“Black Ridge is a shell corporation. It’s registered to a holding company in Delaware, which is owned by a private equity firm in New York.”
“And?”
“And that private equity firm has government contracts. Classified ones.”
Cerré los ojos.
“Northstar”.
“Commander—”
“Están conectados a Northstar. Dilo”.
La voz de Ward bajó. “Todavía no tenemos confirmación. Pero los patrones coinciden”.
My mind raced through the implications.
Northstar Meridian was the contractor involved in the operation that killed three of my teammates eight years ago. The official report called it a training accident. My team always knew it was something else.
“Cole doesn’t just run this town,” I said slowly. “He answers to Northstar.”
“That’s our working theory.”
“And the milkshake incident?”
“That was a test. They wanted to see if you were still connected to the military. If you’d fold or fight.”
“I didn’t do either.”
“No. You called JAG.”
Rachel emerged from the bedroom holding a duffel bag. Her eyes met mine.
Levanté un dedo.
“Esa llamada confirma algo”, le dije a Ward. “Northstar sabrá que he activado la supervisión militar”.
“Which makes you a liability.”
“An asset.” I corrected him. “I’ve seen their operations from the inside. I know their patterns. Their weak points.”
“And they know you know.”
“Which is why I need somewhere safe for my wife and I.”
Ward was quiet for a moment.
“There’s a safehouse outside Missoula. Federal property. Unmarked. I’ll send you the coordinates.”
“I need more than coordinates.”
“Pick up supplies and weapons from a civilian contact I’ll text you. Then disappear for twenty-four hours. Give us time to dismantle Cole’s operation.”
“And Cole?”
“Si él actúa en su contra, eso es una obstrucción de la investigación federal. Pasará la noche en una celda”.
I ended the call.
Rachel held out the bag. “What’s happening?”
“We’re leaving. Tonight.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Cole can’t reach us.”
She didn’t ask follow-up questions. For the first time in years, she trusted me without hesitation.
That trust felt heavier than any weapon I’d ever carried.
We moved through the house together, gathering essentials in the fading light. Rachel packed documents and valuables. I secured the backup weapon from its hidden compartment and checked the load.
“Anything else you need?” she asked.
“No.” I paused. “Just tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Cuando te hablé de Northstar, tu cara cambió. Tú sabías ese nombre”.
Ella se congeló.
“I saw an envelope on your desk last month. It had Northstar Meridian printed on the return address. I assumed it was junk mail.”
“No fue así”.
“What was it?”
I hesitated. The full truth would frighten her in ways I couldn’t undo.
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