The next morning, an intelligence officer arrived at the hospital.

He carried a black folder.

Ryan immediately recognized the classification marking.

“Why is that here?”

The officer looked at Claire.

“She deserves to know.”

Claire shook her head.

“No.”

The officer placed the folder on the table.

“It’s time.”

Ryan looked at Claire.

“Time for what?”

She didn’t answer.

The officer opened the folder.

Inside were photographs.

Mission reports.

Medical records.

And a list of names.

Ryan read the first page.

Then the second.

His face changed.

“This wasn’t an accident.”

Claire shook her head.

“No.”

“The explosion?”

“Sabotage.”

Ryan looked at her.

“Someone deliberately attacked the team.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Claire’s voice became quiet.

“Because someone inside the operation was selling information.”

Ryan stared at the file.

“How many people knew?”

“Too many.”

“And you survived.”

“Yes.”

“That’s why they declared you dead.”

Claire nodded.

“They thought killing my identity would protect me.”

Ryan looked at the photographs.

“Did it?”

Claire gave a bitter smile.

“No.”

Part 9 — The Name

Ryan pointed at one of the documents.

“This name.”

Claire looked at it.

Her expression changed.

“You recognize him?”

Ryan nodded.

“He was my commanding officer.”

Claire’s eyes hardened.

“He was also the person who ordered my extraction to be abandoned.”

Ryan went completely still.

“That can’t be true.”

“It is.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because I saw something I wasn’t supposed to see.”

“What?”

Claire closed the folder.

“Names.”

“What names?”

“People inside the program.”

Ryan stared at her.

“Traitors?”

Claire nodded.

“Some of them.”

The room became silent.

Then Ryan said,

“Who else knows?”

Claire looked at him.

“Now?”

She paused.

“You do.”

Part 10 — Ranger Knows

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