Chapter 7 - The Judgment
The person standing beside Thomas Bennett in the elevator was Rebecca Hale.
Or the woman we had believed was Rebecca Hale.
David stared at the screen.
"No."
The elevator doors closed.
Nathan lunged toward the television.
"Where are they taking my son?"
Warren Shaw smiled.
That was his mistake.
I looked at him.
"You knew."
Shaw said nothing.
"Who is she?"
His smile disappeared.
David answered instead.
"Elaine Cole."
Nathan stopped moving.
"My mother?"
The room went silent.
Nathan shook his head.
"My mother died."
"So did everyone else in this family, apparently," I said.
David looked sick.
"It explains the photographs. Rebecca Hale really did die eleven years ago. Elaine took her identity."
Nathan stared at the blank screen.
"Why?"
Shaw finally spoke.
"Because Elaine became Shepherd."
There it was.
The redacted name.
Elaine Cole.
Victor Calder's daughter.
Nathan's mother.
The woman who had supposedly died of cancer after Emily's wedding.
She hadn't disappeared to escape the syndicate.
She had disappeared to run it.
Nathan turned toward Shaw.
"You worked for my mother?"
Shaw gave him a cold look.
"Your mother built what your grandfather was too sentimental to preserve."
Nathan hit him.
Hard.
Shaw dropped.
The armed men moved.
David raised his weapon.
"Don't."
For once, everyone listened.
I stepped between Nathan and Shaw.
"You hit him again and you become another problem I have to solve."
"He took my son."
"Then help me get Daniel back."
Nathan's anger collapsed into fear.
"What do we do?"
I looked at the television.
The hallway feed had shown an elevator number.
B3.
The federal building had three underground levels.
Only one connected directly to the old service tunnels.
"Thomas isn't leaving through the street."
David understood.
"The tunnel."
Marcus appeared behind us.
"I know where it exits."
"Then move."
I looked at Shaw.
"You're coming."
He laughed.
"You think I'm helping you?"
"No. I think you're evidence."
I turned to the hotel security officers.
"Detain his men. Call the Justice Department Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney's Office outside this district. Tell them File 17 is already public and Deputy Director Warren Shaw is in custody."
Shaw's face finally changed.
File 17 being released had destroyed his greatest weapon.
Secrecy.
Marcus secured Shaw's wrists.
Nathan stared at him.
"You knew they were going after Daniel."
Shaw said nothing.
"Answer me."
I stepped closer.
"He doesn't matter anymore."
Shaw looked at me.
Men like him hated that more than threats.
We returned to the federal building in nine minutes.
Agents were everywhere.
The release of File 17 had changed the balance instantly.
Nobody knew whom to trust.
But everyone knew hiding the truth was no longer possible.
That was enough.
Emily met us near the underground security doors.
Barefoot.
Hospital gown beneath a borrowed federal jacket.
Furious.
"Where is my baby?"
I grabbed her shoulders.
"We're getting him."
Nathan stepped into view.
Emily froze.
He stopped several feet away.
"Emily."
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