CHAPTER 9: FATHER AND SON

We found Ryan on the roof behind the ventilation housing.

Blood covered his left sleeve.

Thomas dropped beside him.

"Where?"

"Shoulder."

"You were shot?"

"Grazed."

Thomas nearly laughed with relief.

Then another bullet struck metal inches away.

Danner stood near the opposite stairwell entrance.

Pistol raised.

He had entered through the adjacent warehouse and crossed the service roof.

Thomas moved in front of Ryan.

Danner smiled.

"There he is."

Thomas stared at him.

"Sixteen years."

"Should have been longer."

"Why, Wade?"

Danner laughed.

"You're still asking that?"

"Yes."

"Because you were going to destroy everything."

"You mean expose everything."

"I built this county."

"You robbed it."

"I kept order."

"You murdered people."

Danner's expression hardened.

"People who threatened everyone else."

Thomas shook his head.

"You really believe that."

"Belief is what keeps men alive."

Ryan spoke weakly.

"No."

Danner looked at him.

Ryan struggled to his feet.

"Truth does."

Danner's pistol moved toward him.

Thomas stepped between them.

"No."

Danner smiled.

"Still willing to die for him."

"Always."

Ryan whispered, "Dad."

First time.

One word.

Dad.

Thomas heard it.

His face changed.

Danner heard it too.

And hated it.

His finger tightened on the trigger.

I fired first.

My round struck his pistol, knocking it from his hand.

Danner screamed and dropped.

Ortiz came through the stairwell behind me.

Two agents tackled him.

Ryan collapsed against the ventilation housing.

Thomas caught him.

For several seconds, father held son.

Ryan didn't resist.

The transmission technician's voice sounded through my radio.

"Upload complete."

I looked toward the horizon.

Dawn had begun turning the eastern sky gray.

Every state receiver in range now held a copy of the evidence.

Danner could burn buildings.

Mercer could destroy files.

But the network was out.

The truth had escaped.

Danner lay handcuffed on the roof.

He looked at me.

"This isn't finished."

I glanced at the restraints around his wrists.

"Funny."

I remembered Mitchell saying almost the same thing to me.

"You'd be surprised how finished things can look once the cuffs close."