The voice outside the door brought back a memory I had buried for decades.
“Frank Vance! Open the door.”
It was Gunnery Sergeant Victor Hale, my former Marine colleague—the man I had testified against after his abuse of a young recruit.
But why was he at my daughter’s house?
Then I discovered the truth.
Derek knew Hale.
A photograph showed them together, and the evidence revealed Derek had known who I was before he ever met Sarah.
He hadn’t fallen in love with my daughter by accident.
He had targeted her.
Bank records showed Derek receiving money from Haven Strategic Consulting. My movements had been tracked, my home photographed, and even my wife’s grave had been watched.
Then Sarah revealed she had secretly recorded Derek’s threats and abuse.
Police arrested him.
But the mystery was far from over.
One photograph showed my bedroom light on while I was out of town.
Someone had been inside my house.
Then my phone received a live image of my basement.
Someone was there.
The message read:
“BOOT CAMP WAS YOUR IDEA, MASTER SERGEANT. READY FOR PHASE TWO?”
Then another:
“DON’T TRUST THE MAN STANDING BEHIND YOU.”
I slowly turned.
Ray Briggs was standing behind me.
And his phone screen had just gone dark.