Chapter 10 - Where the Scar Began
Elena went back to Harbor Light.
Not alone.
She simply made the kidnappers believe she had.
Vale's team remained beyond the perimeter.
Mercer insisted on joining.
Elena refused.
"You've done enough."
His face fell.
She added, "Which means I need you outside where I can trust you."
That surprised him.
It surprised her too.
Inside, Elena found Claire restrained in the original surgical room.
Rourke stood beside her.
Elena stopped.
"You."
Rourke looked ashamed.
"I'm sorry."
Claire shouted, "Don't give him the drive!"
Rourke held a weapon.
"I don't have a choice."
"Everyone has a choice."
"Kessler has my daughter."
Elena hadn't known Rourke had one.
Kessler had built loyalty through hostages and secrets.
Even now, in custody, his contingency network continued operating.
Elena placed the drive down.
"Let Claire go."
Rourke hesitated.
Then gunfire sounded elsewhere.
Mercer's voice came through Elena's earpiece.
"We found the secondary team."
Rourke realized he'd been deceived.
Elena moved.
She knocked the weapon away.
Claire kicked it across the floor.
Agents entered.
Rourke surrendered.
"Find my daughter."
They did.
She was being held in a nearby motel.
Alive.
Rourke broke completely when he heard.
He agreed to testify against everyone.
Elena freed Claire.
For several seconds neither woman spoke.
Then Claire touched Elena's scar.
"I'm sorry."
Elena stepped back.
"Don't apologize for the scar."
Claire looked confused.
"It means I survived."
That was the first time Elena had ever thought of it that way.
Then alarms sounded.
A fire had started below them.
Kessler's final contingency.
Destroy Harbor Light permanently.
Elena and Claire ran.
Smoke filled the corridor.
At the exit, part of the ceiling collapsed.
Claire fell.
Elena turned back.
"Go!" Claire screamed.
Elena refused.
Twenty-eight years earlier, Claire had carried Elena out of this place.
Now Elena pulled Claire to her feet.
Together they reached the surface.
Vale was waiting.
When he saw Claire alive, his face changed.
Elena noticed.
There was still love there.
Old.
Damaged.
But real.
Then Mercer shouted.
"Commander!"
Elena turned.
Agents were bringing someone from the burning facility.
A woman.
Rebecca.
Elena stared.
"She was supposed to be in federal custody."
Rebecca coughed.
"I escaped."
"Why?"
"Because Kessler left one last thing down there."
She opened her hand.
A small metal capsule.
Inside was a memory chip.
"The original patient registry."
Elena looked at it.
Rebecca's expression became grave.
"You're not the only survivor."
"How many?"
Rebecca looked toward the burning building.
"Forty-seven."
Elena stared.
May you like
Then Rebecca added:
"And one of them is currently serving on this base."
