Chapter 6: The Memory
Harris refused to obey the message.
He knew traps.
He had spent his entire adult life walking into them.
But this one was different.
This one had his daughter's name on it.
He sat inside a secure conference room with Ruby beside him while Reed connected the flash drive to an isolated military computer.
“Ready?”” Reed asked.
Harris nodded.
“Open it.””
The screen flickered.
One video file appeared.
No title.
No date.
Just a timestamp from nine years earlier.
Reed clicked it.
The screen showed a dark room.
Harris leaned forward.
Amelia appeared.
She was seventeen.
Her face was bruised.
Harris stopped breathing.
“Turn it off.””
Reed paused.
“No.””
Harris's voice cracked.
“That's my daughter.””
Amelia looked directly into the camera.
“Dad, if you're seeing this, you don't remember what happened.””
Harris's eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
On the screen, Amelia continued.
“They told me you betrayed the Army.””
A man's shadow appeared behind her.
She turned.
The video shook.
“Dad, it wasn't you.””
Harris leaned closer.
Amelia's voice became urgent.
“You were drugged.””
Reed looked at Harris.
“What?””
“You were drugged before the Black River operation. They needed you to sign documents without knowing what you were signing.””
Harris's face went pale.
Amelia continued.
“Crowe ordered it.””
The shadow moved closer.
“And Vale helped him.””
A man's voice spoke off-camera.
“Enough.””
Amelia turned toward him.
“No.””
The camera shook.
“You killed people!””
“Your father killed them.””
“No!””
The screen went black.
A second file opened automatically.
This one showed a military medical room.
Harris was lying unconscious on a bed.
A doctor stood beside him.
Crowe entered.
“Is he ready?””
The doctor nodded.
“He'll remember whatever you tell him.””
Crowe smiled.
“Good.””
Harris watched himself on the screen.
His hands curled into fists.
Then another man entered.
Vale.
“What's the plan?””
Crowe answered:
“Make Daniel believe the money disappeared because of him.””
“And Amelia?””
“She's seen too much.””
Vale looked uneasy.
“She’s a child.””
“She is a witness.””
The video ended.
Reed slowly removed his glasses.
“Sir…”
Harris couldn't speak.
For nine years, he'd blamed himself.
He'd believed he had failed his daughter through ambition.
Now he understood.
Someone had deliberately erased pieces of his life.
Someone had made him doubt his own memories.
Ruby touched his hand.
“My mom said you weren't bad.””
Harris looked at her.
“She did?””
Ruby nodded.
“She said you were hurt.””
Harris closed his eyes.
Then he heard something.
A faint clicking sound.
Reed froze.
“Did you hear that?””
“Yes.””
They looked toward the ceiling.
A tiny red light blinked.
“Another camera,” Reed whispered.
Harris stood.
“Get it.””
Reed pulled out his weapon.
The light suddenly went dark.
Then every computer in the room switched on.
A message appeared across all the screens.
*HELLO, DANIEL.*
Harris stared.
Another line appeared.
*YOU'VE REMEMBERED ENOUGH.*
Then a live video appeared.
Amelia was sitting in a dark chair.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was bruised.
Ruby gasped.
“Mom!””
Harris stepped toward the screen.
“Amelia!””
She lifted her head.
“Dad?””
“I’m here.””
“Where's Ruby?””
“She’s with me.””
Amelia began crying.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
“I'll find you.””
“No.””
“What?””
“Don't come.””
Harris shook his head.
“I’m coming.””
“You can't.””
“I will.””
Amelia looked toward someone standing off-camera.
Then she whispered:
“Because he isn't working alone.””
Harris stared.
“Who?””
Amelia's eyes moved toward the camera.
“Dad…”
The screen flickered.
Then a man stepped into view.
Harris recognized him immediately.
His own face stared back at him.
Older.
Grayer.
Wearing the same uniform.
Reed's mouth fell open.
“Sir…”
Harris couldn't move.
The man on the screen smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.””
Harris whispered:
“Who are you?””
The man leaned closer to the camera.
“I’m the reason you survived Black River.””
Amelia began screaming.
“Dad, don't trust—”
The screen went black.
Then a final message appeared.
May you like
*ARCHIVE 17 WAS NEVER ABOUT THE MONEY.*
*IT WAS ABOUT WHICH DANIEL HARRIS CAME HOME.*
