Chapter 10: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The room went silent after the officer’s words.
Michael Voss was inside the building.
And he wanted to speak with me.
The admiral’s face hardened.
“No.””
The officer looked surprised.
“Sir?””
“He doesn’t get to make demands.””
I understood his reaction.
Michael Voss was not a guest.
Not an officer.
Not someone looking for forgiveness.
He was a ghost from my father’s past.
A man who had been hiding for twenty-two years.
But something inside me told me this moment had been coming.
“Take me to him.””
Everyone turned.
The admiral immediately shook his head.
“Captain, absolutely not.””
I looked at him.
“You spent twenty-two years keeping me away from this truth.””
His expression tightened.
“Because I wanted to keep you alive.””
“And now someone who knows the truth is standing in this building.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m done being protected from my own life.””
Daniel nodded.
“She’s right.””
The admiral looked at him.
“You don’t get to decide that.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“But Evelyn does.””
Frank stayed quiet.
For once, he wasn’t trying to speak for me.
Maybe he finally understood.
The admiral studied my face.
Then he sighed.
“Five minutes.””
Two security officers escorted us through a private corridor.
The Winter Ball continued on the other side of the walls.
Music.
Laughter.
People pretending nothing had happened.
It felt strange.
My entire world had changed, and everyone else was still dancing.
At the end of the corridor was a secure conference room.
The door opened.
And there he was.
Michael Voss.
Older than the photograph.
Gray hair.
A tired face.
But the same eyes from my father’s files.
The eyes of a man who had spent decades running.
He looked at me.
“Evelyn.””
I hated how calmly he said my name.
Like he had the right.
“Don’t.””
His expression changed slightly.
“You look like your father.””
“My father died because of you.””
Michael looked down.
“I know.””
The simplicity of his answer surprised me.
No denial.
No excuse.
Just acceptance.
The admiral stepped forward.
“Why are you here?””
Michael looked at him.
“Because the truth is finally coming out.””
The admiral’s jaw tightened.
“You have no right to talk about truth.””
Michael gave a bitter smile.
“Neither do you.””
The room became tense.
I looked between them.
“You two know each other.””
Neither answered.
That was enough.
“Explain.””
Michael looked at me.
“Your father discovered a group inside Phoenix was selling intelligence.””
“I know.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You know the official story.””
He stepped closer.
“You don’t know the real one.””
The admiral interrupted.
“Careful.””
Michael laughed quietly.
“Still protecting the secrets, Thomas?””
My heart stopped.
Thomas.
The admiral’s first name.
Nobody called him that.
Not anymore.
Michael continued.
“Your father didn’t just discover the leak.””
He looked at me.
“He discovered who was ordering it.””
“Who?””
Michael looked at the admiral.
Then at me.
“Someone above Phoenix.””
A chill moved through me.
“Who?””
Michael hesitated.
“Your father recorded the answer.””
I remembered the video.
The message.
The warning.
The admiral knows.
“Where is the recording?””
Michael looked toward Frank.
“Ask your husband.””
Everyone froze.
I turned slowly.
Frank’s face changed.
“Frank?””
He closed his eyes.
“I didn’t know.””
“You knew there was another recording?””
“I knew there was something.””
My anger returned.
“Something?””
Frank stepped forward.
“My father left instructions. He said if anything happened to him, I was supposed to keep the evidence hidden.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed anyone who had it would become a target.””
Michael nodded.
“He was right.””
I looked at Frank.
“You had another secret.””
He swallowed.
“Yes.””
The pain was almost worse than betrayal.
Because I was tired of discovering new versions of the people I loved.
Michael reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small metal case.
“I have the recording.””
The security officers immediately moved.
The admiral raised a hand.
“Wait.””
Michael placed the case on the table.
“Your father gave me this before he died.””
I stared.
“You were with him?””
Michael looked away.
“Yes.””
The room became cold.
“What happened that night?””
His voice lowered.
“I tried to stop him from exposing the truth.””
My heart tightened.
“You tried to stop him?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew what would happen.””
I stepped closer.
“Did you kill my father?””
Michael looked directly at me.
“No.””
A pause.
“But I know who did.””
The room went completely silent.
The admiral looked at the case.
“What’s inside?””
Michael answered:
“The evidence that proves who ordered the Phoenix betrayal.””
Before anyone could open it, the building shook.
A loud explosion echoed somewhere below.
The lights flickered.
Security alarms screamed.
An officer rushed in.
“Admiral!””
Everyone turned.
“Someone triggered a fire system in the east wing.””
The admiral’s face changed.
“Evacuate the guests.””
Then he looked at the metal case.
And I knew.
This wasn’t an accident.
May you like
Someone wasn’t trying to escape.
Someone was trying to destroy the truth.
