Chapter 7: The Hostage at the Norfolk Safe House
For the first time in five years, I was afraid of losing my mother.
Not because of the fire.
Not because of the investigation.
Because someone had decided that the easiest way to silence me was to hurt the woman who had given birth to me.
Admiral Reed was already speaking into his phone.
"Get a tactical team to the Norfolk address. Nobody approaches that property until we establish the situation.""
Special Agent Mercer hurried toward him.
"Sir, we have confirmation. Graham Voss is inside the building. Mrs. Harrington is being held in the upstairs living room.""
I grabbed my handbag.
"I'm going with you.""
Reed immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
"That's my mother.""
"And you're the last person Voss wants approaching that house.""
"Then he'll be expecting someone else. Let me talk to him.""
Mercer stepped between us.
"Captain, you're a witness and a potential target. We cannot allow you to compromise the operation.""
I stared at him.
"Five years ago, I was trapped behind a locked compartment while someone listened to me beg for help. I'm not going to stand here while my mother goes through the same thing.""
Reed studied me.
Then he turned toward Mercer.
"She remains behind the perimeter. But she may be useful for communication.""
I nodded.
That was enough.
Twenty minutes later, our vehicles arrived outside a modest brick house in Norfolk.
The neighborhood was quiet.
A children's bicycle lay on its side near the driveway. A porch light flickered above the front door.
Two tactical officers crouched behind a parked vehicle.
Mercer approached with a radio.
"Suspect is armed. We have one hostage. No confirmed injuries.""
A voice suddenly came through the house's exterior speaker.
"Stay back!""
It was a man's voice.
Graham Voss.
"Nobody comes inside!""
Mercer lifted the loudspeaker.
"This is Special Agent Daniel Mercer. We need to talk.""
"You're not coming in.""
"We're concerned about the woman inside.""
"Then tell Evelyn to come out here.""
My stomach tightened.
Mercer glanced at me.
I stepped forward.
"Voss, this is Evelyn Harrington.""
Silence.
Then he laughed.
"Well, look who's finally come home.""
"Let my mother go.""
"You should have stayed away from the investigation.""
"You tried to kill me five years ago.""
"I didn't try anything. I followed instructions.""
My hands clenched.
"Whose instructions?""
He laughed again.
"You really don't understand what your father built, do you?""
I looked at the upstairs window.
A curtain moved.
Then my mother's face appeared.
Her hands were tied in front of her.
She looked terrified.
"Mom!""
She pressed her palm against the glass.
Voss pulled her away from the window.
"Don't shout at her!""
I fought the urge to rush forward.
"She's done nothing to you.""
"Neither had I until your family decided to make me the villain.""
"Then tell us the truth.""
Voss went quiet.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he said something that changed the entire situation.
"Your mother knows the truth.""
I looked at Mercer.
"What?""
Voss continued.
"Ask her what she signed five years ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"What are you talking about?""
"She signed the original confidentiality agreement. She knew the equipment was defective before the Meridian sailed.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
That couldn't be true.
My mother had never worked for Harrington Defense.
She had spent her life attending charity events, managing our home, and supporting my father's career.
"What agreement?"" I demanded.
Voss laughed.
"Ask her.""
Mercer immediately signaled to the tactical team.
"Prepare for extraction.""
A crash sounded from inside the house.
My mother's scream followed.
Then a gunshot.
Everyone dropped.
"Shots fired!"" an officer shouted.
Mercer pulled me behind the armored vehicle.
"Stay down!""
I heard movement inside the house.
Then another voice came through the speaker.
"Everybody back away from the building!""
It was Voss.
"Nobody comes closer, or she dies!""
I pressed my hands against my ears.
"Mom!""
A few seconds later, the upstairs window opened.
A white cloth appeared.
Then my mother's voice.
"Evelyn!""
She was alive.
"Tell them not to shoot!"" she shouted.
"Please!""
Mercer grabbed the radio.
"All units hold position. We have a visual on the hostage.""
Then my mother's voice became quieter.
But I heard the next words.
"Your father didn't know everything.""
I stared at the window.
"Mom, what are you saying?""
She looked directly at me.
"Victoria gave me the original report. I signed it because she said it would protect you.""
I froze.
Before I could ask another question, the curtains snapped shut.
Voss shouted something.
Then the house went dark.
Mercer looked at the tactical commander.
"Move!""
The officers rushed the entrance.
A loud crash followed.
Then shouting.
Then silence.
A minute later, the front door opened.
Two officers emerged with my mother.
She was crying, but she was alive.
I ran toward her.
"Mom!""
She collapsed into my arms.
I held her tightly, feeling her shoulders shake beneath my hands.
"You're safe," I whispered.
"You're safe.""
She pulled away and looked at me.
Her face was pale.
"Evelyn, listen to me. Victoria didn't just falsify the inspection reports.""
"What else did she do?""
My mother looked over my shoulder.
At the officers.
At the house.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"She paid someone to make sure you never left that ship.""
