Chapter 9 - The Confrontation at the Gate
The security perimeter of the Naval Support Activity complex in Washington, D.C., was designed to withstand a direct truck bomb.
Reinforced concrete barriers lined the perimeter road.
Armed guards in tactical gear stood behind bulletproof glass, assault rifles slung across their chests.
A hydraulic steel barrier blocked the single entry lane.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Robert Bennett’s black Mercedes screeched to a halt in front of the primary guard checkpoint.
Robert stepped out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him.
He adjusted his cashmere coat, attempting to project the authority of a high-value contractor.
Diane and Caroline followed him, both wearing dark sunglasses to hide their sleepless eyes.
A young Marine corporal stepped out of the guardhouse, his hand resting casually on his sidearm holster.
“Halt, sir,” the corporal said firmly.
“This is a restricted federal installation.”
“Driver, please return to your vehicle and present your identification at the visitor gate down the road.”
Robert puffed out his chest, waving his leather credential wallet.
“I am Robert Bennett, President and CEO of Bennett Architectural Design.”
“I am here to see Director Evelyn Bennett.”
“Immediately.”
The corporal didn't flinch.
He stepped to the computer console mounted beside the barrier and typed Robert’s name into the database.
A red flashing banner appeared on the screen instantly.
The corporal’s posture changed from routine vigilance to sharp tactical caution.
He clicked the transmit button on his shoulder radio.
“Check Station Alpha, we have the subjects from Flag Protocol Alert 7.”
“Send reinforcement to Gate 2.”
Within ten seconds, four additional armed guards emerged from the security station, their boots pounding against the pavement.
Diane gasped, taking a panicked step backward toward the car.
“Robert... look at them... let’s go back.”
“Stand your ground!” Robert snapped, his voice rising in anger.
“Listen to me, young man!”
“Evelyn Bennett is my daughter!”
“Do you understand that?”
“I am her father!”
“You call her office right now and tell her that her family is waiting at the gate!”
The corporal remained totally impassive.
“Sir, Director Bennett does not accept unannounced civilian visitors.”
“Furthermore, you have been flagged under a Base Exclusion Order signed by the Provost Marshal at 0200 hours.”
“Base Exclusion?” Robert shouted, his face turning crimson.
“How dare she!”
“I paid for her clothes! I fed her for twenty years!”
“She doesn't get to hide behind armed soldiers while she destroys my company!”
Caroline stepped up beside her father, her voice trembling with shrill indignation.
“You don't understand!” Caroline yelled at the corporal.
“I am her sister!”
“My fiancé is Commander Nathan Reed!”
“He is a Navy SEAL!”
The guards exchanged brief glances.
None of them showed a shred of respect.
Around the bend of the inner access road, a dark grey sedan pulled up and stopped behind the gate.
The passenger door opened, and Nathan Reed stepped out.
He was wearing his service dress khakis, the gold Trident pin gleaming on his chest.
Caroline’s face lit up with desperate relief.
“Nate!” she cried, running toward the iron fence.
“Nate, tell them!”
“Tell these idiots who we are!”
Nathan walked to the gate, but he did not look at Caroline.
He walked straight to the Marine corporal, exchanged a crisp salute, and took the clipboard from the officer’s hands.
“Commander Reed,” the corporal said.
“They are refusing to clear the barrier.”
Nathan looked through the iron bars at Caroline, Diane, and Robert.
His expression was colder than the morning fog.
“Caroline,” Nathan said, his voice flat.
“Go home.”
“Nate, what are you doing in that uniform?” Caroline begged, pressing her hands against the steel bars.
“You need to help us!”
“Evelyn has gone insane!”
“She put an audit on Father’s firm!”
“She banned us from the base!”
“She didn't ban you from the base, Caroline,” Nathan said slowly.
“The Department of Defense did.”
Nathan turned his eyes onto Robert Bennett.
“Mr. Bennett, your design firm submitted fraudulent structural certifications for the Portsmouth submarine dry docks three years ago.”
“You used kickbacks to pass municipal inspections.”
Robert’s breath caught in his throat.
His arrogant posture collapsed in an instant.
“How... how could you possibly know that?” Robert stammered.
“Because the raid on the Northern Star last night wasn't just an electronic warfare intercept,” Nathan replied, his voice ringing with disgust.
“The ship was carrying an offshore corporate server belonging to your primary financial backer.”
“Director Bennett uncovered the money trail six months ago.”
“She didn't come to your dinner to reconnect.”
“She came to give you one final chance to turn yourself in before the federal warrants were unsealed.”
Diane let out a piercing shriek, collapsing onto the hood of the Mercedes.
Robert backed away from the gate, his hands shaking so violently he dropped his car keys onto the asphalt.
“No... no, she wouldn't do that to her own father...”
Nathan looked at him with pure disdain.
“She is a Director of Naval Intelligence, Mr. Bennett.”
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“She serves the Constitution.”
“Not your country club vanity.”
