Chapter 9
The drive to the airport was tense.
Agent Carter was on the phone, coordinating with his team.
Tommy was in the backseat, checking his gun.
I was driving, my foot heavy on the gas.
Webb's private jet was scheduled to take off in forty-five minutes.
If we didn't get there in time, he would be gone.
Forever.
"What's the plan?" I asked.
Agent Carter hung up the phone.
"We have agents surrounding the airport. Local police have set up roadblocks. We're going to stop him before he gets to the plane. If he tries to run, we take him down. But we need him alive. He has information. Names of people higher up. People we want to take down too."
Higher up.
Daniel's journals had mentioned them.
Politicians.
Businessmen.
Powerful people who had profited from Webb's crimes.
People who had allowed Daniel to be taken.
To be locked away for nine years.
They needed to pay too.
We pulled up to the private aviation terminal ten minutes later.
The place was swarming with FBI agents.
Local police.
Black SUVs everywhere.
Agent Carter jumped out of the car.
I followed.
Tommy right behind me.
"Status?" Carter asked one of his agents.
"Webb's car just entered the airport grounds. He's in a black limousine. Two bodyguards. Armed, we believe. He's heading for Hangar 7. The jet is fueled and ready to go."
"Move," Carter said.
We ran toward Hangar 7.
The limousine was already there.
The driver was getting out.
Opening the back door.
A man stepped out.
Tall.
Expensive suit.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
Marcus Webb.
He looked around.
Saw us coming.
His face didn't change.
No fear.
No panic.
Just cold calculation.
He said something to his bodyguards.
They drew their guns.
"FBI!" Carter shouted. "Drop your weapons!"
The bodyguards opened fire.
We took cover behind a row of parked cars.
Bullets flew over our heads.
Webb was running toward the plane.
I couldn't let him get away.
I stood up.
Fired two shots.
One of the bodyguards went down.
The other kept firing.
Tommy stood up next to me.
Fired.
The second bodyguard dropped his gun.
Holding his leg.
I ran toward the plane.
Webb was climbing the stairs.
Almost there.
"Webb! Stop!"
He turned.
Pulled a gun from his suit jacket.
Fired.
The bullet missed my head by inches.
I fired back.
Hit him in the shoulder.
He stumbled.
Fell back down the stairs.
I was on him in seconds.
Cuffed him.
He looked up at me.
Blood running down his arm.
And he smiled.
"You must be Jake Marlow."
I pulled him to his feet.
"You're under arrest."
He laughed.
A cold, hollow sound.
"You think this changes anything? You think taking me down fixes nine years? Your brother is broken, Officer. You can't fix that. And the people I work for? They're more powerful than you can imagine. They'll make sure I get out. And when I do, I'll come for you. And your brother. And your mother. And that little boy. I'll destroy everything you love."
I leaned in close.
Whispered in his ear.
"You're never getting out. And the people you work for? They're going down too. My brother documented everything. Every name. Every transaction. Every crime. You're all finished."
The smile left Webb's face.
For the first time, he looked scared.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
Agent Carter was there, pulling Webb away.
"Take him to the car. And get a medic for that shoulder."
They led Webb away.
He was still staring at me.
Hatred in his eyes.
But I didn't care.
He was done.
His organization was done.
And justice was finally going to be served.
Tommy clapped me on the back.
"Good job, kid. Good job."
I nodded.
But I didn't feel like celebrating.
I felt tired.
Empty.
Nine years of searching.
Nine years of fighting.
And now it was over.
But the scars would remain.
Forever.
I went back to the hospital where Daniel was being treated.
It was late.
The corridors were quiet.
Daniel was in a private room.
My mother was sitting next to his bed, holding his hand.
She looked up when I walked in.
Her eyes were red from crying.
But she was smiling.
"He told me," she said. "About Webb. About everything. It's really over?"
I nodded.
"It's really over. Webb is in custody. Ryan is in custody. The FBI has everything they need. It's done, Mom."
She stood up and pulled me into a hug.
"Thank you. For bringing him home. For never giving up."
I held her tight.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, baby."
She pulled back.
Wiped her eyes.
"I'm going to get some coffee. Give you two some time alone."
She left the room.
I sat down next to Daniel's bed.
He was awake.
Watching me.
"You got him."
"I got him."
He nodded.
Slowly.
Like he was still trying to process it all.
"What happens now?"
I thought about it.
"Now you heal. Physically. Emotionally. We're going to get you the best doctors. The best therapists. Whatever you need. And then... then you start over. You get your life back."
He was quiet for a long time.
"Nine years, Jake. I missed so much. Mom's birthday. Your promotion. The family weddings. The funerals. All of it. Gone. I can never get that back."
I reached out and took his hand.
"No. You can't. But you have the rest of your life. You have Mom. You have me. You have Evan. We're going to make new memories. New traditions. We're going to make up for lost time. Together."
He squeezed my hand.
"Evan. I want to see him. Before he goes home with his mom."
"I'll make it happen. Tomorrow. First thing."
He nodded.
And then he closed his eyes.
Tears leaking from the corners.
"I'm so tired, Jake."
"I know. Get some sleep. I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere."
He drifted off to sleep.
His hand still in mine.
I sat there.
Watching him breathe.
My brother.
Alive.
Home.
May you like
And for the first time in nine years.
I allowed myself to hope.
