Chapter 4: The Envelope
The laundromat went completely black.
Ruby screamed.
“Stay down!”” General Harris shouted.
A gunshot cracked through the darkness.
The woman behind the counter dropped to the floor.
“Ruby!”” Harris yelled.
“I’m here!””
“Don’t move!””
Another shot struck the metal dryer beside him.
Harris moved toward the sound, but Vale was already gone.
The front door slammed open.
Rain rushed inside.
“Vale!”” Harris shouted.
He ran outside.
Nothing.
Only the gray sedan disappearing into the wet street.
Harris turned back toward the laundromat.
“Ruby?””
A tiny voice answered from beneath the counter.
“General?””
“I’m here.””
He crouched and found her trembling against the wall.
“You're safe.””
She looked at him with wide eyes.
“Did he shoot you?””
“No.””
“You're bleeding.””
Harris glanced at his sleeve.
A thin line of blood ran along his forearm where a fragment of metal had grazed him.
“It's nothing.””
Ruby shook her head.
“Mom says people say that when it isn't nothing.””
Despite everything, Harris almost smiled.
Then he remembered the envelope.
“Ruby, where is it?””
She looked down.
Her small hand was still wrapped around it.
“I have it.””
Harris stared at the handwriting.
“For Ruby, if Daddy ever finds you.””
His throat tightened.
“May I see it?””
Ruby hesitated.
“My mom said not to open it.””
“She also told you not to tell anyone where you live.””
Ruby looked embarrassed.
“I broke that rule.””
“You did.””
“Are you angry?””
“No.””
Harris sat beside her.
“I’m angry at the people who made you afraid.””
Ruby studied his face.
“Were you really my mom's daddy?””
Harris swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Then why did she leave?””
He had no answer.
Not one that wouldn't sound like an excuse.
“I don't know,” he finally said.
Ruby lowered her eyes.
“Mom said you chose your job.””
“I did choose my job.””
“Over her?””
Harris looked at the rain outside.
“I thought I could protect everyone by serving my country.””
“And could you?””
“No.””
The word came quietly.
“No, Ruby. I couldn't.””
The woman behind the counter approached.
“General, you need to call someone.””
Harris nodded.
“I know.””
He pulled out his phone.
No signal.
He frowned.
Then he noticed the small red light blinking near the ceiling.
A camera.
Someone had installed it recently.
Harris immediately understood.
“Everyone out.””
The woman stared at him.
“What?””
“Now.””
They hurried into the street.
Harris called Reed from outside.
“Get a tactical team to the laundromat.””
“Sir?””
“Don't ask questions. Just get here.””
“Understood.””
Harris looked at Ruby.
“I'm taking you somewhere safe.””
She shook her head.
“My mom will be scared.””
“She already is.””
“You know where she is?””
“No.””
Ruby's face fell.
“But you said—”
“I said I'd find her.””
He knelt.
“And I will.””
Ruby looked at the envelope.
“Can we open it?””
Harris stared at her.
“Only if you're sure.””
She nodded.
He carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a single folded letter.
The handwriting was Amelia's.
Harris recognized it immediately.
His fingers trembled.
He unfolded the page.
Ruby,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I prayed would never happen.
Your grandfather may tell you that he loves you.
He does.
But love doesn't always mean safety.
Harris stopped reading.
Ruby watched him.
“Keep going.””
He continued.
There are things about your grandfather's military career that he doesn't remember.
Harris's eyes narrowed.
There was an operation nine years ago. Money disappeared. People died. Records were changed.
Your grandfather was blamed.
But he wasn't responsible.
Harris looked at Reed's earlier file in his memory.
Someone altered his investigation.
Someone used his authority to bury the truth.
I found the original records.
Harris's heartbeat accelerated.
He turned the page.
And I discovered who gave the order.
The bottom half of the page had been torn away.
Ruby frowned.
“That's all?””
“No.””
Harris felt something inside the envelope.
A thin metal key.
Attached to it was a tag.
*ARCHIVE 17.*
Harris stared at it.
“What's Archive 17?”” Ruby asked.
“Something that shouldn't exist.””
His phone suddenly rang.
Reed.
“Harris.””
“What?””
“We searched the laundromat.””
“And?””
“There's a hidden camera system connected to a remote server.””
“Can you trace it?””
“We did.””
Harris waited.
“It's transmitting from inside military headquarters.””
His expression changed.
“Where?””
Reed hesitated.
“Your office.””
Harris looked back at the building across the street.
Someone had been watching him.
Watching Ruby.
And possibly watching Amelia for years.
Then another voice came through Reed's phone.
A guard.
“Sir, we've got a problem.””
“What?””
“The headquarters archive has been breached.””
Harris's eyes hardened.
“Which archive?””
“Seventeen.””
He looked down at the key in Ruby's hand.
“Get everyone out of the building.””
“Sir?””
“That's an order.””
A second later, an explosion shook the night.
The military headquarters windows erupted in orange light.
Ruby screamed.
Harris pulled her against his chest.
May you like
Across the street, flames climbed through the upper floors.
And in the burning building, someone was trying to destroy the truth.
