Chapter 16 - The Original Recording

The original recording wasn't a memory card. It was the armored vehicle's onboard communication unit, removed after the convoy and listed as destroyed in the same report that declared Liam dead.

Voss knew where it had gone.

"Northline stored it in a sealed equipment case," he told Grant. "Price said they were holding it for an insurance review. I signed the transfer."

"Another signature," I said.

Voss flinched. "Another one I wish I'd refused."

The equipment case had been moved three times. Investigators traced its last documented location to a Northline depot outside Fairhaven. Agents obtained a search warrant and went to secure the site. I stayed at the office. This time, I followed instructions.

For hours we heard nothing. Then Grant called. "The original unit is gone. Shaw got here first."

"Can he destroy it?"

"He can try. But he doesn't know we already have a verified copy of some of its data."

That night Shaw phoned me from a blocked number. His voice was smooth, almost friendly.

"Staff Sergeant Whitcomb. I'm sorry for your family's pain. You've been told a very convenient story."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to know your brother wasn't innocent. He accepted money from me. He was stealing too."

I stared at the wall. Liam had once driven four hours to return a wallet with thirty dollars in it. I knew my brother. But I also knew how much a lie could hurt when it carried a little truth.

"Prove it," I said.

He laughed. "Ask your mother what Liam brought home the week before he deployed."

The line went dead.

I called my mother. She was quiet for a long time, then said Liam had left an envelope containing five thousand dollars, telling her to keep it for Ava in case something happened.

My heart sank. Before I could speak, she added, "He said he'd been given money to look the other way. He didn't want it, and he was afraid returning it would warn them he knew. He told me to save the bills as evidence."

"Do you still have them?"

"Every one. I never touched it."

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A knock sounded at my apartment door. Grant stood outside with two agents. Her face was grim.

"Nora," she said, "we found the original recording. And there's a voice on it no one expected to hear. Yours."