Chapter 6 - The Fire
Smoke was already pouring from the east wing when Thomas reached headquarters.
Soldiers rushed toward the building carrying extinguishers.
The automatic suppression system had failed.
Of course it had.
Thomas wrapped his sleeve around his mouth.
Inès grabbed him.
“You can’t go in.”
“Those files—”
“Are paper.”
“So?”
“You are not dying for paper.”
Then she saw someone stumble through the smoke.
Captain Delcourt.
Blood ran from a cut above his eyebrow.
He was dragging a metal records case.
Thomas rushed forward.
Together they pulled Delcourt clear.
Delcourt collapsed on one knee.
Inès stared at the case.
“What is that?”
“Archive backup.”
Thomas looked toward the flames.
“You knew this would happen?”
“I knew it could.”
“Who started it?”
Delcourt coughed.
“I saw Captain Rhodes leaving the corridor.”
Inès looked back toward the admin building.
“Rhodes was with us five minutes ago.”
“Then someone wants him blamed.”
Delcourt lifted his head.
“Where’s Léa?”
“Detained.”
His eyes sharpened.
“By Sloan?”
“Yes.”
Delcourt swore.
Meanwhile, Léa sat alone inside Interview Room Two.
The alarm had sounded twelve minutes earlier.
No one had explained anything.
Then Varenne entered.
He closed the door.
No lawyer.
No recorder light.
He placed Léa’s rank bars on the table.
“You caused quite a morning.”
She looked at them.
“I was sitting here.”
“You know what I mean.”
He sat opposite her.
“You’re finished.”
“Am I?”
“Classified information was found in your quarters.”
“Planted.”
“You’ll prove that?”
“I won’t have to.”
Varenne leaned forward.
“Your friends are already turning on you.”
“Which friends?”
“Inès Laurent.”
Léa’s expression did not change.
“Thomas Keller.”
Nothing.
“Delcourt.”
That almost got her.
Varenne noticed.
“There.”
He smiled.
“You trusted him.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“Good answer.”
Varenne slid a document across the table.
Resignation.
Administrative separation.
No court-martial.
No criminal charges.
No public investigation.
“You sign that,” he said, “and this ends.”
Léa read it.
“You’re offering me a deal before I’ve been charged.”
“I’m offering you your life back.”
“No.”
“You haven’t heard the alternative.”
“I don’t need to.”
Varenne’s voice lowered.
“People like you always think truth protects them.”
Léa looked up.
“It doesn’t?”
“No.”
He smiled without warmth.
“Power protects people.”
Léa pushed the paper back.
“Then why are you scared?”
His smile faded.
“Of you?”
“Of thirty witnesses.”
Varenne stared.
Léa leaned back.
“You ordered those reports.”
“You think pieces of paper can hurt me?”
“I think you tried to destroy them this morning.”
For the first time, his face changed.
Very little.
But enough.
Léa knew.
He did not know Inès had copies.
She kept going.
“You thought humiliation would break me.”
Silence.
“Instead, you gave thirty soldiers the same memory.”
Varenne stood.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.”
“Then explain it.”
“You think this is about maintenance?”
He walked toward the door.
Léa’s pulse quickened.
“What is it about?”
Varenne stopped.
He looked back at her.
“You found seventeen bad records.”
“Yes.”
“There are more than seventeen.”
“How many?”
He opened the door.
“Ask Delcourt.”
Then he left.
Léa stared at the empty doorway.
Minutes later, Colonel Hale entered with two military police investigators.
She placed Léa’s bars on the table.
“Put these back on.”
Léa stared at her.
“What happened?”
“The search of your quarters is being reviewed.”
“And Varenne?”
“Temporarily relieved of direct investigative authority.”
“Major Sloan?”
Hale’s jaw tightened.
“Missing.”
Léa stood.
“What?”
“He left the base during the fire.”
“Where’s Delcourt?”
“Medical.”
“Thomas?”
“Safe.”
Hale picked up the resignation Varenne had left behind.
Her expression hardened.
“He offered you this?”
“Yes.”
Hale read it.
Then she turned the page over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Léa had not noticed it.
Three words.
Written in black ink.
CHECK WAREHOUSE NINE.
Léa stared.
“That wasn’t there when he gave it to me.”
Hale looked toward the door.
Someone else had handled the paper after Varenne left.
May you like
Someone had sent Léa a message.
And only four people had access to the interview room.
