Chapter 4: The Father at Gate 14
Elizabeth stood so quickly that her chair fell backward.
“Thomas.””
Her voice was barely audible.
On the monitor, the man lowered his phone.
He looked toward the camera again.
Then he walked away.
“Stop him!”” Elizabeth shouted.
Marcus raised his hand.
“Daniel, close the nearest exits. Don't let anyone approach him without identification.””
Daniel moved immediately.
Marcus turned toward Elizabeth.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“Ma'am—”
“That's my husband.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't.”” Her voice broke.
“I've spent two years believing I was a widow. My children have been growing up believing their father was dead. And now you're telling me he's been walking around this airport?””
Marcus held her gaze.
“I need you to stay with your children while we determine what's happening.””
Elizabeth looked at Maya and Noah.
Then she nodded.
Marcus followed Daniel toward Gate 14.
The terminal was becoming crowded.
Passengers were lining up for boarding. A cleaning cart blocked part of the corridor. An announcement echoed overhead.
“Final boarding call for Flight 287 to Chicago.””
Daniel checked his phone.
“Security has the exits covered.””
“Good.””
They reached the boarding area.
The man was gone.
Marcus scanned the crowd.
A woman in a red jacket hurried toward the escalator.
An airport employee pushed a luggage cart past them.
Then Marcus saw a familiar black folder.
It was lying on a chair near the boarding counter.
“Daniel.””
The lieutenant followed his gaze.
Marcus approached the chair.
Inside the folder were several documents.
A photocopy of a military service record.
A photograph of Elizabeth holding Maya as a newborn.
And a handwritten note.
If they find the children, bring them to me. No witnesses.
Marcus stared at the words.
Daniel looked over his shoulder.
“Sir, that's not good.””
“No.””
He opened the next page.
It contained a list of names.
Several belonged to people connected to the Carter case.
One name had been circled in red.
*COLONEL MARCUS HALE.*
Daniel froze.
“Sir.””
Marcus slowly closed the folder.
“What?””
“Your name is on the list.””
Before Marcus could respond, a voice spoke behind them.
“You should have stayed out of this, Colonel.””
They turned.
A man stood several feet away.
Dark suit.
Gray tie.
Short beard.
Thomas Carter.
Marcus immediately positioned himself between the man and the boarding counter.
“Thomas Carter?””
The man gave a small nod.
“That's what they call me.””
Daniel's hand moved toward his radio.
Thomas noticed.
“Don't.””
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” Marcus ordered.
Thomas raised both hands.
“I didn't come here to hurt anybody.””
“Then why are you running?””
“Because you're making a mistake.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Your children are five years old. They were abandoned in an airport. Their mother has been searching for them for months. And you expect me to believe you're here to help?””
Thomas's expression tightened.
“Elizabeth shouldn't have come.””
“She's their mother.””
“She doesn't understand what's happening.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Then explain it.””
Thomas glanced around.
“Not here.””
“Then we'll find somewhere secure.””
Thomas shook his head.
“There's no secure place.””
“Why?””
“Because the people who arranged my death have access to everything.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Sir, we need to detain him.””
Thomas gave a humorless laugh.
“You think I'm the criminal?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Thomas reached slowly into his jacket.
Daniel immediately raised his voice.
“Don't move!””
Thomas stopped.
“It's a photograph.””
He carefully removed a small picture and held it between two fingers.
It showed Maya and Noah sitting on a couch.
Both children were smiling.
Elizabeth was beside them.
The date on the photograph was from three months earlier.
Marcus examined it.
“Where did you get this?””
“My sister.””
“Vanessa?””
Thomas nodded.
“She sent it to me.””
“Why?””
“To prove that the children were safe.””
Marcus looked at him.
“They were safe?””
Thomas's eyes dropped.
“I didn't know what she was doing.””
“That's convenient.””
Thomas's voice rose.
“You think I wanted this? I was told Elizabeth had died after the accident. I was told the children were being cared for by family. I was told that coming home would put all of them in danger.””
“Who told you?””
“People I trusted.””
“Names.””
Thomas hesitated.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“General Richard Whitmore.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
General Whitmore was a retired senior officer who had served as an adviser to several military intelligence programs.
“Why would a general be involved?””
“Because the trust wasn't originally created for money.””
Thomas leaned closer.
“It was created to protect information.””
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
“What information?””
Thomas shook his head.
“I can't tell you here.””
“Then tell me this. Why were the children abandoned?””
Thomas looked toward the terminal entrance.
“Because Vanessa received a message that Elizabeth had found the original trust agreement.””
“And?””
“She panicked.””
Marcus waited.
Thomas's face changed.
“She was supposed to take the children to a private aircraft. Someone was waiting for them.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
Thomas swallowed.
“I was supposed to meet her after she left the children. I was told the airport would be the safest place to exchange them.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You planned to meet your children after your sister abandoned them?””
“I thought they were being transferred to a protected location.””
“They're five years old, Thomas!””
Thomas flinched.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You don't get to call that protection.””
For the first time, Thomas looked ashamed.
“I know.””
A radio crackled.
Daniel listened.
Then his expression changed.
“Sir, we have a problem.””
“What?””
“Airport security just found Vanessa.””
“Where?””
“Near the staff parking garage.””
“Bring her in.””
Daniel hesitated.
“She isn't alone.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who is with her?””
Daniel swallowed.
“General Whitmore.””
Thomas went pale.
“No.””
Marcus turned toward him.
“What?””
Thomas backed away.
“You don't understand. If he's here, then the exchange has already started.””
“What exchange?””
Thomas looked toward Gate 18.
Then he whispered:
“They didn't come for the children.””
May you like
Marcus felt a chill move down his spine.
“They came for something the children are carrying.””
