Chapter 23 - Blue Harbor
The airfield sat beside an industrial marina north of San Diego.
The renamed Blue Harbor cargo vessel waited offshore.
Lights moved along its deck.
Megan’s team observed from an abandoned warehouse.
Samir’s signal came from inside a hangar.
Charles Voss arrived in the black sedan.
He entered with two armed men.
Local officers prepared to move.
Megan stopped them.
Voss wanted the serial plate.
If police entered too early, he might harm Samir.
Robert wore a hidden microphone.
He called Voss.
“I have the evidence.”
Voss answered immediately.
“Bring it inside.”
“You leave Samir alive.”
A pause.
“So Megan told you everything.”
Robert looked toward her.
“Enough.”
Voss laughed.
“She told you the version that makes her heroic.”
Megan’s expression did not change.
Voss claimed Megan had disobeyed evacuation orders and caused additional casualties.
Daniel leaned toward the microphone.
“She saved me.”
“She saved one man while exposing an operation that protected national interests.”
Megan had heard that justification before.
Voss continued.
“Bring the plate, or Samir leaves on the ship.”
Robert agreed.
He entered the hangar carrying a duplicate evidence pouch.
Megan and Daniel moved through a side passage.
Inside, Samir sat restrained beside a cargo crate.
He was older and painfully thin.
But alive.
When he saw Megan, his eyes filled with tears.
Voss stood between them.
“You always come back for people,” he said.
May you like
Megan answered quietly.
“That is why you always lose.”
