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Chapter 20
The Banker watches the scene play out in front of him and then turns to Ressler. "Now you; you weren't part of the plan at all. In fact, I have no idea why you are here, Agent Ressler. You tracked Reddington to the ends of the Earth, nearly killing him that time in Paris, yet here you are and it seems that the tide has turned. So tell me- why are you here? If I find the answer intriguing enough I might let you live for a little longer."
Ressler's mind is still a little scattered from the blow, but he is conscious enough to remember what Red had told him- just tell the truth. Red usually knows what he's doing, so he decides to follow his instructions. "I was called in because I am an expert on Reddington. I was the case agent on him; I tracked him down for 5 years. I came the closest out of all the agents."
The Banker nods, a mildly bored expression on his face. "Is that it? You are here just because that's your job?"
Ressler answers without hesitation, "No, I am here to save my partner. And to make sure Reddington doesn't get himself killed while trying to save her."
"Reddington, huh?" The Banker says fixing his gaze on Red, "Why would you care about Reddington? He turned his back on his country, he left his family; he goes against everything you stand for." Both Ressler and Red freeze, realizing the implications of the statement.
"Unless," The Banker continues with excitement, "You know something about Reddington; you know what really happened that day Reddington disappeared." The Banker chuckles at Ressler's surprised face. Red is staring at Ressler, just as confused as Liz. How could he know about what really happened that night? Not even Red knows the whole truth.
Ressler opens his mouth, struggling to find words to turn the conversation around, trying to deny what is so blatantly clear. Before he can speak, The Banker starts to order his people around, "Bring Agent Ressler into interrogation room 5. We are going to have a nice little chat, one-on-one."
The guard looks confused at the order, "But sir, interrogation room 5 is already taken." He glances at Liz.
The Banker has a gloating smile on his face, "Yes, bring our guest of honor here once you drop Ressler off. I think it's about time the four of us have a good heart to heart. You three clearly have some problems to figure out, it's quite a love triangle you've got going on."
Two heavily muscled guards quickly lift Ressler's chair and bring him out of the room. He spits at The Banker on the way out, which he laughs at, completely unfazed. Liz watches them leave, her mind spinning. The same thought keeps hitting her- Red had lit the fire. She almost can't believe it, but every quick glance at Red confirms it.
Red wants to reach out to her, he wants to explain himself, to beg Lizzie for forgiveness, to tell her that he needs her, that he loves her, but somehow the words won't come. It's as if he has lost the ability to speak. He watches her, the pain so evident on her face that it makes him cringe. He has done this to her, he has hurt her again. Why is it that he always hurts the people he holds most dear?
The Banker is watching the two of them, amusement written over his face as if he is watching a particularly interesting movie. He enjoys seeing the pain, enjoys playing with their hearts. Caring makes people so weak, The Banker never makes the mistake of letting his feelings control his actions. He is a very controlled man, every action carefully mapped out in his head, measuring out the benefits and drawbacks.
He looks up as Tom is brought in. He is swearing at the guards, never willing to cooperate. He has the delusion that he has more power than he really does. In Tom Keen's world he is king, and nothing makes The Banker angrier than people whose ego surpasses their abilities.
When Tom sees Liz he freezes, his last swear fading from the air. The guards set him down (none to gently) facing Red and Liz. They pull up a chair for The Banker and he sits, a wicked grin forming on his face as he watches the reactions of the people involved. All too predictably really, their strings are too easy to pull.
Liz is staring at Tom, taking in his cut lip and bruised eye with grim satisfaction. Any feelings she may have had for the man are long gone, replaced by a deep loathing. He had taken away two years of her life, deceived her, and then hurt her. And then he had gone after Red. As far as Liz is concerned, Tom deserves every bit of torture The Banker had given him.
It is clear by the expression on Red's face that he completely agrees with Liz. His face, normally so guarded, has such a malevolent look on it that it is easy to see how this man has a spot on the most wanted list. The Banker can practically feel the hostility rolling off of the two of them.
Tom merely looks shocked; he is looking from Liz to Red as if to say 'what are you guys doing here?' He has never really hated Liz, he had only been doing his job, but Red is a different matter. He is glad that Red is here with him as long as it means that Red will get the same fate that he has.
The Banker finally tires of watching their expressions and decides to get the show on the road. He is greatly looking forward to this conversation. With a clear of his throat he begins, "I know you all like to keep your secrets, but I am telling you right now- this is the last time that any of you will see each other again. Surely you would all like to get some things off of your chest before you go to the grave, so let's start with you, Tom."
Tom stares at him defiantly, thinking that his refusal to talk is an act of rebellion. The Banker is unfazed, "If you don't tell her than I will."
Tom meets Liz eyes, the warmth that he is used to seeing in them replaced by cold anger. He winces, but Liz does not react, she is unforgiving. "Liz, it's about your father, your real father."
Red glares at Tom, "Her father died in the fire."
Tom sneers at him, "That's what it seemed like didn't it Reddington? You burned the house to the ground; it looked like no one could have made it out of it. You and Liz barely did. But did you read the news the next day- only one body was found, her mother. His body was never found."
"His body was destroyed in the fire."
Tom shakes his head, "His body was never found because it was never there. He escaped the fire."
"No," Red replies, his voice remaining level, "He was unconscious when I left him." Liz looks shocked at that, Red keeps his gaze fixed on Tom's.
Tom laughs, "You think it's that hard to fake being unconscious? He would have died in the fire if you hadn't decided to be the hero and run back in. He slipped out while you were saving her." Tom gestures to Liz.
Red doesn't respond, he is thinking back to that night. At first all he can see is the smoke and the tower of flames, but he pushes that away. He focuses on the memory of the father- is it possible that he could have escaped? Red certainly hadn't been very lucid when he stumbled out of the house, his back covered in burns that would never fully heal.
Tom watches his reaction with a smug look. He has bested the great Raymond Reddington yet again. He honestly doesn't understand how Red had gained so much power, he can be so ignorant. "Ahh so you're starting to doubt yourself. Are you not fully convinced? Well then I have a message for you- from Max Albert."
Red freezes at the name. "He told me to tell you- he knows you have her, but you were wrong. She is not the key to the fulcrum; do you think he would have been stupid enough to put the key to The Fulcrum in the hands of a mere child? All this time you've spent trying to get close to her, it's been a waste. He doesn't even care about his daughter, he never has."
Liz is staring at Red. She can't believe it- he had been using her this whole time. She doesn't understand what the fulcrum is or why he had thought she was involved with it, but she does know one thing- Raymond Reddington had lied to her and used her this entire time.
This whole thing has been an elaborate plan, just the concierge of crime using people for his personal gain once again. She should have seen it coming, should have known especially after what Tom had done to her. Her mind can't possibly process all the thoughts whirring through her, so she stares at Red, a dull numbness filling her.
Red feels her gaze, but he can't meet it, not yet. He has to figure out a way to get them out of her, play his cards right. He needs to focus. He speaks calmly, the mask sliding into place, "So Maxwell has been the man behind this the whole time?"
Tom nods his head, and Red wants to wipe the smug smile off his face but sadly he is handcuffed (and considering his condition he probably wouldn't be able to win this fight.) He continues to think, laying out his options, "If Liz has never had access to the fulcrum, then who does?"
Tom's smile is wiped off at that, "I don't know."
Red takes his opportunity to take control of the situation. "You don't know? Tell me, what is it that you know about this Max Albert? How do you know he is really who he says he is." Red is hoping Tom will give him some solid proof.
Before Tom can answer he is cut off by Liz. She has come to her senses. She is staring at Red, with fire in her eyes. "Why?" she demands.
Red falters, then slips his mask back into place. "Why what, Lizzie?" The look on her face breaks his heart, but he can't give away how much he cares for her, can't give away that she is his only weakness.
"Why did you light the fire?" Her voice is strong, but Red can hear the pain behind it. He knows her and he knows what this must feel like. He has just become her next Tom, but this time she will be less understanding, less forgiving. He tries to express himself with his eyes, but Liz's gaze is stubbornly fixed on the wall behind him.
"Why Red?" she snaps when he doesn't answer. Her tortured gaze meets his then flickers away again.
Red takes a deep breath, he isn't prepared to tell her this but he must. "I was a few years into Navy service. Despite being so young, I had caught the attention of some important people. I was power hungry; I wanted to escalate my career so I ate up their attention. Soon they started asking me for favors. It was little things at first, keeping certain details out of a report, telling them certain classified intel, guarding their little meetings.
"They told me it was perfectly justified, they were helping people, taking down bad guys. I knew there was something wrong with it, but I ignored it, I was blinded by the power. And at first we did do good, I saw progress. But then they started giving me heavier jobs, jobs that forced me to ignore my morals, jobs that blurred the lines. I got in deep, I had a family and I knew if I tried to do anything I would be putting them in danger. So I obeyed orders, never questioning the reasons behind them. They owned me."
He takes a deep breath, "One day they told me that I needed to burn down a house for them. They said that only their target was there, a terrorist named Max Albert. They needed to take him out without it tracing back to them. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't find a way out. It was set for May 4th. I drove there and parked in front of the house at 12:30. The house was dark, there was no sound. I slipped inside and got to work. Your father was lying passed out on the couch, empty beer bottles lying around him. I hit him on the head, hard, to make sure he was really unconscious and then poured accelerant over everything. I was quite inexperienced in pyrotechnics so I just dumped gasoline everywhere. Then I lit a match, and dropped it."
His voice cracks and he has to force himself to continue, "I was halfway out of the house when I heard your screams. There wasn't supposed to be anyone else in the house, but I recognized the screams of a little girl. I thought of my own daughter and ran back in. The fire had spread upstairs, your mother had already been engulfed, she had been sleeping in the room above the living room. She hadn't even had time to scream, I didn't know she was in the house until it was too late."
"I ran up to your room, and you were standing there holding your teddy bear and crying. I grabbed you and ran. On the way out a piece of flaming ceiling fell on us, burning my back and giving you that scar on your wrist. I put out the flames and then carried you out. We were both injured and I knew I had to get away. I couldn't work for them anymore, I had just killed an innocent woman and almost killed a child, so I took you in my car and ran."
"Mr. Kaplan took care of us for a while and my family went on a brief vacation far away from there. I knew I needed a more permanent solution for you; I couldn't bring you back to my family that was already in danger. When I was strong enough to drive again I drove to a friend's house. I arrived at Sam's house without warning, injured and afraid, in the middle of the night and I asked him to take care of you. He didn't hesitate, he took you in."
Tears are running down Liz's face. Red's voice trails off as he watches her.
"You took away my family," she finally says weakly, each word driving knives into Red's heart. He has taken so much from her. Red wants nothing more than to take Liz into his arms and hold her and tell her everything's going to be alright but he can't. He isn't sure if she would still let him, and even if she did he wouldn't let himself. He has destroyed her, just like he knew he would always do.
The Banker rolls his eyes at the scene in front of him. Falling in love is the worst thing a person can do. It is destined to end in heart break, there is no such thing as a happily ever after.
"Yes, that is a very touching story." Red turns his head back at him, eyeing him as if he had forgotten he was still in the room. "I think that is quite enough for tonight. Tomorrow I'll see what I can get out of you- make you all dance." He stalks out and closes the door behind them, sealing them into darkness.
It is 1 o'clock in the morning and Cooper is still busy at work. The phone is pressed to his ear, and he is talking to Aram who is helping him track down Ressler, Liz, and Red. When Cooper had told him about Samar he had gone silent for a few seconds. His voice had cracked when he returned a weak, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Since then he had worked tirelessly to track down The Banker, currently in the process of hacking into the Kuwait government's security cameras. He is tracking him down with vengeance, and Cooper is confident that they will be able to find them by the end of the week. He can only hope that they will make it in time.