Chapter 16 - D. HALE
Daniel Miller had learned something late in life.
A name could be more dangerous than a weapon.
The federal investigator placed the photocopy between them.
D. HALE.
One line.
One initial.
Twelve years old.
And suddenly nobody in the room was thinking about Dustin.
Leah sat beside Daniel with one arm still guarded against her ribs.
Marcus stood near the window.
The investigator tapped the page.
“We found three David Hales connected to private security work in that period.”
Daniel didn't move.
“How many worked with Keystone?”
“One.”
Marcus looked over.
“And?”
The investigator closed the folder.
“He disappeared in 2013.”
Leah frowned.
“Disappeared how?”
“No tax records. No licensing. No employment history. No death certificate.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Family?”
The investigator hesitated.
Then looked toward Leah.
“One son.”
Nobody said Dustin's name.
They didn't need to.
The investigator slid another document across the table.
It was an old contractor credential.
The photograph showed a younger man.
Dark hair.
Hard jaw.
Military posture.
DAVID R. HALE.
Under employer:
KEYSTONE HUMAN DYNAMICS.
Leah leaned closer.
Daniel didn't.
He was looking at the date.
Site Five.
Exactly where the new trail began.
Marcus broke the silence.
“So Dustin's father worked for them.”
“Maybe.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Don't turn maybe into fact.”
Marcus nodded.
The investigator flipped the credential over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Three words.
Written in black marker.
MILLER WAS RIGHT.
Leah stared at her father.
Daniel stared at the ink.
Then the investigator spoke.
“We found something else.”
She placed a photograph on the table.
A storage unit.
Maryland.
Photographed three days earlier.
The lock had been cut.
The unit was empty.
Except for one metal chair.
May you like
And on that chair sat a sealed envelope.
Addressed to Daniel.
