“We landed at a small airfield. Men in civilian clothes were waiting.”
“Did you recognize them?”
“No.”
“Were they armed?”
“I saw weapons, but I cannot tell you whether everyone carried one.”
Pierce made a note.
“Where was Captain Mercer?”
“Near the aircraft.”
“What was he doing?”
“Arguing.”
Rebecca felt her hands tighten.
“With whom?”
“One of the men waiting.”
“What did you hear?”
Farid hesitated.
“He said the passengers had to be properly recorded.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
That sounded exactly like Daniel.
Pierce continued.
“What happened next?”
“The man told him the paperwork had already been approved.”
“And Captain Mercer?”
“He said approval did not make a false record true.”
Rebecca felt tears gathering.
Farid looked toward her.
“Was he your friend?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Farid swallowed.
“He tried to protect us.”
Pierce asked:
“Did you see what happened to him?”
Farid nodded.
“Two men took him into a vehicle.”
“Was he injured?”
“Not when I last saw him.”
“Did he resist?”
“He asked where they were taking him.”
“What did they say?”
Farid looked down.
“One of them told him he had asked too many questions.”
The room became silent.
Rebecca stared at the table.
For years, she had imagined Daniel's final moments inside a damaged aircraft.
Now she was learning that he had survived the flight.
He had landed.
He had spoken.
He had challenged the people waiting.
And then he had been taken away.
Pierce continued the interview.
Farid described being moved through several facilities before entering a legitimate resettlement process.
He did not know what happened to the other passengers.
He had been instructed not to discuss the flight.
When he questioned the instructions, he was told that doing so could endanger his family.
For years, he remained silent.
Then investigators contacted him.
He decided to speak.
Before leaving, Farid turned toward Rebecca.
“Major Bennett?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“If Captain Mercer is alive, please tell him something.”
Her voice trembled.
“What?”
Farid swallowed.
“Tell him I remember that he tried to do the right thing.”
Rebecca nodded.
“I will.”
That evening, Tyler found Rebecca sitting outside the hotel.
She was staring at the sunset.
He sat beside her.
“You okay?”
She shook her head.
“Not really.”
He waited.
She continued.
“For eleven years, I thought Daniel died in an aircraft accident.”
Tyler looked at her.
“And now?”
“Now I know someone saw him alive afterward.”
He swallowed.
“That's good news.”
“Yes.”
“But?”
Rebecca looked toward the horizon.
“If he survived, where has he been?”
Tyler had no answer.
She continued.
“Why didn't he come home? Why didn't Sarah hear from him? Why did Emily grow up believing her father was dead?”
Her voice broke.
Tyler put an arm around her.
“I don't know.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“Neither do I.”
For a long time, they sat quietly.
Then Tyler spoke.
“Becca?”
“Yeah?”
“Whatever happens, you're not doing this alone.”
She looked at him.
He smiled faintly.
“I know I haven't been much of a brother lately.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Tyler—”
“No. I'm serious.”
He took a breath.
“I can't fix the past.”
He paused.
“But I can show up now.”
Rebecca leaned against him.
For the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that she did not have to carry everything alone.
Laura Voss arrived in Washington, D.C., under the protection of her attorney.
She had contacted investigators after learning that Rebecca was reopening questions about Valley Echo.
For eleven years, Laura had lived with a secret.
She had signed the report that falsely classified Daniel Mercer's aircraft as lost.
At the time, she believed she was supporting a sensitive government operation.
Later, she discovered that the report had been used to conceal his detention.
By then, correcting the record had become dangerous.
Laura entered the interview room carrying a small folder.
She looked older than Rebecca remembered.
Her blond hair had turned gray at the temples.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Pierce introduced herself.
Laura sat.
Then said:
“I helped create the cover story.”
Pierce remained still.
“Tell me what you mean.”
Laura looked down.
“After the aircraft landed, I was instructed to classify it as missing.”
“By whom?”
“An official in Adrian Cole's office.”
“Did you know the aircraft had landed?”
“Yes.”
Pierce paused.
“Then why did you sign the report?”
Laura's eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.”
She explained that she had been told the passengers were involved in a classified intelligence operation.
Senior officials claimed the false record was necessary to protect their identities.
Laura initially accepted that explanation.
Then she learned Daniel had been detained.
She questioned the decision.
Her supervisor warned her that discussing the matter could compromise national security.
She signed the report anyway.
Later, she tried to correct it.
Her objections were ignored.
Her access was restricted.
Eventually, she resigned.