Chapter 9: Locker 317
Union Station was nearly empty when Naomi and I arrived before dawn.
Locker 317 stood near the end of a service corridor.
Daniel’s key opened it.
Inside was a black case containing payment records, photographs, burner phones, and a handwritten list of addresses.
Twenty-three homes.
All belonged to military families.
Each home had been entered while a spouse was deployed.
Some had been reported as robberies.
Two had ended in unexplained deaths.
Detective Grant’s name appeared beside seven cases.
Daniel had not merely helped Voss bury Ashfall.
He had helped build a network that used military schedules, security systems, and police connections to target vulnerable families.
I found our address near the bottom.
Beside Violet’s name, someone had written:
Secondary asset. Observed recording Reese. Recover device before birthday.
Naomi read over my shoulder.
“She was being watched before the attack.”
A smaller envelope lay beneath the files.
Inside was a key labeled B-114.
Violet’s school used lettered lockers in the basement art wing.
“She hid something at school,” I said.
Naomi examined another document.
“This is a flight plan.”
Voss’s private aircraft was scheduled to leave from a rural airfield the following night.
“He’s running.”
“Not before recovering the evidence.”
My phone rang.
Detective Grant.
Naomi traced the call while I answered.
“You should have stayed at the hospital,” Grant said.
“You should have chosen a better person to betray.”
Grant laughed quietly.
“You think this is about loyalty? Voss owns the department, the district attorney, and half the people who will decide whether your evidence is ever seen.”
“We have Daniel’s records.”
“Daniel will not survive long enough to testify.”
Naomi immediately called the hospital.
No one answered at Daniel’s guarded room.
Grant continued.
“And your daughter is being transferred tonight.”
“No transfer was authorized.”
“It does not need your authorization.”
The call ended.
Naomi’s agent finally reached hospital security.
Daniel was still alive, but two unknown men had attempted to enter his room using federal credentials.
Violet remained secure.
For the moment.
Naomi opened the flight plan again.
“There is a handwritten note.”
She turned the page toward me.
Transfer Violet Cole, 2:00 a.m. Ambulance Unit 6.
May you like
Voss had already arranged her abduction.
And someone inside the hospital had approved it.
