Washington DC, Washington, Russell Senate Office, 2019
Of all the scenarios Charles Marsden had imagined in his mind; all the ways in which this entire affair could go wrong; he never once predicted he'd find himself face to face with Noah Mayer.
He struggled to look Noah in the eye. It was difficult not to watch the finger Noah had poised over the trigger of the government-issued hand gun.
Where the hell did he get that from?
It was funny, but in that moment he was taken back all those years to 'Nam, when Noah's father saved his life. He still remembered the severe bite of crippling pain when he was shot that day.
He never really lost his fear of guns.
Noah stepped closer. "We need to talk."
"Look Noah," Charles began. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but-"
"Relax Charles," Noah easily said. But there was a wild, blank look in his eyes that turned Charles' insides to ice. "I'm just here to turn myself in," Noah explained. "I'm done with it... All of it."
Noah did look tired; the few days worth of stubble giving him a ragged appearance not helped by the dark rings under his steely blue eyes. This was clearly a man on the edge.
Oddly recalling a Shakespearean quote - 'Do not tempt a desperate man', - Marsden fell silent; mouth still half open in the sentence Noah interrupted.
"But first," Noah continued. "I want to make a statement."
That snapped Marsden out of it. "I don't think so," he blustered. "This is neither the time nor the place-"
"Let 'em speak!" someone shouted from the crowd.
"It must have been difficult for you," Noah told Charles, tone dripping sarcasm. "Carrying this secret all these years. Living with what you did…" Noah had to pause as his voice wavered. "To your best friend… Charles!"
"Noah," Charles tried in a fatherly tone. "Whatever terrible thing it is you think I've done, I can assure you that you are mistaken. Now… it's clear you're very upset. I heard what happened… Noah… I'm truly sorry about Lu-"
Noah's forward movement was nothing but a flashing blur. With one quick and unexpected shove, Noah had pushed Charles backward. He fell to the ground with a shocked grunt; a collective gasp rising from the crowd.
"Shut the fuck up!" Noah seethed, hovering over Charles with a blind fury that made him seem enormous. The barrel of the gun pressed deep into Charles' temple. Noah's nostrils flared like a crazed bull. " . . . !... Ever!"
A fearful Charles glanced back at Agent Williams, fully expecting the lawman to intervene and save the senator from the criminal. But to his shock, Williams seemed to be enjoying the scene.
"Get up!" Noah boomed; anger making his blue eyes glint.
Charles spat profanities under his breath as he heaved himself back to standing. "Now Noah, think about what you're doing! You're just racking up more charges with each move you make! Everyone here just witnessed that! Williams?"
Adrian frowned. "I'm not exactly sure what it is you think I saw, Senator?"
Some members of the assembled press corp laughed.
For the first time, Noah seemed to realize he had Williams on his side. He locked eyes with the agent for some time. It appeared to embolden him. Speaking clearly he asked, "Does the name Garrett, mean anything to you, Charles?"
Charles let out an audible gasp; beginning to physically feel the cracks in his foundation.
No, no, no! I've worked too hard!
"Come on…" Noah taunted. "Surely you remember your very own bodyguard? The guy has a pretty impressive cobra tattoo round his wrist. It's really hard to forget something like that!"
Charles thickly swallowed and risked a glance at their audience. The reporters stood frozen with interest; microphones extended and cameras recording every second, beaming the pictures live around the world."
"Well, don't worry," Noah continued. "I had a little up close and personal talk with Garrett yesterday. He certainly knows you! In fact, he told me that you guys go way back! He told me about working for you in 2008… you know… when…" Noah waned, "…when Luke and I… when we supposedly did what we did."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh that's okay," Noah replied, glancing over at Williams. "Lucky for you, I recorded Garrett's confession." Noah glared at Charles. "If you're looking for him, you'll most likely find him in the safe hands of the Oakdale PD. They should be very busy interviewing him as we speak. Alongside Dr. Christopher Hughes. Surely you must remember Dr. Hughes, Charles?"
Charles felt his demeanor crashing with each word Noah spoke.
It's not possible.
"I have copies of my father's research files." Noah continued to drive the nails into the coffin. "All of them!"
"I'm sorry, Noah," Marsden replied, forehead sweating as he continued to defend himself. "But I have no idea where you're headed with all of this."
"Scary, isn't it?" Noah asked. "When you realize that all the evidence is mounting up and… it all points to you…"
"Noah, I-"
"We were 19, Charles! We were fucking-" Noah was slowly falling apart as the exhaustion crippled him. His eyes watered as he pushed on. "We were just kids! Why? Why did you do this? I adored you! My father would have died for you! You stole my chance to fix things with my dad!"
Charles' face twisted in an ugly scowl at his revulsion. His public face, the one he wore for the cameras, dropped as he snorted. "Oh please! Your father would never have accepted what you've become! Never! You disgusted him… as you do me!"
Almost immediately Charles regretted his words. Noah's body stiffened and he pressed forward.
"You think I won't pull this trigger, Charles?" Noah cocked the gun. "Think again! I've lost everything! You've taken everything that matters from me! My father, my home, my son and-," Noah clutched at his chest; forcing himself to complete what he had to say. "...worse than anything… Luke!"
…
St Louis, Missouri, Saint Louise University Hospital, 2019
Luke's heart was breaking. He couldn't understand why Williams just stood there without intervening.
"Tell him!" Luke screamed at the television screen, ignoring the pain in his neck. "For God's sake, Williams, tell him!"
"How can I help?" a flustered Sammy asked with concern.
Luke looked at him as though he'd forgotten Sammy was still in the room. "I need to speak to Agent Williams. Please! Can you ask the guards outside to help me phone Agent Williams?"
"Of course," Sammy agreed. "But please, it's not good for you to get this upset. There may still be damage to your heart or your brain... Please, just calm down, okay?"
Luke stared at Sammy as if he had horns growing out of his head. "Calm down?" he screamed. "My husband has a million laser lights aimed at him and you want me to calm down? Look at him!"
As Sammy's kind face fell. Luke felt awful. It was a natural 'Luke' reaction to lash out; and poor Sammy just happened to be the only other person in the room.
Taking a deep breath Luke said, "I'm sorry. I so sorry. It's not your fault. I'm just scared…"
Sammy smiled with understanding. "I'll go talk to the guards."
…
Washington DC, Washington, Russell Senate Office Building, 2019
"So here's my statement," Noah almost whispered. "I, Noah Mayer, being of sound mind and body… or at least I think I am… do hereby declare myself and… my husband… Luke Snyder… innocent of all charges relating to the 2008 murders at the George S. Patton Military base."
The gathered reporters audibly gasped and a wave of whispers passed over the crowd.
"My belief is that Senator Charles Marsden and Deputy Director Stanley Marsh were involved in selling Army secrets to foreign arms manufacturers."
"Lies!" Charles boomed in a last-ditch attempt to save himself. "These are all lies! He's mad, can't you see?"
But Noah ignored him. "These secrets contained information on the manufacture of arms using certain biological agents. It is further my belief that my father, Colonel Winston Mayer, discovered this deception only when he moved to the lab in Oakdale. The good senator, a man I always held in high esteem, a man I knew my whole life, used the estrangement between my father and I to stage an elaborate cover up involving the murder of 7 innocent people that day."
While Noah spoke, Adrian watched with satisfaction as Marsden's shoulders sank, lower and lower. Adrian found himself hoping the son of a bitch was totally suffering.
Even though the entire story as Noah spelled it out, still sounded like some wild speculation; Adrian could tell the press believed him. As crazy as it sounded; too much of it made sense.
"This is a complete fabrication!" Marsden exploded with indignation. But his expression was enough to see how close Noah came to hitting the truth button. He turned back to Adrian. "Why are you just standing there? Arrest him!"
"Well," Adrian replied, lifting his arms to lazily scratch the back of his neck. "Thing is, I've just come from Patton, where I observed a certain bricked up shooting range that seems to corroborate Mr. Mayer's story. Funny that nobody working on the original investigation bothered to substantiate it's existance. I had only to spend five minutes asking around the base before I found a soldier who remembered it being there."
Marsden's mouth gaped open. The assembled photographers were ready. They quickly immortalised the moment in a flash of bulbs.
"Strange... it would seem the two captains who were interviewed at the time, both seem to have died in unfortunate accidents... My God!" Adrian exclaimed, shaking his head at the senator. "What the hell have you done?"
Marsden continued to appear outraged at the accusation. But the fear was starting to show on his face. "I refuse to listen to another word of this rubbish!"
He made a move to march off the stage but was brought up short when Noah bellowed, "Don't you fucking move!"
Marsden glanced back as Noah shouted and the senator's face went ashen.
Adrian was so focused on Marsden; he'd failed to notice the distinct change in Noah's demeanor. Gone were the tears. The soldier was back. And this time, he was intent on completing his mission.
"Noah, don't!" Adrian pleaded. "Before you pull that trigger, security will drop you where you stand! Think about it!"
"I have no reason not to kill him. I won't let him hurt anybody else!"
"What about your son?"
"I can't… He's… Leo will never be safe until this man is gone. I've seen what Charles is capable of…" Noah replied with some struggle. Then with a dead, chilling calm he said. "You'll find all the information you need hanging around my neck."
…
St Louis, Missouri, Saint Louis University Hospital, 2019
Luke was losing his mind. He dialed and redialed the number for Agent Williams' cell. He kept checking the news feed to see whether the agent on screen would respond. But either Luke had the wrong number or the agent's phone was turned off.
Agent Williams didn't appear to be reacting at all. His focus, like that of all those present, was totally taken up by the exchange between Marsden and Noah.
As Noah made his pledge to die, Luke expelled a silent scream through his damaged thorax. In slow motion, he saw his life ending, all while feeling powerless to stop it.
As Noah took aim at his intended target, an authoritative voice broke through the crowd of reporters. "Noah, you put that gun down… now!"
Noah visibly shook at the sound of the voice. And so did Luke, but for different reasons.
"You hear me, Son?"
…
Washington DC, Washington, Russell Senate Office Building, 2019
Noah couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was feeling so cold and alone, so totally lost. He was finished. He'd done what he set out to do and he wanted completion. He couldn't have that without Luke.
But this steady voice that he remembered so well, suddenly popped into his head like a dream. Noah began to question his own sense of hearing, because it was impossible.
"Look at me," the male voice commanded.
Noah was afraid to. This voice, this person, had the power to alter his mission. And Marsden had to die. He had to. For Leo. For Luke.
So he ignored the voice; once again lifting the gun to take aim.
Marsden yelped, placing an arm over his face…
Senate Security prepared to fire.
"Hold!" Agent Williams yelled.
The voice was relentless. What it shouted next took Noah's breath away. "Noah! Luke's alive, Son!"
Noah faltered back a step, sure he'd misheard.
"Noah? Did you hear me? I said Luke is alive!"
Noah shook his head. It was a cruel trick. It had to be. Yet… this was not a voice that would lie to him. Not about this or anything else for that matter.
"Look at me," the voice requested again; this time taking on a softer tone.
It pulled Noah like a magnet. His watery eyes locked with a loving, slightly greyer-blue set. His strength left him in a flood of emotion that kicked him so deep he reeled.
"You can put the gun down now, Son," Holden pledged.
But Noah couldn't, not yet. "I want to talk to him," he insisted, eyes welling. Every bone in his body praying Holden's claim was true. "I want to talk to him right now! God dammit!"
…
St Louis, Missouri, Saint Louise University Hospital, 2019
"Pick up… pick up… pick up…," Luke sang.
He could actually hear his father's phone ringing; and understood why Holden hesitated to answer. But when Noah asked to speak to him, Luke was beyond desperate.
"Come on, Dad!" he yelled. "It's me! Surely you must know it's me."
"Hello?"
Luke's gaze whipped back to the screen where Holden stood with the phone to his ear. He grimmaced as the action sent a bolt of pain up his spine.
But Luke sighed in relief, "Dad?"
"I'll put him right on."
Noah was watching Holden with an expression so needy it squeezed at Luke's heart.
The phone was quickly passed through the crowd. Noah's fingers shook as he took the cell from a cautious security guard.
The first thing Luke heard was Noah's trembling breath so he spoke first. "Hey, Bubby."
Every ounce of adrenaline, every bit of strength Noah clung to, seemed to desert him on those two small words. He disintegrated into a ball of sobs that echoed down the crowd.
"I… I couldn't…" Luke heard Noah cry, "…I couldn't feel you anymore…"
Luke wept. "I'm so sorry! They wanted to flush you out! But I'm fine. I swear to you!"
"Luke..." Noah pressed the phone tightly to his ear using both hands; dropping the handgun in the process.
Luke gratefully watched Williams as he picked up the weapon while keeping the Capitol Hill police away from Noah.
Marsden looked on in horror; realization dawning that he'd lost. He tried to furtively make his escape, but was blocked by the girth of Police Chief Blithe.
"Going somewhere, Senator?" the old man asked, with one raised eyebrow.
Both unable to speak, Luke and Noah cried together over the phone. When Luke could locate his voice he said, "You did it! You never gave up! I'm so proud of you! Noah… you actually did it!"
Noah laughed through his tears and Luke joined him.
"Come back to me, Bubby," Luke whispered.
Noah nodded. "Always..."