Chapter 7
James played the tape.
Sarah’s voice filled the Red Room.
Older than Emily remembered.
Calmer than James expected.
“If you’re hearing this, either I finally told you everything or something happened before I could.”
James closed his eyes for one second.
Caleb said nothing.
Sarah continued.
“The convoy leak came from inside. I know because the route I gave Caleb was not the real one.”
James looked up.
Everyone else did too.
Sarah had created three versions of the route and told a different person each one.
Only Caleb received the industrial-road version.
That was the route attackers knew.
Caleb finally spoke.
“That proves nothing.”
Sarah’s recorded voice answered as if she had heard him.
“So Caleb will say this proves nothing.”
Emily looked toward him.
Caleb’s face tightened.
Sarah continued.
“I confronted him yesterday.”
A pause.
“He told me James had become weak.”
James felt the old wound open.
“He said the family needed somebody willing to do what James no longer would.”
Caleb suddenly laughed.
“This is her interpretation.”
Then Sarah’s recording changed.
Another voice entered.
Caleb’s.
The original conversation.
“You made him soft.”
Sarah responded, “He has a daughter.”
“He has an organization.”
“He has both.”
“He won’t for long if he keeps choosing family first.”
James looked at Emily.
Eight years later, Caleb was still using the same argument.
Family made James weak.
Love made James predictable.
And pregnant Emily had become evidence in Caleb’s mind.
The recording continued.
Sarah asked, “Did you leak the convoy?”
Caleb answered after a long silence.
“I corrected a problem.”
Emily covered her mouth.
James did not move.
Sarah’s voice became quieter.
“You killed two men.”
“I saved the organization from your husband’s hesitation.”
Caleb took one step backward.
The bodyguards stopped him.
James stared at his oldest friend.
Then Sarah asked one final question on the tape.
“And what happens when James finds out?”
Caleb’s recorded answer came softly.
“He won’t.”
The tape clicked off.
Nobody spoke.
James looked at the living Caleb Ward.
May you like
Eight years later, Caleb finally had an answer.
James had found out.
