Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Screen
By sunrise, Sheriff Collins had not slept.
He sat alone in his office, staring at the computer screen.
The coffee beside him had gone cold hours ago.
He barely noticed.
The search record remained open.
Someone had used his credentials.
Someone had accessed classified information.
Someone had created a situation where he would look responsible.
And the worst part?
It had worked.
A knock came at the door.
Collins looked up.
“Come in.””
Deputy Mason entered slowly.
“You okay?””
The sheriff almost laughed.
“No.””
Mason nodded.
“Fair enough.””
Collins leaned back.
“You knew something was wrong last night.””
Mason looked uncomfortable.
“I knew something felt wrong.””
“Why didn’t you say more?””
The deputy hesitated.
“Because you weren’t listening.””
That answer landed harder than Collins expected.
He looked at the younger officer.
“You think I’m the problem?””
Mason sighed.
“I think you’re used to people agreeing with you.””
Silence filled the room.
Collins looked away.
Most people were afraid to tell him the truth.
He had mistaken that fear for respect.
His phone rang.
Both men looked at it.
The caller ID was blocked.
Collins answered.
“Sheriff Collins.””
A distorted voice responded.
“Did you find her?””
His expression changed.
“Who is this?””
“You don’t have much time.””
Collins stood.
“Who are you?””
The voice ignored the question.
“You were supposed to hold her overnight.””
Mason immediately reached for his radio.
Collins raised a hand.
The voice continued.
“You were supposed to delay her.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because she was getting too close.””
Collins felt a chill.
“To what?””
The call ended.
He stared at the phone.
Mason looked at him.
“What was that?””
Collins didn’t answer.
Because he knew.
Someone had manipulated him.
Someone had used his authority like a weapon.
A few minutes later, Commander Reeves returned with Sarah.
Collins stood immediately.
“General.””
Sarah noticed the change in his tone.
“You found something.””
It wasn’t a question.
Collins looked at her.
“Someone used my system.””
Reeves’ expression changed.
“What?””
“My credentials. They accessed your file before I ever searched your name.””
Sarah became completely still.
“What else?””
Collins hesitated.
“I received a phone call.””
Reeves stepped closer.
“From who?””
“Unknown.””
Sarah exchanged a glance with Reeves.
The commander understood immediately.
“This wasn’t random.””
“No,” Sarah said.
Collins looked at her.
“You knew.””
“I suspected.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
Sarah looked at him carefully.
“Would you have believed me?””
The sheriff had no answer.
Because last night, he wouldn’t have.
Sarah walked toward the computer.
“Show me.””
Collins moved aside.
She examined the screen.
The search logs.
The access times.
The hidden authorization.
Then she stopped.
“What?””
Reeves asked.
Sarah pointed.
“This.””
Collins leaned closer.
“What is it?””
She tapped the screen.
“A secondary command override.””
Mason frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Sarah’s eyes narrowed.
“It means whoever did this wasn’t just trying to hide.””
She looked at Reeves.
“They wanted us to know they were here.””
The commander’s face became serious.
“That’s impossible.””
Sarah looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because this signature…”
He stopped.
Sarah finished the sentence.
“Belongs to someone who shouldn’t exist.””
The room went silent.
Collins stared.
“What does that mean?””
Sarah didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she opened a secure channel on her device.
The screen lit up.
A name appeared.
One that made Commander Reeves step back.
“No.””
Sarah looked at him.
“You know him?””
Reeves’ expression hardened.
“Everyone in special operations knows that name.””
Collins looked between them.
“Who?””
Sarah stared at the screen.
Then quietly said:
“The man who trained me.””
The sheriff frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Sarah’s eyes stayed fixed on the name.
“Because he died twelve years ago.””
The computer screen flickered.
A new message appeared.
One sentence.
One warning.
*YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE STATION WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE, SARAH.*
And beneath it was a signature.
May you like
A name that should have been impossible.
*GENERAL MICHAEL VALE.*
