Jeff Abbott: Panic

‘There’s really only one answer to give, Evan.’ Bricklayer cleared his throat.

Evan turned away from Bricklayer and walked back to the porch. His head and his heart filled with grief for his parents, for a mother bravely defying a dangerous secret world to save him, for a fearless father who sacrificed himself for his son. He needed them more than ever right now, but all he had left of them was their love and courage.

He hoped it was courage enough to do what must be done. So they didn’t die in vain.

Bricklayer still stood on the beach, glancing out at the white of the waves, turning his gaze back to them. Waiting for an answer.

‘What does he want?’ Carrie asked in a whisper.

He told her and her face fell. She put a hand over her eyes.

‘But I’m making a different choice than my mom made,’ Evan said, ‘when she had to choose how to use the files. She used them as a shield. I’m using them as a battering ram.’

‘How? They’ll never leave us alone. They’ll force us to help them.’

‘It ends today.’ He paused. ‘I still have a copy of the list Razur hid for me.’

She took her hand down from her face.

He turned his back to Bricklayer, leaned against the porch railing. ‘We’ll release the files to every major media organization in the world.’ It was what his mother should have done. What Gabriel should have done. What the CIA should have done. ‘Running didn’t work for my parents. We’re going to have the lives they wanted for us. We’re not looking over our shoulders anymore. Are you with me?’ He tried to smile. ‘You want to buy a ticket?’

Evan saw all the pain and loss Carrie had suffered cross her face. ‘It’s a risk, Evan.’

‘No. It’s a choice.’ He took her in his arms and she hugged him with all her strength. ‘And I choose you.’