Chapter 13 - THE COUNTRY HUNTS ADRIAN VALE By sunset, Adrian had become America’s most recognizable fugitive.
Every screen showed his face.
Every report repeated Kane’s version.
Kidnapping.
Murder.
Conspiracy.
Noah watched for thirty seconds before Adrian switched off the television.
“Don’t watch that.”
“They’re lying.”
“Yes.”
“Can we tell them?”
Claire looked at Adrian.
That was the question.
They had evidence.
The drive.
The ledger.
The Mercer recording.
But Kane controlled institutions.
If they handed evidence to the wrong person, it disappeared.
Michael spread documents across the table.
“We need someone Kane can’t control.”
Reed laughed.
“Good luck.”
Elias looked at the ledger.
“What about the press?”
“Which press?”
“A reporter.”
Reed shook his head.
“Kane can discredit one reporter.”
“Not if the evidence goes everywhere at once.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
“The drive has a dead-man release.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
“I built one.”
“When?”
“Before the crash.”
“How?”
“If a code is entered, copies go to dozens of journalists and international agencies.”
“Then do it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Claire looked toward Noah.
“The second half of the activation key is tied to Noah.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Of course it is.”
Noah raised his hand.
“I’m here.”
Despite himself, Reed laughed.
Claire smiled.
“It’s not something you know.”
“What is it?”
“Your fingerprint.”
Noah looked fascinated.
“I’m a password?”
“Basically.”
“Cool.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Not cool.”
They connected the drive.
Claire entered her code.
A fingerprint scanner prompt appeared.
Noah pressed his finger.
ACCESS DENIED.
Claire frowned.
“Again.”
ACCESS DENIED.
Michael looked concerned.
“What changed?”
Claire stared at the screen.
“Nothing.”
Then Adrian understood.
“Kane changed the authentication.”
“Impossible.”
“Unless he had access.”
Claire’s face went pale.
“Someone inside Eden.”
Everyone looked at Ben.
The boy stood near the doorway.
“No.”
Claire approached.
“Ben, did anyone ever use the computer?”
“Lots of people.”
“Recently?”
Ben hesitated.
“A counselor came three weeks ago.”
“What name?”
“Mr. Gray.”
Michael froze.
“Describe him.”
“Tall. Gray hair.”
Kane.
Claire sat down.
“He went to Eden.”
“He knew where it was before the fire.”
Adrian looked at the drive.
“He’s been ahead of us the entire time.”
Then Noah spoke.
“Maybe he didn’t change it.”
Everyone looked at him.
“What?”
Noah pointed at the screen.
“It says fingerprint plus voice.”
Claire leaned closer.
She hadn’t noticed.
VOICE AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED.
“What phrase?”
The screen displayed:
WHAT DID YOUR FATHER PROMISE BEFORE YOU HAD A NAME?
Adrian froze.
The same clue.
Noah looked at him.
“What did you promise?”
Adrian’s voice caught.
“I’ll always come for you.”
Noah smiled.
Then repeated:
“I’ll always come for you.”
ACCESS GRANTED.
Claire stared at Adrian.
“You used the same promise.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You did.”
Claire looked confused.
“I never programmed that.”
Silence.
Michael stepped closer.
“Then who did?”
A hidden file opened.
Video.
Adrian’s mother appeared.
Older than in the bank footage.
She looked sick.
Adrian stopped breathing.
“Mom.”
She looked into the camera.
“Adrian, if you are seeing this, then Claire found you.”
Claire whispered:
“She knew me?”
His mother continued.
“I hope you forgive me for what I’m about to ask.”
Adrian sat.
“You have spent your life believing your father abandoned you.”
Adrian’s chest tightened.
“He didn’t.”
Adrian stared.
“Your father died protecting Gabriel.”
Michael closed his eyes.
Adrian looked at him.
“You knew.”
Michael said nothing.
“YOU KNEW.”
“Yes.”
Adrian stood.
“Who was he?”
Michael looked at him.
“Thomas Reed.”
Detective Reed went completely still.
Adrian slowly turned.
Reed’s face had lost all color.
“No.”
Michael looked at him.
“Thomas Reed was your older brother.”
Reed stumbled backward.
“My brother died before I joined the force.”
Adrian stared.
“You’re my uncle?”
Reed laughed in disbelief.
“No.”
Michael nodded.
“Yes.”
Reed sat heavily.
Adrian’s mother continued on the video.
“Thomas believed Kane could be exposed from inside federal law enforcement.”
Her voice broke.
“He was wrong.”
Adrian looked at Reed.
Reed’s eyes filled.
“My brother…”
“Kane killed him,” Michael said.
Reed stared at the screen.
Something inside him changed.
Not shock.
Purpose.
Adrian’s mother continued.
“If Adrian survives, tell him I never wanted him to inherit a war.”
She smiled sadly.
“But if Noah exists…”
Adrian looked at his son.
“…then perhaps the war has already found him.”
The video ended.
Reed stood.
“We release everything.”
Claire shook her head.
“Kane will block it.”
“Not where I’m sending it.”
“Where?”
Reed pulled out an old phone.
“My brother had one friend in Internal Affairs.”
Michael frowned.
“After fifteen years?”
“She’s not in Internal Affairs anymore.”
“Where?”
Reed smiled.
“Senate Intelligence Committee.”
Elias looked skeptical.
“You trust a senator?”
“No.”
Reed dialed.
“I trust the woman who loved my brother.”
The call connected.
A woman answered.
“Reed?”
He froze.
She knew his voice.
“Sarah.”
Silence.
Then:
“Tell me you’re not with Adrian Vale.”
Reed looked at Adrian.
“I’m with him.”
“Then you have approximately eleven minutes before Kane’s team reaches your location.”
Everyone froze.
Reed looked toward the windows.
“How do you know where we are?”
Sarah answered:
“Because I’m watching Kane’s command center.”
A pause.
“And Reed?”
“Yes?”
“Get out now.”
“Why?”
“Kane isn’t sending police.”
Outside, headlights appeared.
Sarah’s voice dropped.
May you like
“He’s sending Blackwood contractors.”
The first bullet shattered the window.
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