Chapter 4 - THE GENERAL BEHIND THE MONSTERGeneral Thorne had the kind of face Americans trusted on television.
Silver hair.
Measured eyes.
Decorated uniform.
A voice built for congressional hearings and memorial ceremonies.
That made him more dangerous than Sterling.
Sterling frightened people openly.
Thorne made people thank him while he destroyed them.
“You should see a physician,” he told me.
“After I see your office.”
A faint smile.
“My office?”
“Financial records. Disciplinary reports. Logistics authorizations.”
Sterling suddenly spoke.
“Sir, don't—”
Thorne turned toward him.
One look silenced him.
That told me who the real commander was.
“Major Sterling,” Thorne said calmly, “has clearly behaved disgracefully.”
Sterling stared at him.
Betrayal arrived slowly across his face.
Thorne continued.
“If criminal conduct occurred, I fully support prosecution.”
He was cutting Sterling loose.
Sterling realized it too.
“You son of a—”
Agents restrained him.
Thorne didn't blink.
I stepped closer.
“You knew what he was doing.”
“I knew he was aggressive.”
“Three soldiers disappeared.”
“They went AWOL.”
“Interesting.”
I pulled out my phone.
“We found one of their vehicles this morning.”
Thorne's eyes changed.
Barely.
But I saw it.
“Where?”
He shouldn't have asked.
An innocent commander would ask whether the soldiers were safe.
Thorne wanted the location.
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Confirming you're worried about what we found.”
The cafeteria doors suddenly opened again.
An investigator approached me.
His face was grim.
“Colonel.”
He whispered into my ear.
The old ammunition bunkers had been searched.
They had discovered personal effects.
Dog tags.
Burned documents.
And human remains.
I looked at Thorne.
The statesman disappeared.
For perhaps half a second, something ancient and cold stared back.
Then the mask returned.
“Colonel, I strongly recommend you understand how complicated this situation is.”
“I understand graves.”
“You understand nothing.”
He moved closer.
“There are careers connected to this base that reach far beyond mine.”
“Names?”
Thorne smiled.
“You'll learn.”
Agents stepped toward him.
He did not resist when they cuffed him.
Instead, as they escorted him past me, he whispered:
“Your operation was compromised before you arrived.”
I turned.
Thorne continued walking.
May you like
Then he added:
“Ask yourself why we let you stay.”
Related Stories
