Chapter 502
[ 542 words ]
Chapter 502:
Carson stood at attention, his face grim. “Sir, the report notes that Walter Thompson was a former NSA cryptographer. A deep dive into this could attract unwanted attention from… very powerful people in this city. And Colonel Romero’s initial intelligence suggests he has been keeping this information compartmentalized for operational security reasons.”
A cold, mirthless smile twisted the General’s lips. His eyes glittered with a killing rage that had been dormant for years. “My grandson did his duty by bringing me the facts. Now I will do mine. Let them pay attention,” he hissed. “If I have to burn Capitol Hill to the ground to get justice for that girl’s family, I will strike the match myself. I want them to know who’s coming for them.”
Carson looked at his boss, at the absolute, terrifying conviction in his eyes, and he understood. Caroline Thompson was not just the new Mrs. Romero. She was now under the full, terrifying protection of the Romero patriarch himself. An attack on her family was an attack on him. The rules of the game had changed.
“I will classify this investigation under the highest security protocols, sir,” Carson said, his voice low. “We will keep it off all official channels. And we will continue to keep it from Colonel Romero’s active command, he doesn’t need this distraction on his current deployment, and he has already done his part by bringing it to our attention.”
The General nodded his approval. He slid the file back into its envelope, stood, and walked to a section of the library wall. He pressed a hidden button, and a panel slid back to reveal a biometric safe. He scanned his eye, and the vault door hissed open. He placed the envelope inside and sealed it shut. He took a deep, steadying breath, and when he turned around, the murderous rage was gone from his face, perfectly concealed behind his usual mask of stern authority.
A few minutes later, the two men walked casually down the main staircase. They paused at the entrance to the kitchen.
Through the partially open door, they could see Caroline. She had found an apron and tied it around her waist. She was standing at a massive butcher’s block, her knife a blur of motion as she expertly diced carrots and onions. On the stove, a large cast-iron pot sizzled, the rich smell of browning beef filling the air.
She was humming a soft, tuneless song to herself, completely absorbed in her task, a picture of domestic peace.
The General watched her, his heart swelling with a fierce, painful pride. He leaned over to Carson. “Best decision that boy ever made,” he murmured, a rare note of unguarded admiration in his voice. “I have the finest eye for talent in the world.”
Caroline, oblivious to the dark storm that had just raged in the room above her, and the even darker secrets it had unearthed, added the vegetables to the pot and gave them a stir, her world for that moment smelling only of beef and wine and thyme.
Caroline expertly deglazed the hot cast-iron pot with a generous splash of red wine, the sizzle and steam filling the warm kitchen. She turned and saw Agnes standing by the sink, dutifully peeling potatoes.
ѕ𝗁𝗮𝘳𝘦 𝘆𝘰u𝘳 𝘁𝘩о𝗎gh𝘁𝗌 о𝗻 𝘨a𝘭𝗻о𝘃𝘦𝗅𝗌.с𝗼𝗺
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