Part 26 (2/2)
Thorne disarmed her man first, and wounded the agent in front.
Edward fell to the ground and cowered next to the casket. Vernon ducked low in the corner, whispering into the phone.
”Throw down your gun or we'll kill your pals,” Thorne shouted, aiming at the two embarra.s.sed men lying at their feet. ”I mean it!
Throw it down, now!”
Vernon stood up, hands in the air, and nodded. The agent tossed his gun at Thorne's feet.
Robert picked up two machineguns, unloaded one and threw it into a stall. ”Get up and walk over to the others,” he told the agents lying on the ground.
He and Thorne slid back to the door. Robert, pulsing with rage, stared at Edward, and aimed.
”Robert,” called Thorne.
His head snapped.
”Don't do it. You were right. We're not like them.” Robert raised the barrel and fired into the ceiling, sending everyone to the ground. They ran outside and made a break for the truck. Hurtled the fence, and rolled to the ground for cover.
They waited, but n.o.body came out of the barn.
They jumped in the truck and sped off.
”What the h.e.l.l?” said Thorne.
Robert looked back again. Still nothing. ”It's not like those guys.
They'd chase down their mother.”
Thorne looked over at Robert. ”The house or the court building?”
”The court building. She's probably already there.”
37.
U nbelievable, Edward thought. What happened to the evidence? How did things go so wrong? ”Why did you let them go?” he bellowed, struggling to recapture his composure.
”I have my instructions,” said Vernon.
”Instructions! What instructions? I give the instructions around here!”
Vernon looked smug and arrogant. ”Not exactly.”
”Look Vernon. Don't let this little setback go to your head. I'm still running this show. Now, let's get back to my office.”
”There's nothing left to take care of, Edward. It's over.” Edward felt his strength return. He walked over to Vernon and stood face to face.
”Are you coming or not? We have work to do. Don't forget, you owe me everything you have, even your stinking life. Now, for the last time, are you coming?”
”I'm afraid not, Edward.”
Enraged, Edward whirled around and stormed toward the door. ”First you blow it and let Veil get away, now this. I'll...”
”Stop Mr. Rothschild and bring him back,” Vernon ordered.
Two agents blocked Edward's path.
”I'm sorry, sir,” one of them said. ”You'll have to stay inside.”
”Get out of my way,” Edward snapped, trying to force his way by.
”Dammit, let me by!”
One of the agents strong-armed him back to Vernon and threw him to the ground in front of the casket. Edward jumped to his feet.
”Vernon,” he exclaimed. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on here? Let me out or you'll curse the day you were born!” Vernon looked at his cell phone. ”I already dread that day.” He handed Edward the phone. ”It's for you.”
”Who in the h.e.l.l is this? He placed the phone to his ear. ”h.e.l.lo.” He heard only silence.
”h.e.l.lo. Who's there?”
”I guess you're not at the top of the food chain after all,” the familiar voice said.
Edward felt dizzy. His legs wobbled. President Claymore!
”I really wish you'd found that evidence, Edward. It would've given me great pleasure to take it and have you tried for treason, murder, and anything else I could come up with.”
Edward couldn't speak. He looked over at Vernon, who stared back with a blank face.
”I know this comes as a shock, Edward. I wanted to stop you sooner, but my directions were to let you find the evidence first. By the way, Ian Goldberg and your other Cosmos Club cronies send their regrets.”
”Mr. President,” said Edward. ”There's no evidence I've done anything.” His head reeled. He struggled to regroup. ”Although I may have, Mr. President, been out of line from time to time.”
”Yes you have, and I'm sure you know things will be extremely different from here on out.”
”Yes, Mr. President. I agree. Things will have to be different.” There it is. The weakness. He's going to let me go.
”You know, Edward, I can forgive almost anything. You've been a thorn in my flesh the entire time I've been in the White House, and you've done some pretty despicable things.”
”Mr. President, I'm sure...”
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