze.
May you like
“What?”
“Margaret just disappeared.”
Related Stories
