Chapter 11 - THE MAN WHO BUILT THE NETWORK“Put the gun down,” Voss said.
Daniel raised his hands slowly.
“Release Aaron.”
Voss smiled.
“You still think Aaron matters.”
Aaron coughed.
“They'll kill the boy.”
Voss looked at Eli.
“That depends on what Officer Cross does next.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You promised me he would be safe.”
Voss's smile disappeared.
“You broke your agreement three years ago.”
“You were going to sell him.”
“I was going to place him with a family.”
“You kidnapped him.”
“I rescued him from a mother who couldn't protect him.”
Elena's face hardened.
“You destroyed my life.”
Voss lifted the detonator.
“And yet you're still alive.”
Daniel stared at the SUV.
“What's the device?”
“Insurance.”
“Against what?”
“You.”
Then Aaron suddenly lunged at Voss.
The detonator flew from his hand.
Daniel moved.
A shot cracked.
Aaron dropped.
Elena screamed.
Voss ran.
Daniel chased him into the trees.
The world became darkness and rain.
Branches slapped his face.
His flashlight caught Voss ahead.
“Stop!”
Voss kept running.
Daniel tackled him.
They hit the mud.
Voss fought wildly.
Daniel secured one wrist.
“It's over.”
Voss laughed.
“No.”
“You're under arrest.”
“You still don't understand.”
Daniel pulled him upright.
“Then explain.”
Voss looked directly into his eyes.
“You think this network is one man?”
Daniel froze.
Voss smiled.
“It's a system.”
“How many?”
“Hundreds.”
“Names.”
“You'll never get them.”
Daniel tightened the cuffs.
“Try me.”
Voss leaned closer.
“Start with your police chief.”
Daniel went still.
Voss continued.
“Then your county attorney.”
“Shut up.”
“The hospital administrator.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“The judge who sealed Elena's file.”
“No.”
“And the detective who retired.”
Daniel remembered the old detective.
The warning.
The fear.
Voss smiled.
“You think I built this?”
He looked toward the highway.
“I inherited it.”
Then his smile vanished.
“Someone much higher up did.”
Behind them, a single gunshot echoed.
Daniel looked back.
Aaron was gone.
May you like
So was the detonator.
And Eli was missing.
