Chapter 9 - The Colonel's Secret
Rourke helped them into a battered van and drove without headlights until they reached an unmarked garage. Ruiz had a swollen cheek. Mercer had bruised knuckles and a torn sleeve. Avery was still holding Emma's envelope so tightly its edges had curled.
“You held a funeral,” she said to Rourke. “I stood beside your wife.”
“She knew,” he replied. “That's why she couldn't look you in the eye.”
Avery wanted to hit him. Instead she made him explain. Rourke had been investigating a network of military contractors who replaced approved aircraft components with cheaper ones, then bribed officials to approve the inspections. When a witness was killed, Rourke disappeared under federal protection. The false death was meant to keep the inquiry alive.
“And Emma?” Avery demanded.
“She found the transaction trail. We planned to extract her. Our contact sold us out.”
“Who?”
“Somebody inside the oversight office.”
Mercer leaned forward. “My brother died because of those parts.”
Rourke lowered his eyes. “I know his case. It's one of nine.”
The garage went silent. Nine families. Nine funerals. Nine official explanations written to protect a contract.
Avery showed Rourke the photograph and the three names: Evelyn Pike, Thomas Bell, and Marcus Dean.
Rourke's jaw tightened. “Those are the original inspectors. Two are missing. Dean is scheduled to testify tomorrow morning.”
Avery remembered the warning on Emma's recording. Don't give the card to Rourke.
He held out his hand. “The access card, Avery. I need it.”
Before she could answer, Rourke's phone rang. He put it on speaker. A woman said, “Colonel, Marcus Dean was found an hour ago.”
May you like
She paused.
“His body was identified by dental records. His daughter says he's still alive.”
