Chapter 17 - THE DEAD MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHRebecca refused to believe it.
She studied the photograph until her hands shook.
“My father died at Ridge Kilo.”
Claire agreed.
“I watched him die.”
“Then explain this.”
Claire couldn't.
Forensic analysis confirmed the photograph had not been digitally manipulated.
But eventually Adrian found the answer.
The man wasn't Thomas.
He was Thomas's younger brother.
Michael Vale.
A former intelligence analyst.
A man Rebecca had been told died before she was born.
Michael had been recruited after Thomas's death.
By Everett Reed.
They were building a private archive of evidence against Voss's network.
That was the purpose of Ironfall II.
Not revenge.
Insurance.
Michael was still alive.
They found him in rural Montana.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Living under another name.
Rebecca confronted him.
“You let us think you were dead.”
Michael's face crumbled.
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
He revealed the final piece.
Voss had never been the architect.
He had been the manager.
Someone above him had authorized the original cleanup.
Someone whose name never appeared in the ledger.
Everett had discovered that identity shortly before his death.
Michael handed Claire a sealed envelope.
“He said only Iron Ten should open this.”
Claire stared at another cream envelope.
Fourteen years had begun with one.
Now another waited in her hands.
Inside was a single photograph.
May you like
Claire recognized the man immediately.
And wished she hadn't.
