Chapter 6: The Truth Beneath Deck Four

The door opened slowly.

Not because Kane couldn’t force it.

Because he wanted everyone inside to feel the moment.

Victor Kane never rushed.

He enjoyed control too much.

When the door finally opened, he stood there with two security officers behind him.

Perfect uniform.

Calm expression.

Not a trace of panic.

The same man who had pushed me into the Pacific looked completely comfortable.

Like he was walking into a meeting.

Not a confrontation.

His eyes moved across the room.

First Agent Morgan.

Then Marcus.

Then me.

When he saw Marcus, his expression changed.

Only slightly.

But enough.

A tiny crack in the mask.

“You should be dead.””

Marcus smiled.

“That’s what you wanted.””

Kane ignored him.

His eyes returned to me.

“Lieutenant Reed.””

The way he said my name made it sound like an accusation.

“I’m disappointed.””

I stared at him.

“You threw me off a ship.””

Kane tilted his head.

“That is a serious allegation.””

Agent Morgan stepped forward.

“I witnessed the aftermath.””

Kane looked at her.

“Agent Morgan, you should be careful.””

“Is that a threat?””

“No.””

He smiled.

“It’s advice.””

I almost laughed.

Advice.

That was how men like Kane disguised intimidation.

I stepped forward.

“Tell everyone the truth.””

Kane looked at me.

“Which truth?””

“The one where you tried to kill me.””

A few seconds passed.

Then Kane sighed.

“You really don’t understand what happened.””

“Then explain.””

He looked around the room.

At everyone watching.

Then he pointed at the flash drive.

“Because that contains information you don’t want revealed.””

Marcus stepped forward.

“Don’t listen to him.””

Kane looked at Marcus.

“You were always emotional.””

Marcus’s face hardened.

“And you were always afraid.””

That hit him.

For the first time, Kane’s expression changed.

Anger.

Real anger.

He looked back at me.

“Do you know why I chose you?””

I didn’t answer.

“Because you were useful.””

The words landed harder than expected.

“You had access.””

Kane continued.

“You had clearance.””

He walked closer.

“And you had a reputation for following procedures.””

I stared at him.

“So you used me.””

“No.””

He smiled.

“You let yourself be used.””

Agent Morgan looked confused.

“What is he talking about?””

Kane reached into his folder.

Removed a document.

Then handed it to her.

She read it.

Her expression slowly changed.

“What is this?””

Kane looked at me.

“Your transfer request.””

I frowned.

“I never submitted one.””

“Exactly.””

Agent Morgan looked up.

“He was assigned to Deck Four?””

Kane nodded.

“Six months ago.””

I looked at Marcus.

He looked away.

And that hurt more than Kane’s words.

Because Marcus knew.

He had known.

“You knew about this.””

Marcus said nothing.

I felt anger rising.

“You let me believe I was discovering this.””

Marcus finally looked at me.

“Because you were.””

“What does that mean?””

He stepped closer.

“Someone erased your memory of the investigation.””

I stared at him.

“That’s impossible.””

“No.””

His voice was quiet.

“It’s classified.””

The room went silent.

Agent Morgan lowered the document.

“Explain.””

Marcus looked at Kane.

Then at me.

“Deck Four wasn’t just a supply investigation.””

He pointed at the screen.

“It was a cover-up operation.””

My heartbeat increased.

“What kind of operation?””

Marcus answered:

“An operation where witnesses were removed, records were changed, and people’s identities were manipulated.””

I looked at Kane.

“You altered my files.””

Kane didn’t deny it.

That was the worst part.

He simply said:

“You were supposed to stay quiet.””

I stepped closer.

“And if I didn’t?””

Kane looked toward the window.

Toward the ocean.

Then back at me.

“You already know what happens.””

Nobody spoke.

Then Agent Morgan’s phone rang.

She answered.

Her face changed after only a few seconds.

“What?””

A pause.

“Say that again.””

She slowly looked at me.

“The Resolute just sent a new report.””

My stomach tightened.

“What report?””

She lowered the phone.

“An incident report.””

Her voice became quieter.

“According to the ship’s official records…”

She looked at the document in her hand.

“You never fell overboard.””

I felt the room spin.

“What?””

Agent Morgan swallowed.

“The report says you jumped.””

Kane watched me carefully.

Then he smiled.

Because he had already built the lie.

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