Page 151 of Hidden Depths

His voice grew softer.

"...we recovered things that should never be found."

Ward's expression sharpened.

He knew that tone.

He'd heard it before.

Operations no one admitted existed.

Missions erased from official records.

History buried because it was easier than explaining it.

Ben folded his arms.

"What were you looking for?"

Nathan answered immediately.

"We weren't looking."

"We were hiding it."

The words settled over the bridge like heavy fog.

"What?"

I whispered.

Nathan looked at me.

"Twenty-two years ago..."

"...James helped hide something."

Hazel frowned.

"What?"

Nathan slowly shook his head.

"I still don't know."

"You hid something without knowing what it was?"

"We were told it could never fall into the wrong hands."

Scott couldn't help himself.

"So naturally..."

"...it did."

Nathan gave him a tired smile.

"Eventually."