Chapter 6 - The Visitor
Three days later, the quiet peace of Ray's estate was interrupted by an unexpected arrival.
I was sitting in the nursery on the second floor, rocking Maya to sleep, when I heard the sound of heavy tires crunching over the gravel driveway outside. Looking through the sheer curtains, I saw a battered, nondescript grey sedan pull up to the gate.
A woman stepped out of the vehicle. She was dressed in an immaculate charcoal business suit, her posture rigid, her dark hair pulled back into a tight, professional bun. Despite her plain attire, she exuded an air of supreme authority.
Downstairs, I heard Ray unlatching the front door. I gently placed Maya in her crib, turned on the baby monitor, and walked quietly down the stairs to see who had come to our sanctuary.
The woman was standing in the foyer, holding a manila folder under her arm. She didn't look at the luxury furnishings or the art on the walls; her eyes were fixed entirely on Ray.
"It's been twelve years, Commander," the woman said, her voice crisp and completely devoid of emotion.
Ray stood by the entrance, his arm resting casually against the doorframe, blocking her path into the main living area. "I don't go by that title anymore, Director Vance."
I caught my breath at the top of the stairs. Director Vance? Was she related to Derek and Richard?
Ray caught my movement out of the corner of his eye and waved a reassuring hand toward me. "Clara, come down. Meet Evelyn Vance. She is Richard's estranged younger sister... and the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency."
My heart hammered against my ribs as I descended the stairs, stepping close to Ray. "She's Derek's aunt?"
Evelyn Vance turned her sharp, calculating gaze toward me. For a moment, her cold expression softened slightly as she looked at my face and the faint, healing bruises on my neck.
"I am his aunt by blood, Mrs. Vance," Evelyn said smoothly, "but I have not spoken to my brother Richard or his arrogant son in over fifteen years. They are a disgrace to our family name, corrupt businessmen who used government contracts to enrich themselves while abusing everyone around them."
"Why are you here, Director?" Ray asked, his tone remaining cautious and guarded.
Evelyn held out the manila folder toward Ray. "I'm here because my brother Richard made a disastrous mistake. Yesterday, in a desperate attempt to save his company from federal seizure, he tried to activate his top-secret security clearance to access classified DIA files. He attempted to pull up your old operational file, Ray, hoping to find leverage to blackmail you or force the federal government to dismiss the charges against Derek."
Ray’s eyes narrowed into slivers of blue ice. "He tried to unseal the Vanguard files?"
"He tried," Evelyn said grimly. "And the moment his clearance hit the secure server, automated defense protocols were triggered. My agency flagged his request instantly. I personally stepped in and revoked Richard's security clearance permanently. He is currently being detained by federal agents at his pent-house for unauthorized access to state secrets."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "He's under arrest?"
"He will be in a federal holding cell by tonight," Evelyn confirmed. She turned her focus back to Ray. "However, Commander, Richard's attempt to access your file alerted certain higher-ups in Washington. They know you're active again. They know about the incident in the hospital room."
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Ray didn't flinch. "And what do the higher-ups want, Evelyn?"
Evelyn pulled a single, sealed white envelope from inside the folder and handed it to Ray. "They want to know if the Ghost of Vanguard is planning on staying retired... or if they need to adjust the national threat matrix."
