Chapter 10 - THE PEOPLE UNDER THE AIRPORTThe underground chamber erupted into chaos.
Men and women poured through the doors.
Some were crying.
Some couldn't speak.
Some simply stood in the corridor, blinking at the bright lights.
Daniel shouted:
“Everyone move toward the stairs!”
Security officers appeared from the upper level.
For one terrifying moment, Daniel couldn't tell who was there to help and who wasn't.
Rex knew.
The dog moved through the crowd.
Whenever he passed someone wearing an airport credential, he stopped.
Three times.
The first man ran.
The second pulled a weapon.
Daniel tackled him.
The third surrendered.
But something was wrong.
“There are too many,” Daniel said.
Sarah looked around.
“These aren't all victims.”
“What?”
“They're witnesses.”
Daniel realized what she meant.
Children were among them.
Adults.
Entire families.
People who had disappeared years ago.
Nathan finally emerged from the chamber.
Daniel reached him.
“Where are the real records?”
Nathan pointed upward.
“The airport server.”
“We have the files.”
“No.”
Nathan shook his head.
“Those are copies.”
“Where's the original?”
Nathan looked toward the ceiling.
“In the terminal.”
Daniel's radio crackled.
“Brooks, we have an emergency.”
“What now?”
“The airport is preparing for evacuation.”
“Do it.”
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the main system won't unlock.”
Daniel looked at Nathan.
Nathan's face changed.
“Director.”
“Who is Director?”
Nathan hesitated.
Then answered:
“Your police chief.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Chief Martin?”
Nathan nodded.
Daniel remembered the message.
The system had been designed by someone with access across law enforcement and airport security.
Not Vance.
Not Evelyn.
Someone higher.
The police chief.
Daniel grabbed his radio.
“Patch me to Chief Martin.”
Static.
Then:
“Daniel.”
The chief's voice.
“Where are you?”
“Under the airport.”
A pause.
“You need to come out.”
“We found the missing people.”
Another pause.
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
“Then explain it.”
Martin sighed.
“I've been protecting this city.”
“By disappearing people?”
“By preventing something worse.”
Daniel stared at the radio.
“What is worse?”
“Eli.”
Everyone went silent.
Martin continued.
“That boy is not just a witness.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“Don't listen to him.”
Martin spoke again.
“Daniel, ask the child what he saw the night his mother disappeared.”
Daniel looked at Eli.
The boy was staring at Rex.
Daniel crouched.
“Eli.”
The child said nothing.
“What happened that night?”
Eli's eyes filled with tears.
“My mom took me somewhere.”
“Where?”
“To a room.”
“Which room?”
Eli whispered:
“Seven.”
Daniel froze.
“Server Room 7?”
Eli nodded.
“She showed me something.”
“What?”
“A list.”
“What list?”
Eli looked toward Nathan.
“My dad wasn't trying to expose the people.”
Daniel stared.
Eli continued.
“He was trying to protect them.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Daniel looked at him.
“Who?”
Eli answered.
“The people on the list.”
“Why protect them?”
“Because they weren't missing.”
Silence.
“They were hiding.”
Daniel's pulse quickened.
“From whom?”
Eli pointed at the ceiling.
“The government.”
No one moved.
Then Nathan whispered:
“That's why they came for us.”
Daniel turned.
“Who did?”
Nathan's eyes filled with fear.
“The people who built the airport.”
Suddenly Rex barked.
A gunshot echoed above them.
Then another.
May you like
Someone had reached the terminal.
And the airport evacuation doors began opening.
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