Chapter 6 - The Mission That Was Never About ReliefThey returned to Kathmandu.
The government wanted the investigation closed.
Raphael refused.
Tessa refused.
Mercer was furious.
“You two have gone completely insane.”
Tessa looked at him.
“Maybe.”
“You're chasing a private military company through a war zone.”
“We're chasing the people who abducted civilians.”
Mercer sighed.
Then handed her his weapon.
“Then stop making me lie to command.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
“I didn't say you're right.”
“I know.”
The team discovered a Black Meridian facility outside the capital.
It was disguised as a disaster-response warehouse.
Inside were medical supplies.
Weapons.
Identity documents.
Photographs of disaster victims.
And a computer server.
Tessa accessed the records.
The names were familiar.
People they'd rescued.
People who had disappeared.
Families.
Children.
Military personnel.
One folder contained her father's name.
ELIJAH WARD.
She opened it.
Date of recruitment.
Date of disappearance.
Status:
DECEASED.
Cause:
CONFIRMED KILLED BY VESERI NETWORK.
Tessa stopped breathing.
Raphael saw it.
“They blamed me.”
She nodded.
“Your father was investigating Black Meridian.”
“I didn't know.”
“They made you the murderer.”
Raphael stared at the file.
“That's why they hunted me.”
“They needed someone to carry the blame.”
Tessa looked toward another file.
DOMINIC VESERI.
Raphael's father.
Status:
DECEASED.
Cause:
UNKNOWN.
She clicked deeper.
A final note:
Subject believed to possess ledger.
Tessa turned to Raphael.
“Your father had the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“He didn't create the network.”
“No.”
“He was investigating it too.”
Raphael closed his eyes.
“My whole life…”
Tessa touched his arm.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
“You were a child.”
He looked at her.
She knew that sentence had reached somewhere.
Then alarms sounded.
Black Meridian soldiers stormed the building.
Mercer shouted:
“Move!”
They escaped through the rear warehouse.
Raphael grabbed the server drive.
Tessa grabbed the medical records.
Outside, explosions shook the compound.
They ran into the forest.
For hours.
Until nightfall.
At last, they stopped near a river.
Raphael sat against a tree.
Tessa checked his wound.
“You're bleeding again.”
“I've had worse.”
“That isn't a medical diagnosis.”
He smiled.
“Missed you.”
She looked up.
“What's that?”
“The way you talk to me.”
“You've known me for days.”
“Feels longer.”
She sat beside him.
“You're impossible.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“When this is over, I'm leaving.”
Her heart tightened.
“Leaving where?”
“Anywhere quiet.”
“Why tell me?”
He looked at her.
“Because I want you there.”
Tessa's breath caught.
“You don't know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You know I hate coffee after noon.”
“You do.”
“I hate men who think money solves everything.”
“Good.”
“I don't trust people easily.”
“I know.”
“And you?”
“I trust you.”
She looked away.
“That's dangerous.”
“Yes.”
He reached for her hand.
She let him.
Then a helicopter appeared above them.
They ducked.
A voice boomed through the speaker.
“Major Ward.”
Tessa recognized it.
Victor Hale.
“Come out.”
Raphael looked at her.
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
Hale continued:
“Your father is alive.”
Tessa froze.
Raphael stared.
“What?”
Hale laughed.
“He's been alive for twelve years.”
Tessa stood.
“Where?”
“Come to the old monastery.”
Her heart pounded.
“Why?”
“Because if you want your father, bring Raphael.”
The helicopter left.
Raphael looked at her.
“We don't go.”
“I know.”
“We find another way.”
Tessa stared into the darkness.
“My father.”
Raphael nodded.
May you like
“We'll find him.”
Together.
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