Chapter 7 - The Son Behind the Gun
Daniel’s hand was steady.
His eyes were not.
William slowly raised both hands.
“Daniel.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“That is your name.”
“You don’t know my name.”
Eli stood behind Lena.
He stared at the older boy who shared his eyes.
Daniel noticed him.
For the first time, the gun lowered slightly.
“You brought him here?”
William shook his head.
“He came looking for me.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.”
“The forgotten son comes to rescue the important man.”
Eli stepped forward.
Lena caught his arm.
Daniel’s gun rose again.
“Stay back.”
Eli did not.
“Did you help take our mother?”
Daniel flinched.
The word our struck him.
“She is not my mother.”
“She gave birth to you.”
“Rebecca raised me.”
“Rebecca kidnapped her.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t know what happened.”
“Then tell me.”
For several seconds, Daniel said nothing.
His gun slowly turned toward the floor.
“Rebecca said Mara abandoned me.”
William spoke gently.
“She lied.”
“You’re one to talk.”
William accepted the blow.
“Yes.”
“I believed lies because they were easier than fighting my father.”
Daniel’s eyes burned.
“And now you want forgiveness?”
“No.”
William took one slow step forward.
“I want Mara alive.”
Daniel glanced toward the archive door.
“They’re moving her tonight.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who is they?”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Vale.”
“And Rebecca?”
“She thinks she controls him.”
“She doesn’t.”
Lena lowered her weapon slightly.
“What is Vale’s objective?”
Daniel looked at the screen showing Mara’s recorded face.
“The Fort Leonard Wood operation was never shut down.”
Dennis frowned.
“That facility was closed.”
“The building was closed.”
“The project was moved.”
“Where?”
Daniel looked at William.
“To a private research company funded through military contracts.”
William already knew the answer before Daniel said it.
“Harlan Strategic Systems.”
The company had been founded by William’s father.
William had inherited its shares.
He had placed them into a blind trust when entering public office.
Rebecca’s husband had managed the trust until his death.
Daniel continued.
“Vale has been using the company to hide medical records from exposed soldiers.”
“Mara has the original list.”
“Where is it?”
“She hid it in the letters.”
William looked at the missing folder’s label in the security footage.
“Rebecca stole the letters.”
“She only stole copies.”
Everyone turned toward Eli.
He unzipped the inner lining of his backpack.
A narrow stack of folded pages slid out.
“Mom sewed them inside.”
Daniel stared at the letters.
“So that’s why Vale wants him.”
The archive lights suddenly shut off.
A gunshot cracked through the darkness.
Dennis shoved Eli behind a steel cabinet.
Lena fired toward the doorway.
Emergency lights flickered red.
Daniel fell against the desk.
Blood spread across his shirt.
William caught him before he hit the floor.
“Daniel!”
The shooter vanished into the corridor.
Lena and Dennis pursued him.
William pressed both hands over Daniel’s wound.
“Stay with me.”
Daniel struggled to breathe.
“He knows.”
“Who?”
“Vale knows the list is here.”
Eli knelt beside him.
“Where did they take Mom?”
Daniel looked at his younger brother.
His eyes softened.
“The old airfield.”
“What airfield?”
“Richards-Gebaur.”
William knew the abandoned military site south of the city.
Daniel grabbed his coat.
“There’s a tunnel under Hangar Nine.”
Then his hand slipped away.
Eli stared at the blood on William’s fingers.
“Is he dead?”
William pressed harder against the wound.
“No.”
He looked toward the door.
“I have already lost too many years.”
“I am not losing either of you tonight.”
Then Daniel’s phone vibrated.
A live video filled the screen.
Mara sat inside a dark concrete room.
Vale stood behind her.
He held a pistol against her head.
May you like
“Bring me the letters,” Vale said.
“Or the boy watches his mother die.”
