Page 142 of Rangers Last Promise

“By who?”

“The people running Twenty-Three.”

“Why?”

“To watch you.”

“Us?”

“Fred.”

That surprises me.

“Captain Miller?”

“Miller started asking questions about supply movements that didn't make sense. Men were moving through the base without appearing on official rosters. Equipment disappeared. Weapons arrived that weren't assigned to any unit.”

“What was Operation Twenty-Three?”

Hampton's hands tighten around the steering wheel.

“A pipeline.”

“For what?”

“Stolen military weapons.”

The answer is almost too simple.

Then I understand.

“Someone was moving weapons off the base.”

“Not just weapons. Communications equipment. Intelligence. Anything that could be sold.”

“And Grant found it.”

“No.”

I stare at him.

“Fred did.”

That changes everything.

“Miller discovered Twenty-Three?”

“Part of it.”

“Then why did Grant die?”

“Because Grant discovered Fred knew.”

I sit back.

Pieces shift.

Not into place.