Chapter 4: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead

The man standing outside the window should not have existed.

That was the first thing Agent Morgan said.

Not “we need to hide.””

Not “call security.””

Not even “who is that?””

Just:

“That’s impossible.””

I kept my eyes on the figure.

“Who is he?””

Agent Morgan didn’t answer immediately.

Her hand moved toward the folder.

Toward the evidence.

Like she suddenly realized the documents were more dangerous than she thought.

Finally, she whispered:

“Marcus Bell.””

The name hit me harder than the fall.

Marcus Bell.

The technician who reported Deck Four.

The man listed as missing.

The man everyone believed disappeared.

He was standing outside.

Alive.

Watching us.

Agent Morgan locked the door.

“Stay here.””

I grabbed my jacket.

“No.””

She looked at me.

“That wasn’t a suggestion.””

“You just told me a dead man is outside.””

“He isn’t supposed to be involved.””

“That means he knows something.””

Her expression hardened.

“You don’t understand.””

“Then explain.””

She looked at the window again.

“Marcus wasn’t just a witness.””

“Then what was he?””

She hesitated.

“The person who built the case against Kane.””

A chill moved through me.

“And then?””

“He disappeared before he could submit it.””

I looked at the man outside.

“Looks like he didn’t disappear.””

Agent Morgan reached for the door.

“No.””

The command in her voice stopped me.

“Why?””

“Because if Marcus is here…”

She looked at the evidence packet.

“…then Kane knows exactly where we are.””

A second later, the lights went out.

The room fell dark.

The emergency alarm started.

Red lights flashed in the hallway.

Someone had cut the power.

Agent Morgan immediately pulled the folder close.

“Stay behind me.””

I almost laughed.

“After everything that happened today, you think I’m going to hide?””

A sound came from the hallway.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Controlled.

Someone wasn’t rushing.

They wanted us to hear them coming.

The door handle moved.

Once.

Twice.

Agent Morgan whispered:

“Whoever is out there wants the evidence.””

The lock clicked.

The door opened slightly.

A shadow appeared.

Then a voice spoke.

“You have something that belongs to Colonel Kane.””

I recognized it instantly.

Not Kane.

Someone else.

Someone who had been on the Resolute.

Someone who had watched me fall.

I stepped forward.

The shadow moved closer.

And then the hallway light revealed his face.

It was the man from my bunk.

The one Kane sent to warn me.

But now he wasn’t afraid.

He was holding a flash drive.

And he said:

“Before you accuse Victor Kane, you need to see what’s really inside Deck Four.””

He looked directly at me.

Then added:

“Because the evidence packet you found is only half the truth.””

He placed the flash drive on the table.

And before anyone could stop him, he said the words that changed the entire investigation.

“Your name is on the original report.””

I froze.

“My name?””

He nodded.

“Six months ago, before you ever boarded the Resolute…”

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He looked at the evidence packet.

“…you were already part of Deck Four.””