Chapter 5 - The Vault Beneath Arlington
“Chloe!”
Marcus ran back toward the library.
I caught him.
“Stop.”
“They took her!”
“And running blind gets her killed.”
He struggled against me.
“That's my fiancée!”
“She is my sister.”
That stopped him.
I checked Chloe's phone.
Gone.
Security cameras showed a black SUV leaving through the service gate.
Richard wanted us moving.
That meant Chloe was leverage, not the immediate target.
I hated relying on that distinction.
But it mattered.
Police arrived eight minutes later.
By then, Mercer, Marcus, Dad, and I already had a plan.
Thorne Strategic headquarters stood seventeen stories above Arlington.
The vault was underneath it.
Marcus could get us inside.
Dad knew the security architecture.
Mercer carried the second tag.
I carried the first.
And Chloe was somewhere ahead of us.
Marcus drove.
For ten minutes nobody spoke.
Then he said, “I love her.”
I looked out the window.
“You used her.”
“At first.”
“You expect that to help?”
“No.”
His hands tightened around the wheel.
“My father told me to get close to her. He said your family might be connected to corporate espionage.”
“And you believed him?”
“I believed everything he told me.”
“That was your mistake.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
Wine still stained my dress.
I was barefoot.
This had begun as an engagement party.
Now we were driving toward a vault connected to the deaths of nine soldiers.
Marcus swallowed.
“I fell in love with Chloe before I understood why Dad wanted me near her.”
“That doesn't erase what you did.”
“I know.”
For the first time, he wasn't defending himself.
Good.
We reached Arlington after sunset.
Thorne Strategic headquarters was nearly empty.
Marcus used his credentials.
Elevator.
Basement.
Sublevel one.
Two.
The elevator stopped.
No button for three.
Dad entered a code.
A hidden button illuminated.
The elevator descended.
Doors opened.
Concrete corridor.
One steel door.
No guards.
That worried me.
Marcus whispered, “This is too easy.”
“Yes.”
We approached the vault.
Two slots.
I inserted my tag.
Mercer inserted his.
Green lights.
The vault unlocked.
Inside were shelves.
Documents.
Drives.
Photographs.
Years of evidence.
And Chloe.
She sat tied to a chair.
“Zariah!”
I moved toward her.
“Wait.”
A voice came from behind the shelves.
Richard Thorne stepped into view.
Sixty-three.
Silver hair.
Expensive suit.
Calm.
A pistol in his hand.
“Commander Vale.”
Marcus stared at his father.
“Let her go.”
Richard barely looked at him.
“You disappointed me.”
“Dad.”
“You had one responsibility.”
Chloe looked at Marcus.
Pain crossed her face.
Richard smiled.
“You really didn't tell her?”
“Shut up.”
“Tell me what?” Chloe asked.
Marcus looked devastated.
Richard enjoyed it.
“My son was supposed to marry you, Chloe.”
She stared.
“I know.”
“No.”
Richard's smile widened.
“He was supposed to marry your access.”
Chloe looked at me.
“What access?”
Richard answered.
“Your sister.”
I stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Richard raised the gun.
“Give me the tags.”
“No.”
“You came for your sister.”
“I came for the evidence.”
Chloe stared at me.
Then understood.
Richard's smile vanished.
“You would sacrifice her?”
“No.”
I looked toward Chloe.
“But you made a mistake.”
“What?”
“You tied her hands in front.”
Richard glanced down.
That was all Chloe needed.
She pulled free.
The rope had already loosened around one wrist.
She threw herself sideways.
I moved.
Marcus hit his father's gun arm.
The weapon fired.
Mercer tackled Chloe.
I struck Richard once.
His gun fell.
Marcus kicked it away.
Seconds later, Richard was on the floor.
I restrained him with his own belt.
Chloe stood shaking.
Marcus approached.
She backed away.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
That hurt him.
It should.
Dad entered the vault.
He stared at the files.
“We have him.”
“No,” Richard said from the floor.
We looked at him.
He smiled.
“You have me.”
His emphasis mattered.
“Who else?” I asked.
He laughed.
“You still think Black Ridge was about money?”
Dad went pale.
Richard looked at him.
“You never told her?”
“Told me what?”
Dad didn't answer.
Richard did.
“Your father wasn't investigating us.”
He looked directly at me.
“He created Project 7319.”
Silence.
I turned toward Dad.
“Tell me he's lying.”
Dad stared at the floor.
Richard laughed again.
Then every light inside the vault went red.
A mechanical alarm began.
LOCKDOWN INITIATED.
Marcus looked toward the closing steel door.
“Move!”
We ran.
The door descended.
I reached it first.
Too late.
It slammed shut.
Then the vault speakers crackled.
A familiar voice came through.
May you like
General Warren Hale.
“Hello, Commander.”
