Chapter 4 - Marcus's Last Message
We reached the storage facility forty minutes later.
The unit had been forced open.
Inside were boxes.
Military equipment.
Photographs.
Documents.
And one laptop.
I recognized Marcus's handwriting on the lid.
For my wife.
My hands trembled.
I opened it.
The screen displayed a video.
Marcus appeared.
Alive.
My knees almost gave out.
"Hey, sweetheart."
His voice.
His smile.
I covered my mouth.
"I know you're probably watching this because something went wrong."
He looked tired.
But alive.
"If you're watching, I need you to know something."
He paused.
"The mission wasn't compromised by the enemy."
I leaned closer.
"It was compromised from inside."
Marcus named several people.
None were familiar.
Then he said:
"There is one person you should never trust."
The screen displayed a photograph.
Raymond.
I froze.
Marcus continued.
"He's been moving money through shell companies connected to the trafficking network."
My stomach turned.
"He approached your family because he needed access to you."
I whispered:
"No."
Marcus's voice softened.
"If something happens to me, protect our baby."
I began crying.
"And don't trust anyone who tells you I'm dead."
The video ended.
I stared at the black screen.
General Mitchell stood behind me.
"Now we know."
I looked at him.
"He's alive."
"Possibly."
"You heard him."
"The recording could have been made before the mission."
I knew that.
But hope had entered my heart.
And I couldn't push it away.
Then the laptop chimed.
A new file appeared.
LOCATION.
I opened it.
Coordinates.
General Mitchell recognized them.
"That's overseas."
"Where?"
He hesitated.
"An abandoned extraction site."
I looked at him.
"Take me."
"No."
"I'm going."
"You're pregnant."
"I'm still a colonel."
"You are also carrying a child."
"Our child."
He looked at me.
"I know."
May you like
I closed the laptop.
"Then let's bring his father home."
