The divorced military queen awakens novel

Chapter 237 The Border Blaze Clue Quinn hurried to the military district , her heartbeat racing as fast as the car that had brought her here . The SD card inside the drone her brother Rowan had piloted five years earlier still held the full log of that final mission . The instant Quinn heard Rowan's voice on the recording and saw the footage he had captured , tears burst from her eyes in an uncontrollable rush . Five years . At last , I'm hearing the voice I've missed every single day .

The commander said , " Certain images connected to your brother's assignment are classified , so we can't let you watch them . I hope you understand . " " I understand , " Quinn answered , teary - eyed . " From the data we could retrieve , we're sure Rowan's last mission was linked to the border wildfire five years ago . He encountered the fire mid - operation , the drone crashed , and after that , he disappeared .

" Quinn pursed her lips , her hands hung at her sides , knuckles white around clenched fists . So my initial suspicion was right . Rowan's disappearance really is tied to that wildfire ! If the blaze had never started , maybe my brother would never have gone missing ! The commander hesitated . " We'll travel to Stridora again to verify the lists of those injured or killed that year . " After all , Rowan had vanished during the fire and had not been seen for five years .

It was possible he had perished in the flames . Many people died in that inferno ; the disaster zone was vast , and it was entirely feasible that some victims were never recorded . Quinn clenched her teeth and said nothing . I don't believe my brother is dead ! Rowan survived gunfire and warzones - how could a single fire claim him ? He's still alive . He has to be . Seeing her silence , the commander realized she could not accept any talk of her brother's death .

" I want the coordinates of the last location the drone recorded for Rowan ," Quinn said suddenly . " Of course , that's no problem , " the commander replied . " And I'd like to watch the footage you just showed me again , " Quinn added . " Certainly ." He ordered a technician to replay the video on the computer . Quinn watched closely . The drone was filming from high above . At that moment , the forest had yet to catch fire . Suddenly , her eyes sharpened .

One frame captured the very point where the blaze had ignited . 1/2 It was the spot Nimbus Air claimed first officer Howard Lamont had set ablaze while smoking . If the drone caught that moment , then maybe …. " Replay that section , " Quinn told the technician . The clip rolled again . When the ignition point appeared , she ordered , " Pause ! " The technician froze the frame . " Please zoom in ," Quinn said .

The image was enlarged repeatedly until a vague human silhouette appeared , but it was still too blurry to identify . " Five years have passed . This is as clear as we can make it ," the technician explained . Quinn pondered over this , then addressed the commander . " May I have a copy of this clip ? I want to see if I can restore the resolution further . " " You may take this clip . The rest is classified and must stay here , " the commander said . " I understand , " Quinn replied .

Leaving the base , she gripped the USB drive containing the clip so tightly her knuckles were white . The truth about the wildfire might be hidden in this very video . 2/2