Chapter 15 - The Final Thread
The hospital room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was warm, clean, and bathed in bright midday sunlight. Two weeks had passed since the rescue in the canyon.
Marcus Cole and thirty-four conspirators across three state agencies were in federal custody, their indictments dominating every news network across the globe. Daniel’s death certificate had been officially expunged by federal court order. For the first time in four years, Daniel wore clean civilian clothes, his wedding ring back in its rightful place on his left finger.
Ethan sat on the broad windowsill, eating ice cream and laughing as a golden retriever therapy dog rested its chin on his knee. Rachel stood by the window, Daniel’s arm wrapped securely around her waist, his presence solid and undeniable.
""You look like yourself again,"" Rachel whispered, smiling up at him.
""I feel like myself again,"" Daniel said softly, kissing her temple. ""No more running. No more hiding in the woods.""
In the adjacent recovery suite, Kane sat on the edge of his bed, fully bandaged, packing a small duffel bag. His discharge papers lay signed on the bedside table.
Daniel walked through the adjoining door, leaning against the frame. ""You have a place with us, Kane. A home. An honest job.""
Kane zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, his dark eyes calm and unreadable. ""I'm not built for quiet front porches, Danny. You know that.""
Kane pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and pressed it into Daniel's palm. On it were coordinates located in the mountains of South America, beneath a single handwritten name: DIRECTOR STERLING.
May you like
""Marcus was just a regional dog on a leash,"" Kane whispered, tapping Daniel's shoulder. ""The man who actually ordered the hit on your family four years ago... he’s still breathing. And I’m going to collect.""
Before Daniel could utter a word of protest, Kane walked past him, disappeared down the corridor, and vanished into the crowded city streets outside."
