Plot counterplot, p.38
Plot/Counterplot, page 38
“Did he tell you there’s no room for slackers in the battle for world peace?”
Still no response.
“Did he tell you every revolution requires sacrifice?”
Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Yes.”
“That means he’s going to kill you.”
Without warning, a voice crackled over the intercom, so loud it startled them both.
“Talk to me, Dylan.”
The new voice was static-ridden and faint, but still familiar.
“It’s the Supervisor, Dylan. I want to talk to you.”
Chapter 84
3:01 a.m.
59 minutes left
Once he had everything ready, Seamus started the copter. That would get their attention.
In his current condition, he couldn’t possibly outrun all those soldiers. But the whirring of the copter blades, and the possible loss of their ride home, might catch their attention.
He glanced out the side window.
It worked. Eight armed men, all the soldiers currently visible, were scrambling in his direction.
Leaving the copter running, he crawled out the door on the opposite side and ran for cover.
A few moments later, the men reached the copter. He pushed the detonator.
The copter exploded in a titanic cloud of smoke. Metal and glass flew through the air, sizzling hot. Even from this distance, he could smell blood.
When he finally took a look, there was no movement amidst the destruction.
Now he had to see if it was too late to help Dylan.
* * *
Dylan heard a tremendous explosion outside, but it wasn’t enough to distract him from the voice on the intercom. “How did you get here?”
“I repaired the elevator,” the voice replied. “Did you not notice? Perhaps you were busy with other matters. I’m standing on the other side of the titanium-slab door.”
“I’m not going to let you in.”
“We’ll get in soon enough.”
“I’ll destroy the weapon long before that.”
“Could I possibly persuade you to reconsider?”
“No.”
“There’s no harm in talking.”
“No.”
“Even if you destroy the weapon, you must realize that as soon as we get in we’re going to kill you.”
“And you must realize that the Navy has already sent troops, so your time is limited, too. If you were sure you’d have the door open before they arrive, you wouldn’t be talking to me.”
“I’m not alone, Dylan.”
“I imagine you travel everywhere with your own goon squad.”
“I have Leilani.”
Dylan felt his heart race. “Prove it.”
He heard a rustling on the intercom, then a new voice. “Don’t give in to them, Dylan.”
He’d know her voice anywhere.
The Supervisor returned. “You have thirty seconds, Dylan.”
Dylan didn’t reply.
“Hasn’t she already suffered enough, Dylan? Does she have to face this final indignity? Used by my men, one after another, like a cheap piece of meat, then sliced up like a beef cow? Do you want to add her to the list of people who’ve suffered because of you?”
A million thoughts raced through Dylan’s head.
“Twenty seconds.”
“If I let you in, how do I know you won’t kill me?”
“You don’t.”
“How do I know you won’t come in armed?”
“I will. Fifteen seconds.”
“I’d have to be a fool to open the door.”
“My hand is around her throat.” Dylan heard a hideous gurgling sound. “My, but her neck is soft. Such a shame that she dies so young, so cruelly. A waste.”
“You’re sick. Insane.”
“Ten seconds. Her face is turning white. She’ll be gone soon.”
“Stop it already, you son-of-a-bitch. I’m opening the door.”
Dylan tugged on the wheel. It moved more easily this time.
As soon as the first figure appeared, he reversed the wheel, but four people made it through before he could lower the slab again.
Marco had Leilani by the throat. Kalifa stood beside him.
And standing in front was the Supervisor. Dylan’s one and only brother. Commander Robert Taggart.
Alive and well.
Chapter 85
3:21 a.m.
39 minutes left
Bobby smiled. “Good to see you again, bro.”
“Leilani, are you okay?”
Marco jerked her head back. She could not respond.
“I hope to God you haven’t hurt her. For your sake.”
Marco laughed in his face. “Ooh. Mr. Scary Writer-boy. I’m tremblin’.”
“He hasn’t harmed her,” Bobby said. “Yet. But he will, the instant you try anything.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
His brother spread his hands wide. “Surprise! What you saw was a well-staged bit of theatre. The blood was fake—squibs hidden in my hair and clothes. The gun just made noise. When it went off, you blinked, right? Turned away? And when you looked back again, I was crumpled on the floor with what you thought was blood and brains all over. Just pretend. Remember when I played Man of La Mancha in college and had that great death scene?” He grinned. “I still got it!”
“Why fake your death?”
“Because maiming your girlfriend hadn’t been enough. You obviously had to experience an even greater loss before you would pour your whole heart into this enterprise. So you had to lose the only other person we had any reason to believe you cared about. Me. I let them execute me right before your eyes, then I stayed away from my apartment and PACOM, just in case you checked up on me. Of course, I could always reappear after you were out of the way. The Taggarts have a history of vanishing mysteriously for unexplained reasons, right?”
“That’s...sadistic.”
Bobby shrugged. “’There’s no room for slackers in the battle for world peace.’ That’s what Daddy always told us, right? We’re playing for high stakes. We have the opportunity to change the world—for the better.”
“Seriously?”
“Surely you realized it had to be someone on the inside. Who else would know about the Kronos Key? Who else could infiltrate Navy operations, provide you with intel and schematics and everything else you needed?” He laughed. “Who else could fund it? My job put me in the perfect position to embezzle from the biggest bankroller on Planet Earth—the US government.”
“If you had everything you needed, why did you drag me into your scheme? Surely you could’ve found the Key on your own.”
“Perhaps. But I didn’t know where the Key was till you liberated Scheimer’s files. And you saw how tightly Stewart controls access to the vault. I needed someone with some imagination.”
“Why me?”
“Why not you? Haven’t we always been a terrific team? Don’t you remember how it was when we were growing up? No matter what, you and me, we were always solid. We worked together. Who figured out how to ditch school without getting caught when I wanted to run off with Wanda Sue Hermann? Who figured out how to erase my grades when Old Man Ludwig was trying to deep-six me? I set the goals and you figured out how to achieve them. It’s the same now.”
“There’s more to it than that. A lot more. To put me through what I’ve endured these past weeks? You must resent me bitterly.” Dylan paused. “Have you involved Dad in this?”
“No. But I like to think he’d approve.”
“Because it involves killing a lot of people?”
Bobby sighed wearily. “You never did get Dad, you know that?”
“I got that he thought torture was an acceptable means of childrearing.”
“You didn’t understand him at all.”
Dylan’s lips tightened. “He tormented me. And you. He’s a mean, disapproving bastard. His idea of discipline was cruel. It damaged me.” He paused. “And I think it damaged you even more.”
“You were always his favorite. And you are so undeserving. I had to work twice as hard to get half as much from him.”
“Oh, spare me the Daddy-loved-you-best crap. That isn’t what this is about. I never did anything that pleased him, and so far as I know, neither did you. He always had some critical remark, some fault to find. Some reason why no one else was ever as good as him. Because we weren’t just like him.”
“But it hasn’t stopped us from trying, has it?”
“I didn’t go into the Navy. And no one forced—” Dylan stopped short. “Oh my God. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? That’s the real source of your insane bitterness. Because I escaped. And you didn’t.”
“You always got off. Always!” Bobby’s voice soared. “Even when we were kids. Even when that man kept us on the Shame Table for hours. You could escape into your own mind. Because you had imagination.”
“I—don’t know what you mean.”
“I used to watch you on the table. You weren’t really there. And then, when Dad released you, you’d go write another story at lightning speed. Because you’d been plotting it the whole time you were on the Table.” He was shouting. “Dad destroyed me. But he made you! He made you what you are!”
Dylan stared at the tragic, insane man before him—who for once was speaking the absolute truth.
Bobby approached the control panel. “I see you’ve already armed it. Good. All warmed up. Fiona?”
Mr. X nodded. “Yes?” The brogue was back.
He passed her a scrap of paper. “Here’s a list of the five targets and their current coordinates according to our tracking satellites.”
“Five?” Dylan snatched the paper away before she could get it. He scanned it quickly. “The President of North Korea. Predictable. President of Russia. Sure. The Saudi Arabian who’s been bankrolling most of the world’s terrorism. Understandable.”
“See, Dylan? We’re going to make the world a better place.”
Dylan kept reading. “The Chinese banker who controls half of Congress.” He paused. “And the President of the United States?”
“You got it.”
“I thought you were trying to help this country.”
“I am. He’s a weak-kneed pussy and he has to go.”
Dylan gave Mr. X an iCy glare. “I thought you were creating the new Pearl Harbor.”
“That’s exactly what this will be,” Bobby replied. “We’ll take out all of America’s greatest enemies at once. No one will know what happened. It’ll be over before it’s begun. Literally, given the time anomaly. We’ll be on top again. The world’s greatest superpower, now and always.”
“Are you working with some secret cabal within the military?”
“Indeed. A small but committed group of true believers.”
“But they don’t know you’re planning to take out the President.”
“No. That’s my own brilliant idea.”
Dylan gave Mr. X another fierce look. “Do you hear what he’s saying?”
“She’s heard it all before.” Bobby wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’re kinda close. Look, Dylan—did you vote for this President?”
“No.”
“Do you approve of his foreign poliCy? His domestic agenda. His lies? His bizarre conspiraCy theories?”
“No.”
“And you know those other guys on the list are trouble. Let me make the world a safer place. Let’s you and me make the world a safer place. Just five targets. Then I’ll stop. Then you can take the weapon apart and bury it.”
Dylan shook his head. “You don’t have the right. And even if you did, even if I thought this might lead to peace—I know you won’t stop at five targets. Not once you’ve gotten a taste of that kind of power. You’ll never quit.”
“I will.”
“You won’t. And how could the Navy—or anyone—stop you once you’re in control of this weapon? You’ll go on picking people off, thinking this will be the one that finally makes Daddy appreciate you. Which will never happen. So you’ll go on killing until there’s no one left to kill.”
“All I want is peace. That’s what I said, just before my feigned death, remember? ‘I just want peace.’”
“You’ll never find peace, Bobby. You’re too messed up. It may be Dad’s fault. But it’s my problem now.”
“World peace, Dylan. Imagine. World peace! We can make it happen. We have an obligation to make it happen.”
Dylan glanced at the control panel. Barely two minutes till the Key would be ready for coordinates and the beam could be unleashed.
“This is going to happen. This is going to be the end of the world as we know it. All made possible—by Dylan Taggart.”
Chapter 86
3:46 a.m.
14 minutes left
Dylan stared at his brother. “You know you’re insane, right?”
“All great men are accused of insanity. All visionaries are ridiculed. Until the world can see the wonders they’ve wrought.”
Bobby stepped back to the titanium slab door—but he kept his gun trained on Dylan. “I have to say, little brother, I’m disappointed. You’ve always been difficult. Stubborn. But I wanted you to be a part of this. I wanted the two of us working together once again. Even if I had to force you to participate in a plan you never understood.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not as clever as you think.”
“Because Dad always said you were the smart one? So you can’t allow me one moment of triumph. Give it up. I beat you, Dylan. I brought you into this and you had no idea I was involved. You thought I was dead.”
“No. I didn’t.”
“Bullshit.”
“I knew your death was theater. Because I knew that you were the Supervisor. Yes, I pretended I had been cowed. That was part of my plan. But you never beat me. I was always one step ahead.”
“That—That isn’t true.” Bobby’s fists clenched. “You just can’t stand to admit that I won. That I tricked you into helping me take out America’s enemies. Hell, when you were a kid, you wouldn’t even kill spiders. Dad put you on the Shame Table because you wouldn’t hold a gun. You may dress it up by saying you’re a pacifist, but I know the truth. You’re weak! And weakness is cowardice.” He turned. “Fiona!”
“Yes?”
“Start with the President. He’s giving a speech in Honolulu. He should be easy picking.”
“Got it.” She handed Bobby her gun, then connected her laptop to the control panel and typed in a set of coordinates. “That should do it.”
“I think those are the wrong coordinates,” Dylan said. He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Her face was expressionless.
“You’re going to kill us all when you’re done here, aren’t you, Bobby?”
His brother frowned. “Certainly not everyone. But every revolution requires sacrifice.”
Dylan gave Mr. X another long look. “Then at least let me say goodbye to my friends.” He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket.
Bobby snatched it away. “I don’t think so. We’re going to change everything. We’re going to make this world safer than the one we grew up in.”
“It’s not going to happen, Bobby.”
“What are you going to do about it?” he laughed. “You couldn’t hurt a fly. You’ve got nothing.”
Dylan watched the control panel tick down the seconds. Ten, nine, eight...
“This is your last chance to give up this insane plot, Bobby. You don’t have to do this.”
“I do. For the good of humankind. And you can’t stop me. You said so yourself.”
“Why would you believe anything a fiction writer says? Fiona, feed in the new coordinates.”
“What?” Bobby said. “What?”
Fiona’s fingers hit the keyboard. The tip of the firing mechanism turned bright red.
“I chose these coordinates, Bobby. And the target isn’t the President of the United States.”
Bobby’s face blanched. “What’s the target?”
“A GPS chip. Which I hid in that phone you just took from me.”
Bobby’s lips parted. “You would never kill me.”
“You’re already dead, Bobby.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? You haven’t pressed the Launch button.”
“Funny things happen when neutrinos pass through another dimension.”
The beam was invisible, but Dylan believed he could feel heat generated by the conversion process burn a path from the tip of the firing mechanism across the room to his brother. Bobby started to run, but he was much too late.
A nanosecond later, Bobby disappeared. As if he had never been.
A few seconds later, Dylan pressed the button.
Chapter 87
Dylan felt stunned, but he couldn’t rest now. “Leilani—are you all right?”
“I’m okay.” She whirled around. “But I’ve had enough of Pock-Face to fill a lifetime.” She brought her leg up and kicked him in the crotch. He doubled over, gasping. She knocked his gun out of his hand, then brought her knee into his stomach, just as hard. He fell to the floor. She kicked him in the face.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to do that,” she said, wiping her mouth. “Now stay down, asshole.” She kicked him in the ribs for emphasis. “Stay down or I’ll use you, understand. Several times. I’ll use you for a piñata.” She kicked him again, even harder than before. He did not move.
“Leilani,” Dylan said. “I think you’ve changed.”
“Have I?”
“Yes. You’re scary now.”
They both grinned. She raced into his arms. He picked her up and swung her around.
“My God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
“I missed you, too, Dylan. Can we leave now?”
“Second that motion,” Seamus said, hobbling toward them.
Dylan’s eyes widened. “Where did you come from?”
“Back door. Looks like I missed all the fun. But I took out most of the troops.” Seamus glanced uneasily at Mr. X. “Should I be worried?”
Still no response.
“Did he tell you every revolution requires sacrifice?”
Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Yes.”
“That means he’s going to kill you.”
Without warning, a voice crackled over the intercom, so loud it startled them both.
“Talk to me, Dylan.”
The new voice was static-ridden and faint, but still familiar.
“It’s the Supervisor, Dylan. I want to talk to you.”
Chapter 84
3:01 a.m.
59 minutes left
Once he had everything ready, Seamus started the copter. That would get their attention.
In his current condition, he couldn’t possibly outrun all those soldiers. But the whirring of the copter blades, and the possible loss of their ride home, might catch their attention.
He glanced out the side window.
It worked. Eight armed men, all the soldiers currently visible, were scrambling in his direction.
Leaving the copter running, he crawled out the door on the opposite side and ran for cover.
A few moments later, the men reached the copter. He pushed the detonator.
The copter exploded in a titanic cloud of smoke. Metal and glass flew through the air, sizzling hot. Even from this distance, he could smell blood.
When he finally took a look, there was no movement amidst the destruction.
Now he had to see if it was too late to help Dylan.
* * *
Dylan heard a tremendous explosion outside, but it wasn’t enough to distract him from the voice on the intercom. “How did you get here?”
“I repaired the elevator,” the voice replied. “Did you not notice? Perhaps you were busy with other matters. I’m standing on the other side of the titanium-slab door.”
“I’m not going to let you in.”
“We’ll get in soon enough.”
“I’ll destroy the weapon long before that.”
“Could I possibly persuade you to reconsider?”
“No.”
“There’s no harm in talking.”
“No.”
“Even if you destroy the weapon, you must realize that as soon as we get in we’re going to kill you.”
“And you must realize that the Navy has already sent troops, so your time is limited, too. If you were sure you’d have the door open before they arrive, you wouldn’t be talking to me.”
“I’m not alone, Dylan.”
“I imagine you travel everywhere with your own goon squad.”
“I have Leilani.”
Dylan felt his heart race. “Prove it.”
He heard a rustling on the intercom, then a new voice. “Don’t give in to them, Dylan.”
He’d know her voice anywhere.
The Supervisor returned. “You have thirty seconds, Dylan.”
Dylan didn’t reply.
“Hasn’t she already suffered enough, Dylan? Does she have to face this final indignity? Used by my men, one after another, like a cheap piece of meat, then sliced up like a beef cow? Do you want to add her to the list of people who’ve suffered because of you?”
A million thoughts raced through Dylan’s head.
“Twenty seconds.”
“If I let you in, how do I know you won’t kill me?”
“You don’t.”
“How do I know you won’t come in armed?”
“I will. Fifteen seconds.”
“I’d have to be a fool to open the door.”
“My hand is around her throat.” Dylan heard a hideous gurgling sound. “My, but her neck is soft. Such a shame that she dies so young, so cruelly. A waste.”
“You’re sick. Insane.”
“Ten seconds. Her face is turning white. She’ll be gone soon.”
“Stop it already, you son-of-a-bitch. I’m opening the door.”
Dylan tugged on the wheel. It moved more easily this time.
As soon as the first figure appeared, he reversed the wheel, but four people made it through before he could lower the slab again.
Marco had Leilani by the throat. Kalifa stood beside him.
And standing in front was the Supervisor. Dylan’s one and only brother. Commander Robert Taggart.
Alive and well.
Chapter 85
3:21 a.m.
39 minutes left
Bobby smiled. “Good to see you again, bro.”
“Leilani, are you okay?”
Marco jerked her head back. She could not respond.
“I hope to God you haven’t hurt her. For your sake.”
Marco laughed in his face. “Ooh. Mr. Scary Writer-boy. I’m tremblin’.”
“He hasn’t harmed her,” Bobby said. “Yet. But he will, the instant you try anything.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
His brother spread his hands wide. “Surprise! What you saw was a well-staged bit of theatre. The blood was fake—squibs hidden in my hair and clothes. The gun just made noise. When it went off, you blinked, right? Turned away? And when you looked back again, I was crumpled on the floor with what you thought was blood and brains all over. Just pretend. Remember when I played Man of La Mancha in college and had that great death scene?” He grinned. “I still got it!”
“Why fake your death?”
“Because maiming your girlfriend hadn’t been enough. You obviously had to experience an even greater loss before you would pour your whole heart into this enterprise. So you had to lose the only other person we had any reason to believe you cared about. Me. I let them execute me right before your eyes, then I stayed away from my apartment and PACOM, just in case you checked up on me. Of course, I could always reappear after you were out of the way. The Taggarts have a history of vanishing mysteriously for unexplained reasons, right?”
“That’s...sadistic.”
Bobby shrugged. “’There’s no room for slackers in the battle for world peace.’ That’s what Daddy always told us, right? We’re playing for high stakes. We have the opportunity to change the world—for the better.”
“Seriously?”
“Surely you realized it had to be someone on the inside. Who else would know about the Kronos Key? Who else could infiltrate Navy operations, provide you with intel and schematics and everything else you needed?” He laughed. “Who else could fund it? My job put me in the perfect position to embezzle from the biggest bankroller on Planet Earth—the US government.”
“If you had everything you needed, why did you drag me into your scheme? Surely you could’ve found the Key on your own.”
“Perhaps. But I didn’t know where the Key was till you liberated Scheimer’s files. And you saw how tightly Stewart controls access to the vault. I needed someone with some imagination.”
“Why me?”
“Why not you? Haven’t we always been a terrific team? Don’t you remember how it was when we were growing up? No matter what, you and me, we were always solid. We worked together. Who figured out how to ditch school without getting caught when I wanted to run off with Wanda Sue Hermann? Who figured out how to erase my grades when Old Man Ludwig was trying to deep-six me? I set the goals and you figured out how to achieve them. It’s the same now.”
“There’s more to it than that. A lot more. To put me through what I’ve endured these past weeks? You must resent me bitterly.” Dylan paused. “Have you involved Dad in this?”
“No. But I like to think he’d approve.”
“Because it involves killing a lot of people?”
Bobby sighed wearily. “You never did get Dad, you know that?”
“I got that he thought torture was an acceptable means of childrearing.”
“You didn’t understand him at all.”
Dylan’s lips tightened. “He tormented me. And you. He’s a mean, disapproving bastard. His idea of discipline was cruel. It damaged me.” He paused. “And I think it damaged you even more.”
“You were always his favorite. And you are so undeserving. I had to work twice as hard to get half as much from him.”
“Oh, spare me the Daddy-loved-you-best crap. That isn’t what this is about. I never did anything that pleased him, and so far as I know, neither did you. He always had some critical remark, some fault to find. Some reason why no one else was ever as good as him. Because we weren’t just like him.”
“But it hasn’t stopped us from trying, has it?”
“I didn’t go into the Navy. And no one forced—” Dylan stopped short. “Oh my God. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? That’s the real source of your insane bitterness. Because I escaped. And you didn’t.”
“You always got off. Always!” Bobby’s voice soared. “Even when we were kids. Even when that man kept us on the Shame Table for hours. You could escape into your own mind. Because you had imagination.”
“I—don’t know what you mean.”
“I used to watch you on the table. You weren’t really there. And then, when Dad released you, you’d go write another story at lightning speed. Because you’d been plotting it the whole time you were on the Table.” He was shouting. “Dad destroyed me. But he made you! He made you what you are!”
Dylan stared at the tragic, insane man before him—who for once was speaking the absolute truth.
Bobby approached the control panel. “I see you’ve already armed it. Good. All warmed up. Fiona?”
Mr. X nodded. “Yes?” The brogue was back.
He passed her a scrap of paper. “Here’s a list of the five targets and their current coordinates according to our tracking satellites.”
“Five?” Dylan snatched the paper away before she could get it. He scanned it quickly. “The President of North Korea. Predictable. President of Russia. Sure. The Saudi Arabian who’s been bankrolling most of the world’s terrorism. Understandable.”
“See, Dylan? We’re going to make the world a better place.”
Dylan kept reading. “The Chinese banker who controls half of Congress.” He paused. “And the President of the United States?”
“You got it.”
“I thought you were trying to help this country.”
“I am. He’s a weak-kneed pussy and he has to go.”
Dylan gave Mr. X an iCy glare. “I thought you were creating the new Pearl Harbor.”
“That’s exactly what this will be,” Bobby replied. “We’ll take out all of America’s greatest enemies at once. No one will know what happened. It’ll be over before it’s begun. Literally, given the time anomaly. We’ll be on top again. The world’s greatest superpower, now and always.”
“Are you working with some secret cabal within the military?”
“Indeed. A small but committed group of true believers.”
“But they don’t know you’re planning to take out the President.”
“No. That’s my own brilliant idea.”
Dylan gave Mr. X another fierce look. “Do you hear what he’s saying?”
“She’s heard it all before.” Bobby wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’re kinda close. Look, Dylan—did you vote for this President?”
“No.”
“Do you approve of his foreign poliCy? His domestic agenda. His lies? His bizarre conspiraCy theories?”
“No.”
“And you know those other guys on the list are trouble. Let me make the world a safer place. Let’s you and me make the world a safer place. Just five targets. Then I’ll stop. Then you can take the weapon apart and bury it.”
Dylan shook his head. “You don’t have the right. And even if you did, even if I thought this might lead to peace—I know you won’t stop at five targets. Not once you’ve gotten a taste of that kind of power. You’ll never quit.”
“I will.”
“You won’t. And how could the Navy—or anyone—stop you once you’re in control of this weapon? You’ll go on picking people off, thinking this will be the one that finally makes Daddy appreciate you. Which will never happen. So you’ll go on killing until there’s no one left to kill.”
“All I want is peace. That’s what I said, just before my feigned death, remember? ‘I just want peace.’”
“You’ll never find peace, Bobby. You’re too messed up. It may be Dad’s fault. But it’s my problem now.”
“World peace, Dylan. Imagine. World peace! We can make it happen. We have an obligation to make it happen.”
Dylan glanced at the control panel. Barely two minutes till the Key would be ready for coordinates and the beam could be unleashed.
“This is going to happen. This is going to be the end of the world as we know it. All made possible—by Dylan Taggart.”
Chapter 86
3:46 a.m.
14 minutes left
Dylan stared at his brother. “You know you’re insane, right?”
“All great men are accused of insanity. All visionaries are ridiculed. Until the world can see the wonders they’ve wrought.”
Bobby stepped back to the titanium slab door—but he kept his gun trained on Dylan. “I have to say, little brother, I’m disappointed. You’ve always been difficult. Stubborn. But I wanted you to be a part of this. I wanted the two of us working together once again. Even if I had to force you to participate in a plan you never understood.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not as clever as you think.”
“Because Dad always said you were the smart one? So you can’t allow me one moment of triumph. Give it up. I beat you, Dylan. I brought you into this and you had no idea I was involved. You thought I was dead.”
“No. I didn’t.”
“Bullshit.”
“I knew your death was theater. Because I knew that you were the Supervisor. Yes, I pretended I had been cowed. That was part of my plan. But you never beat me. I was always one step ahead.”
“That—That isn’t true.” Bobby’s fists clenched. “You just can’t stand to admit that I won. That I tricked you into helping me take out America’s enemies. Hell, when you were a kid, you wouldn’t even kill spiders. Dad put you on the Shame Table because you wouldn’t hold a gun. You may dress it up by saying you’re a pacifist, but I know the truth. You’re weak! And weakness is cowardice.” He turned. “Fiona!”
“Yes?”
“Start with the President. He’s giving a speech in Honolulu. He should be easy picking.”
“Got it.” She handed Bobby her gun, then connected her laptop to the control panel and typed in a set of coordinates. “That should do it.”
“I think those are the wrong coordinates,” Dylan said. He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Her face was expressionless.
“You’re going to kill us all when you’re done here, aren’t you, Bobby?”
His brother frowned. “Certainly not everyone. But every revolution requires sacrifice.”
Dylan gave Mr. X another long look. “Then at least let me say goodbye to my friends.” He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket.
Bobby snatched it away. “I don’t think so. We’re going to change everything. We’re going to make this world safer than the one we grew up in.”
“It’s not going to happen, Bobby.”
“What are you going to do about it?” he laughed. “You couldn’t hurt a fly. You’ve got nothing.”
Dylan watched the control panel tick down the seconds. Ten, nine, eight...
“This is your last chance to give up this insane plot, Bobby. You don’t have to do this.”
“I do. For the good of humankind. And you can’t stop me. You said so yourself.”
“Why would you believe anything a fiction writer says? Fiona, feed in the new coordinates.”
“What?” Bobby said. “What?”
Fiona’s fingers hit the keyboard. The tip of the firing mechanism turned bright red.
“I chose these coordinates, Bobby. And the target isn’t the President of the United States.”
Bobby’s face blanched. “What’s the target?”
“A GPS chip. Which I hid in that phone you just took from me.”
Bobby’s lips parted. “You would never kill me.”
“You’re already dead, Bobby.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? You haven’t pressed the Launch button.”
“Funny things happen when neutrinos pass through another dimension.”
The beam was invisible, but Dylan believed he could feel heat generated by the conversion process burn a path from the tip of the firing mechanism across the room to his brother. Bobby started to run, but he was much too late.
A nanosecond later, Bobby disappeared. As if he had never been.
A few seconds later, Dylan pressed the button.
Chapter 87
Dylan felt stunned, but he couldn’t rest now. “Leilani—are you all right?”
“I’m okay.” She whirled around. “But I’ve had enough of Pock-Face to fill a lifetime.” She brought her leg up and kicked him in the crotch. He doubled over, gasping. She knocked his gun out of his hand, then brought her knee into his stomach, just as hard. He fell to the floor. She kicked him in the face.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to do that,” she said, wiping her mouth. “Now stay down, asshole.” She kicked him in the ribs for emphasis. “Stay down or I’ll use you, understand. Several times. I’ll use you for a piñata.” She kicked him again, even harder than before. He did not move.
“Leilani,” Dylan said. “I think you’ve changed.”
“Have I?”
“Yes. You’re scary now.”
They both grinned. She raced into his arms. He picked her up and swung her around.
“My God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
“I missed you, too, Dylan. Can we leave now?”
“Second that motion,” Seamus said, hobbling toward them.
Dylan’s eyes widened. “Where did you come from?”
“Back door. Looks like I missed all the fun. But I took out most of the troops.” Seamus glanced uneasily at Mr. X. “Should I be worried?”
