Chapter 51 Summary
Lana Harding returns to work at the university, still recovering from the plane crash. While her facial bruises are mostly concealed by makeup, she’s still dealing with lingering pain and stiffness. University President Paul Baker visits her office to welcome her back, bringing a bouquet and checking in on her well-being. Lana assures him she’s ready to return to her teaching responsibilities, though Paul encourages her to prioritize her mental and physical recovery should memories of the crash resurface.
Meanwhile, at the police precinct in Cruz Bay, a uniformed army courier delivers a sealed envelope from Captain Mark Peltier to Officer Charley Williams. She’s surprised to learn about Mark’s former and reinstated military rank. After scanning and copying the enclosed notarized document, she sends it to both the FBI office in St. Croix and CID, requesting the case against Mark be closed based on the provided evidence. Still angry over the trouble the case has caused her, Charley calls Mark to vent.
After the call, Mark contacts Colonel Weaver to question why a full Army uniform was included in the parcel. Weaver reveals that a high-level briefing with the President of the United States is likely, involving senior officials from Homeland Security, the CIA, and Cybersecurity. Since Mark has been working closely with Dr. Alexandra Conner on the Quest Project, his presence may be requested. Weaver wanted him to look the part, should he be called upon to represent the Army.
