Chapter 8 - A Colonel Without a Command

"They can't give that order," Cole said.

"They just did," Rourke replied.

He pulled the rank patch from his shoulder and put it in his pocket. "Any soldier listening to our network thinks I'm compromised. I won't ask them to choose between orders and instincts."

Mara held his gaze. "Thomas said you'd make the hard call."

"He always gave me too much credit."

Finch led them down a narrow utility stair. The tunnel turned west beneath a parking lot, then split at a bolted flood door. A flashlight beam swept the far side.

"Military police!" somebody called. "Hands where I can see them!"

Rourke stepped forward alone. "Corporal, I'm Colonel Rourke. Do you recognize me?"

The young MP hesitated. "Sir? We've got orders saying you're under investigation."

"Then investigate me. But don't point that rifle at Sergeant Torres's dog."

The corporal lowered the muzzle a fraction. Rourke explained the stolen voice order, the false records, and the recording. He didn't demand belief. He offered names the corporal could call on an independent line.

"My mother," he said, "will tell you exactly what Thomas's voice sounded like."

The corporal blinked. "Why your mother?"

"Because somebody is lying about her son, and she's had nine years to know the difference."

He stepped aside. "You've got four minutes. After that, I never saw you."

They crossed into a dark service corridor. Mara caught up to Rourke.

"You were right to question me," she said. "I would have questioned me, too."

"I still am."

"Good. That's how we'll stay alive."

Near the exit, Cole saw a woman in a maintenance vest sitting against the wall. She had a split lip and a badge bearing the name DAWN HARRIS.

"They told me to update the kennel files," she whispered. "I refused."

Finch crouched beside her. "What files?"

Dawn dug a grease-stained envelope out of her boot. "They switched the numbers on the dogs. Ranger isn't supposed to be here. The real Ranger died last spring."

Torres gripped the leash. "That's impossible. I've trained him since he was a pup."

May you like

Billionaire’s Wife Kicked a Waitress in Front of 300 Elites—One Slap Exp...

The billionaire’s wife tried to kick a waitress in the face in front of 300 wealthy guests. But seconds later, she whispered three...

My Mother Grabbed My Wife by the Hair Over Cold Soup—But What My Father...

My mother grabbed my wife by the hair over a bowl of cold soup. And the most shameful part? For one terrible second, I almost defe...

My Parents Kicked My 6-Year-Old Daughter and Me Out on Christmas—Then I...

My mother kicked my six-year-old daughter out of Christmas dinner, never realizing I was the only reason she still had a house to...

Dawn turned the envelope over. A recent photograph showed Ranger strapped into a test harness beneath an unfamiliar red logo.

"They've been using your dog as a courier," she said. "And tomorrow, they're going to use him as the trigger."