Chapter 9: The Truth About Tyler Brooks
The photograph on the screen changed everything.
I stared at it for several seconds.
Me.
Tyler Brooks.
Standing together on the deck earlier that morning.
A moment I barely remembered.
A moment that suddenly felt planned.
Vale’s message remained on the screen.
“Your first mistake was believing he was only a victim.””
My mind raced through every interaction I had with Tyler.
The nervous smile.
The hesitation.
The way he always looked around before speaking.
The way he avoided certain conversations.
I thought I understood him.
A young sailor trapped under Kane’s command.
A victim of a cruel system.
But now Vale wanted me to question that.
Kane noticed my expression.
“What did he show you?””
I turned toward him.
“You knew Tyler.””
The room became silent.
Daniel looked confused.
“My son?””
Kane didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You knew my son was involved?””
Kane’s face changed.
Not fear this time.
Regret.
“He wasn’t supposed to be.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Wasn’t supposed to be what?””
Kane looked at me.
“Part of the program.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What program?””
Voss answered.
“The final phase.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew?””
He looked away.
“Tyler was selected.””
Daniel’s voice rose.
“Selected for what?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Kane spoke.
“To expose Vale.””
Daniel froze.
I looked at Kane.
“Explain.””
Kane walked toward the table.
For the first time, he looked like a man trying to confess something he had carried too long.
“After Vale created the program, we realized we couldn’t fight him directly.””
“So you used a sailor?””
“No.””
Kane shook his head.
“We used someone Vale underestimated.””
I looked at the photo.
“Tyler.””
Kane nodded.
“He was smart. Observant. He noticed things other people ignored.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You’re telling me my son was investigating him?””
“Yes.””
“And you let him do that?””
Kane looked down.
“I tried to protect him.””
Daniel laughed.
A painful sound.
“By letting him stay aboard this ship?””
Kane had no answer.
Because there wasn’t one.
I walked toward the computer.
“Vale knew.””
Everyone looked at me.
“He knew Tyler was watching him.””
Voss nodded slowly.
“That’s why he changed the plan.””
“What plan?””
“The one that made Tyler appear like a victim.””
The room felt smaller.
I remembered the heat.
The collapse.
The water.
The words Kane said.
Dead weight.
A public punishment.
A performance.
Vale wanted everyone to see Tyler as weak.
Because a weak person wasn’t investigated.
A weak person wasn’t considered a threat.
“Tyler wasn’t randomly targeted,” I said.
Kane shook his head.
“No.””
“He was placed there.””
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped away.
His face was filled with anger.
“My son was used.””
Kane looked at him.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than a lie.
Daniel turned away.
I understood that feeling.
Because I had spent weeks trying to find a villain.
But the truth was more complicated.
Everyone had made choices.
Some worse than others.
The radio suddenly activated.
Marcus’s voice came through.
“Hannah.””
I answered.
“Go ahead.””
“We intercepted a transmission.””
“From Vale?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
A pause.
Then:
“He’s moving toward the command center.””
I looked up.
“The bridge.””
“Yes.””
Marcus continued.
“NCIS is preparing a response team.””
“Too late.””
“What?””
I looked at the others.
“Vale wants me.””
Marcus was silent.
“That’s exactly what he wants.””
“I know.””
“Then don’t go.””
I looked at the screen.
At Tyler’s picture.
At all the names on the wall.
“If I don’t, he keeps controlling the ship.””
“Hannah—”
“I’m ending this.””
I removed my earpiece.
Kane looked at me.
“You think you can stop him?””
“No.””
I looked toward the door.
“But I know I can make him reveal himself.””
Voss stepped forward.
“I’m coming.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because I helped create this.””
Daniel followed.
“And I’m coming because my son deserves the truth.””
Kane stayed behind.
I expected him to.
But then he moved.
“I’m coming too.””
I stared at him.
“You don’t get to be the hero now.””
His expression hardened.
“I know.””
A pause.
“But I can still be responsible.””
For the first time, I believed he meant it.
We moved toward the command deck.
Toward Vale.
Toward the person who had controlled everything from the shadows.
But before we reached the door, the ship’s intercom activated again.
Vale’s voice filled the hallway.
“Agent Cole.””
I stopped.
“You’re closer.””
Silence.
Then:
“Good.””
The doors ahead opened automatically.
A final invitation.
A trap.
Or both.
Vale spoke again.
“But before you come inside…”
The lights above us flickered.
“Ask Colonel Kane why Tyler Brooks was never supposed to survive.””
I turned.
May you like
And Kane’s face told me.
There was still one secret left.
