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00:00I am a five-star general, secretly decorated by the President of the United States.
00:04And my only grandson had just been beaten into the ICU by a trust fund brat.
00:08When I arrived at the hospital, the attacker's family actually tried to shut me up with money.
00:12So I reached into the inner pocket of my overcoat and drew out a military-grade encrypted satellite phone.
00:17I dialed a number that had gathered dust for years.
00:19Who is this?
00:20McRain.
00:21I said only one word. The line went dead silent.
00:24A full five seconds passed before a voice came through.
00:27Trembling with shock, dread, and perhaps even a flicker of awe.
00:30General. General McRae?
00:32Robert Harlan, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego field office.
00:37The highest-ranking federal law enforcement official in the city.
00:40His voice sounded as though it had been squeezed from the back of his throat, shaking with disbelief.
00:44I'm at Naval Medical Center. My grandson, Ryan, is in the ICU.
00:50Harlan's mind went blank.
00:51The general's grandson, in an ICU in San Diego.
00:54A wave of cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of his shirt.
00:58He didn't even dare ask what had happened.
00:59He knew that if the general had personally dialed his phone,
01:02the situation had already escalated beyond anything he could imagine.
01:05I'm on my way.
01:07Harlan grabbed his coat and burst out of his office.
01:12Martinez!
01:14Notify every on-duty supervisory agent.
01:16Assembly at Naval Medical Center in 30 minutes.
01:19Initiate priority one.
01:20Everyone in the office froze, stunned by the sudden order.
01:23Priority one.
01:24That protocol was reserved exclusively for terrorist attacks or major federal cases.
01:29What on earth happened?
01:31Just one hour earlier, my son Patrick had been pacing frantically outside the ICU at Naval Medical Center.
01:37When I arrived, he rushed over to me as though he'd finally found solid ground to stand on.
01:41Dad, how did you get here so fast?
01:44Where's Ryan?
01:45Still in there.
01:46The doctors say it's bad.
01:49Blunt force trauma to the head, three broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, internal bleeding, and multiple organs.
01:54My heart sank like a stone.
01:55I turned my gaze toward a cluster of young men loitering at the far end of the corridor.
01:59The one in front, a blonde kid, was leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone.
02:04His buddies flanked him, smirking and horsing around as though this weren't the entrance to an ICU,
02:08but the hallway of some nightclub.
02:09They're the ones who did it.
02:11The ringleader's name is Chad Prescott.
02:13His father is Wayne Prescott, CEO of Prescott Development Group,
02:17the biggest military base contractor on the West Coast.
02:20What about the police?
02:21It came, took a report.
02:24Said it was mutual combat, both parties sustained injuries, and recommended we settle it civilly.
02:29Then they left.
02:30Settle?
02:31My grandson is fighting for his life in the ICU.
02:34That kid over there has nothing but a cast on his leg,
02:36and they call that both parties sustained injuries?
02:42At that moment, a middle-aged man in an immaculate suit strolled down the corridor,
02:46trailed by someone carrying a briefcase who had a lawyer written all over him.
02:50It was Wayne Prescott himself.
02:51It must be Ryan's family.
02:53These things happen.
02:55Young men run hot, fists fly, nobody means for it to go this far.
02:58He took an envelope from the lawyer's hand and held it out.
03:01There's a check inside for $500,000,
03:03more than enough to cover all medical expenses and rehabilitation.
03:06Sign a non-disclosure agreement.
03:08We each take a step back and we'll put this whole thing behind us.
03:10Patrick was shaking with rage, about to lunge forward.
03:13I extended my arm and stopped him.
03:16Not enough.
03:17Not enough?
03:18Half a million is generous.
03:20Push this any further and it won't end well for either of us.
03:23Besides, my son was injured too.
03:25Take this to court and it's anyone's guess who comes out on top.
03:28In this city, the name Prescott still carries a certain weight.
03:32I saw no point in continuing the conversation.
03:35I turned away, walked to a quiet corner,
03:37and dialed the number that had gathered dust for years.
03:39Wayne Prescott watched me make a phone call and then simply stand there.
03:42The contempt on his face deepened.
03:44What's this old fossil going to do?
03:46Call someone who matters?
03:48He turned back to his son.
03:50Relax.
03:51We'll get you the best doctors.
03:53You'll be walking again in a month.
03:55Dad, that old bastard doesn't know what's good for him.
03:57Turning down our money.
03:59Chad Prescott shoved his phone into his pocket,
04:01his face radiating arrogance.
04:03If you ask me, his grandson should just die in there.
04:07Then we'll see how tough he acts.
04:09Shut up.
04:09This is a hospital.
04:10Watch your mouth.
04:11Wayne Prescott said the words,
04:13but in his heart, he felt exactly the same way.
04:15A powerless, retired old man,
04:18daring to stand up to the Prescott family?
04:19Laughable.
04:20That was when sirens, urgent, piercing, and relentless,
04:23erupted in the distance and came screaming toward them.
04:26Tearing through the quiet San Diego evening like a blade,
04:29the sound grew louder,
04:30closer,
04:30until it seemed to shriek to a halt
04:32directly below Naval Medical Center.
04:34Patients and visitors throughout the hospital
04:36rushed to the windows.
04:37Outside,
04:38seven or eight black Chevrolet Suburbans
04:40and several vehicles emblazoned with FBI
04:42in bold white letters converged on the hospital
04:44from every direction,
04:45red and blue light bars blazing,
04:47sealing off the main entrance completely.
04:49Doors flew open.
04:50Agents in dark blue tactical vests
04:52stamped with FBI front and back leapt out,
04:55armed to the teeth,
04:56and immediately began stringing up
04:58yellow crime scene tape around the entrance.
04:59Then a black Lincoln Town car
05:00glided to a stop at the front of the convoy.
05:03Broad-shouldered man with
05:04silver-streaked temples,
05:06stepped out and strode into
05:07the building without breaking.
05:09Stride,
05:09Robert Harlan,
05:10special agent in charge of the
05:11FBI San Diego field office.
05:13Which floor is Ryan McCravey on?
05:15The third floor.
05:16I see you.
05:17Harlan led a phalanx of FBI agents
05:20toward the elevators.
05:21By now,
05:22Wayne and Chad Prescott
05:23had heard the commotion.
05:24Wayne frowned,
05:24a faint unease gnawing at his gut.
05:26FBI?
05:27What the hell warrants
05:28this kind of response?
05:30The elevator doors opened.
05:32Harlan and six or seven.
05:33Agents stepped out and moved,
05:35swiftly down the corridor.
05:36His eyes swept the hallway.
05:37In the instant they locked,
05:38onto the solitary figure,
05:40standing in the corner,
05:40still an immovable ass.
05:42Bedrock,
05:43every trace of authority and swagger
05:44drained from his face.
05:45Harlan walked over.
05:46Two steps away,
05:47his feet stopped
05:48as though they hit a wall.
05:49He straightened his back
05:49instinctively,
05:50reached out with both hands,
05:52and clasped mine tightly.
05:53General.
05:54The word detonated like thunder
05:56in the dead silent corridor.
05:58That single word,
05:59asterisk,
05:59general asterisk,
06:00froze every face in the hallway.
06:02Patrick was dumpstruck.
06:03He knew his father
06:04had been in the military.
06:05Knew the rank
06:05had been substantial.
06:06But never in his wildest dreams
06:08had he imagined
06:08the FBI's top official
06:10in San Diego
06:10would look at his father
06:11with something close to reverence.
06:13Wayne and Chad Prescott
06:14went white as sheets.
06:15The SAC.
06:16Robert Harlan.
06:17The man whose very name
06:18made every criminal
06:19and power broker
06:20in San Diego.
06:21I just called that
06:22old man general.
06:23The smirk on Chad Prescott's
06:24face shattered.
06:25His iPhone slipped
06:25from his fingers
06:26and clattered to the floor.
06:27For the first time,
06:28it dawned on him
06:29that he might have provoked
06:30someone with an unimaginable consequence.
06:32Wayne Prescott's complexion
06:34turned,
06:34the color of ash.
06:35He remembered the patronizing look
06:36on his own face moments ago.
06:38He remembered the casual disdain
06:39with which he'd held out
06:40that check.
06:41He remembered every word
06:42he'd said.
06:43Cold sweat drenched his shirt
06:44in an instant.
06:45His legs began
06:46to tremble uncontrollably.
06:47I did not acknowledge
06:48Harlan's greeting.
06:49I did not even glance at him.
06:50My eyes remained fixed
06:51on the sealed double doors
06:52of the ICU.
06:53My grandson is in there,
06:55my voice barely above a murmur.
06:56Yet it struck Harlan
06:57like a sledgehammer
06:58to the chest.
06:59He spun around,
07:00his gaze cutting toward Wayne
07:01and Chad Prescott
07:02like a drawn blade.
07:03They're the ones
07:04who did this.
07:04Wayne Prescott
07:05felt a column of ice
07:06shoot up from the sauls
07:07of his feet
07:08to the crown of his skull.
07:09His mind went utterly blank.
07:11Beside him,
07:11Chad's face had turned
07:12to sickly green,
07:13his lips quivering,
07:15unable to produce
07:15a single syllable.
07:17Mr. Harlan,
07:18Agent Harlan,
07:19this is a misunderstanding.
07:21It's all a misunderstanding.
07:24A misunderstanding.
07:26Harlan's voice dropped
07:27to a lethal register.
07:29The general's grandson
07:30is lying in the ICU,
07:32life hanging in the balance,
07:33and you're telling me
07:33it's a misunderstanding?
07:35He took another step forward.
07:36The sheer force
07:37of his presence
07:38bore down on Wayne Prescott
07:39until the man
07:40could barely breathe.
07:43I'll ask you one more time.
07:44Did your people do this?
07:46Yes or no?
07:50Wayne Prescott's knees buckled.
07:51He collapsed onto the floor.
07:53In his wildest nightmares,
07:55he never could have fathomed
07:56that nobody his son
07:57had casually beaten up
07:58was connected to someone
07:59like this.
07:59General,
08:00what kind of man
08:01earns that title
08:01from someone like Robert Harlan
08:02and draws that kind of expression?
08:04It was my son.
08:06He was my son.
08:07He was reckless.
08:08Agent Harlan,
08:10just give us a chance
08:11to make this right.
08:12Harlan didn't so much
08:13as look at him.
08:13He turned on his heel
08:14and addressed
08:14the supervisory agent
08:15behind him.
08:16All suspects,
08:17take them back
08:18to the field office,
08:18separate holding,
08:19separate interrogations.
08:20Contact the U.S.
08:21Attorney's Office.
08:22I want federal charges.
08:23Collect every piece
08:24of evidence.
08:25Pull all surveillance footage.
08:27Hospital and surrounding area.
08:28Get a warrant.
08:28I don't care how you do it.
08:30Three hours.
08:31I want a complete case file
08:32on my desk
08:33accurate to the second.
08:35Yes, sir.
08:36The supervisory agent pivoted.
08:37With a sweep of his arm,
08:39several FBI agents
08:40moved in
08:40and slapped handcuffs
08:41on Chad Prescott
08:42and everyone his friends
08:43before any of them
08:44could process
08:45what was happening.
08:47Chad still had a cast
08:49on his leg.
08:49When an agent
08:50hauled him out of his chair,
08:51he howled in pain.
08:51Dad!
08:52Help me, Dad!
08:53Wayne Prescott
08:54lurched forward
08:54but was blocked cold
08:55by an agent's
08:56outstretched arm.
08:57Watching his son
08:58dragged away in handcuffs.
08:59Watching the empire
09:00he'd spent a lifetime
09:01building begin to crack
09:02at the foundations.
09:03Wayne Prescott's
09:03last psychological defense
09:04finally crumbled.
09:05He threw himself
09:06at my feet,
09:06scrambling on all fours.
09:08Sir, General,
09:09I'm sorry.
09:09Please spare my son.
09:10He's young.
09:11He didn't know
09:12what he was doing.
09:14I lowered my gaze
09:15and regarded him
09:16the way one might
09:16regard an insect.
09:17When your son
09:18was beating my grandson,
09:20did it ever occur to him
09:21that my grandson
09:22is also young?
09:24The words lodged
09:25every sob
09:26and flee in
09:27Wayne Prescott's throat.
09:28He collapsed in despair
09:29on the cold hospital floor.
09:31He knew,
09:31this time,
09:32no one could save them.
09:33Once those people
09:33had been dealt with,
09:34Harlan approached me again,
09:36carefully,
09:36almost deferentially,
09:38his posture
09:38as low as it could go.
09:39General,
09:40this happened on my watch
09:41in my city.
09:42You and your family
09:43were subjected to this.
09:44That is my failure.
09:46His voice was heavy
09:46with guilt.
09:47You have my word.
09:48I will see to it personally
09:49that this is made right.
09:51Patrick stood to the side,
09:52utterly speechless,
09:53a mid-level civil servant
09:54in county government,
09:55a man who spent his days
09:56tiptoeing around superiors,
09:58reading every room,
09:59watching every word.
10:00But had he ever witnessed
10:01anything like this?
10:03The most powerful
10:03federal law enforcement officer
10:05in San Diego,
10:06standing before his father
10:07with the deference
10:07of a raw recruit
10:08on his first day.
10:09I said nothing.
10:10I simply raised my hand
10:11and made a small gesture,
10:13asterisk come closer, star.
10:14Harlan understood at once.
10:15He leaned in.
10:16What I want
10:17has never been
10:17one man's accountability.
10:19I spoke a few sentences.
10:20As Harlan listened,
10:21the color drained
10:22from his face.
10:23General,
10:24that would implicate
10:25do as I say.
10:26I cut him off.
10:27My tone left
10:27no room for discussion.
10:29Harlan clenched his jaw,
10:30then gave a single
10:31hard nod.
10:32Yes, sir.
10:33Harlan turned
10:34and walked away
10:35at a brisk clip,
10:35pulling out his phone
10:36and dialing as he went.
10:37This is SAC Harlan.
10:39Connect me to the
10:40Washington, D.C.
10:41headquarters liaison center.
10:42When a line picked up,
10:43he dropped his voice low.
10:45Sir, initiate RICO protocol.
10:48Authorization code
10:49Eagle7 Bravo.
10:51Priority level,
10:52Alpha.
10:53Sir, please confirm.
10:54You are requesting
10:56activation of an
10:56Alpha level RICO protocol?
10:58You heard me.
11:00Now.
11:02RICO,
11:03the racketeer-influenced
11:04and corrupt organizations act
11:06was the federal
11:06justice system's
11:07ultimate weapon
11:08against organized crime.
11:10An Alpha level activation
11:11meant the FBI
11:12would coordinate
11:13with the IRS,
11:14the DEA,
11:15FinCEN,
11:16the U.S.
11:16Marshal Service,
11:17and every other
11:18relevant federal agency
11:19to conduct
11:20a full-spectrum
11:21takedown of the target.
11:22I intended to use
11:23my grandson's beating
11:25as the thread,
11:26would unravel
11:27every piece
11:28of buried filth
11:29in San Diego,
11:30every criminal network,
11:33every protective umbrella,
11:36every link
11:37in the chain.
11:39Just then,
11:40my encrypted
11:40satellite phone rang,
11:42an unfamiliar number.
11:44The voice on the other
11:45end was measured.
11:48Who is this?
11:52Am I speaking
11:53with Mr. McCrane?
11:55My name is
11:56Brett Prescott.
11:57I'm Wayne Prescott's
11:58brother.
11:59I'm a United States
12:00Senator,
12:01a member of the
12:01Senate Armed Services Committee.
12:03I believe
12:04we can discuss
12:05this like gentlemen.
12:06Before he could finish,
12:07I hung up.
12:08Then I dialed another number.
12:09This one was shorter
12:10than Harlan's
12:10and far more consequential.
12:13A voice came
12:14through the line,
12:15powerful,
12:16full of iron
12:17and gunpowder.
12:18I'll be damned!
12:19Iron bone!
12:20What drags you
12:21out of retirement?
12:22I heard that familiar voice
12:23and felt the ice
12:24behind my eyes thaw,
12:25just barely,
12:26before a deeper cold
12:27replaced it.
12:28Bull,
12:28my grandson's
12:29been beaten
12:30into the ICU
12:30in San Diego.
12:32Who the fuck
12:33is responsible
12:34for this?
12:34William Bull Brennan,
12:36commander,
12:36United States
12:37Indo-Pacific Command,
12:39four-star admiral,
12:40a man I have forged
12:40with my own hands.
12:42Thirty years ago
12:42in the Persian Gulf,
12:43he'd been a young lieutenant
12:44during a routine patrol.
12:47His Humvee took an RPG
12:48and burst into flames.
12:50I ran through
12:52a hail of gunfire,
12:53dragged him
12:53from the burning wreckage,
12:54and carried him
12:55on my back
12:55for two kilometers
12:56across open desert
12:57to a medevac
12:58landing zone.
13:00Who the hell
13:01did this?
13:02Give me a name,
13:04Jim!
13:04Give me a goddamn name!
13:06I will bury them
13:07so deep
13:08they'll need a submarine
13:09to find their own grave!
13:10Brennan's roar
13:11nearly blew out
13:12the speaker.
13:13Stand down, bull.
13:15That's not why
13:16I called.
13:16Just say the word,
13:17sir,
13:18what do you need?
13:18Prescott Development Group,
13:20a real estate outfit
13:21out of San Diego.
13:22They've held contracts
13:23on military-based
13:23construction projects.
13:24My grandson is still
13:26in the ICU.
13:26I don't know
13:27if he's going to make it.
13:28I don't want to see them
13:29still open for business
13:30tomorrow.
13:31I spoke slowly,
13:31but every word
13:32landed like a bolt
13:33in Brennan's ear.
13:34Brennan understood
13:34instantly.
13:35I didn't want their money.
13:36I didn't want their blood.
13:37I wanted annihilation.
13:37I wanted the Prescott family,
13:38who had no concept
13:40of the forces they provoked,
13:41to plummet from heaven
13:42to hell in a single day.
13:43I wanted the business empire.
13:44They were so proud
13:45of the crumble,
13:46like paper,
13:47in the face of absolute power.
13:49Understood, General.
13:50You'll have my answer
13:51before sunrise.
13:52After hanging up,
13:55Brennan strode back
13:56into Indo-Pacific Command's
13:57Joint Operations Center,
13:58his face dark
13:59as a thunderhead.
14:00The flag officers
14:01seated around the room
14:02exchanged uneasy glances
14:04the moment
14:04they saw his expression.
14:06Brennan walked
14:06to the command console
14:07and swept the room
14:08with a gaze cold enough
14:09to freeze steel.
14:10Contact the Inspector General's office.
14:12Notify DCA,
14:13the Defense Contract Audi Agency.
14:14Initiate the highest level
14:15national security review
14:16on every Department of Defense
14:17related project
14:18built by Prescott Development Group.
14:19All projects currently
14:20under construction
14:21are to be frozen immediately.
14:22His voice wasn't loud,
14:23but every word drove
14:24into the ears of
14:25everyone present like a nail.
14:26All pending payments
14:27are to be suspended immediately.
14:28All Prescott personnel
14:29holding military base
14:30access credulees.
14:31Security clearances revoked
14:32effective now.
14:33Place the company
14:33on the DOB debarment list.
14:35He paused,
14:36then added one final order.
14:37Contact the NCIS director.
14:39I want a protective detail
14:39at Naval Medical Center,
14:40San Diego,
14:41within two hours.
14:42Each command
14:42was a scalpel,
14:43precise,
14:44merciless,
14:45slicing straight through
14:46the arteries of
14:47Prescott Development Group.
14:48The flag officers
14:49in the room were stunned.
14:49A national security review
14:51combined with DOD debarment.
14:52This was the most severe sanction
14:54that could be levied
14:54against a defense contractor.
14:56Once initiated,
14:57it was,
14:57for all practical purposes,
14:59a commercial death sentence.
15:00In the entire history
15:01of the United States,
15:02no company placed
15:03on the debarment list
15:04had ever recovered.
15:05What kind of company
15:06could provoke
15:07Bull Brennan
15:07into issuing orders
15:08of this magnitude?
15:10Admiral,
15:10with all due respect,
15:11Prescott is one of the
15:12largest defense crap-triggers
15:13on the West Coast
15:14and a preferred vander
15:14of the DOEP.
15:15If we sever ties
15:16without due process,
15:17the congressional blowback
15:18alone,
15:19did I stutter, Captain?
15:20Execute the order.
15:20Brennan whipped around,
15:22his eyes razor-sharp
15:23as a hawk's.
15:24A chill ran
15:25through every person
15:26in the room.
15:26No one dared utter
15:27another word of dissent.
15:28Meanwhile,
15:29in San Diego,
15:30an invisible storm
15:31was gathering.
15:32Inside the FBI
15:33field office's
15:34holding room,
15:34Wayne Prescott
15:35was frantically working
15:36every connection he had.
15:37Outside,
15:38his brother Brett
15:38was burning through his phone,
15:40dialing number after number.
15:41But to their horror,
15:42every line had gone dead.
15:43The politicians
15:44who had attended
15:44their fundraising gallows,
15:46played golf
15:46at their country club,
15:47happily accepted
15:48their campaign donations.
15:49Every last one of them
15:50either sent calls
15:51straight to voicemail,
15:52fired back an icy text
15:54in a meeting,
15:55can't talk,
15:56or had blocked
15:56the Prescott's
15:57numbers outright.
15:57The law firm
15:58they retained for years
15:59suddenly claimed
16:00a conflict of interest
16:01and refused
16:02to continue representation.
16:03San Diego's
16:04entire power network
16:05had,
16:05in the span of a single night,
16:07slammed every door
16:08shut on the Prescott's.
16:09Brett was far sharper
16:10than his brother.
16:11He understood immediately.
16:12They hadn't merely
16:13crossed the wrong person.
16:14They had kicked a hornet's
16:15nest the size
16:16of the Pentagon.
16:17Wayne, you need
16:17to tell me the truth.
16:18Who the hell
16:18is that old man?
16:19I don't know.
16:20He didn't say a word.
16:21Made one phone call
16:22and this is what happened.
16:23One phone call, Brett.
16:25Just one goddamn phone call.
16:26At that moment,
16:27Brett's phone rang.
16:28It was Prescott
16:29Development Group's CFO.
16:30Senator Prescott,
16:31we have a catastrophic situation.
16:33Every single one
16:33of the company's bank accounts
16:34has been frozen.
16:36FinCon issued
16:36a suspicious activity report.
16:38All banks cut our credit lines.
16:39IRS showed up
16:41with a search warrant.
16:42OSAA has shut down
16:43all of our construction sites.
16:44The SEC sent a subpoena
16:45demanding 10 years
16:46of financial records.
16:47And worst of all,
16:48DCA seized every
16:49military contract document.
16:50Federal agents
16:51have locked down
16:52corporate headquarters.
16:53No one in,
16:53no one out.
16:54The CFO's voice
16:55was cracking.
16:56Each piece of bad,
16:57news detonated like a bomb,
16:58leaving Brett dizzy
16:59and reeling.
17:00DOD debarment.
17:01Brett understood
17:02the weight of those two words
17:03better than anyone.
17:05It seemed firsthand
17:05what happened to companies
17:06placed on the debarment list.
17:08Stock price cratered to zero.
17:09Banks pulled all credit.
17:11Business partners severed ties
17:12overnight and executives
17:13were indicted
17:14by federal prosecutors.
17:15No company had ever
17:16come back from the
17:17debarment list.
17:17Not one.
17:18Brett lowered his phone.
17:19Every ounce of strength
17:20drained from his body
17:20and collapsed into his chair.
17:22It's over.
17:23It's truly,
17:24completely over.
17:25And all of this
17:26was only the beginning.
17:27Below Naval Medical Center,
17:28a low,
17:29heavy rumble of engines
17:30suddenly filled the air.
17:31Everyone instinctively
17:32turned toward the windows.
17:34Several dark gray
17:35Chevrolet Suburbans,
17:36windows tinted black,
17:38devoid of any markings,
17:39rolled up in a tight convoy
17:40and halted at the FBI perimeter.
17:42The lead man flashed
17:43federal credentials
17:44and the cordon was open
17:45without a word.
17:46The convoy glided to a stop
17:47in front of the main building.
17:48Doors swung open.
17:49A team of men stepped out
17:50at a brisk pace,
17:52clad in dark tactical gear,
17:53gold federal badges
17:54on their chests,
17:55and armbands bearing
17:56a single,
17:56unmistakable word,
17:58NCIS.
17:58They acknowledged no one.
18:00They walked straight inside
18:01and cleared the entire
18:02ICU floor in 90 seconds,
18:04checking exits,
18:05stairwells,
18:06elevator bangs.
18:07Within minutes,
18:07the ICU wing
18:08was under full
18:09federal protective lockdown.
18:10In the corridor,
18:11the SDPD officers
18:12and FBI agents
18:13already posted
18:14their instinctively step back
18:15when these men appeared.
18:16These operators
18:17carried themselves differently.
18:18The way their eyes moved,
18:20the way they walked,
18:21the unconscious tactical posture
18:23they maintained
18:23even while standing still.
18:25Anyone who had spent time
18:25in the military
18:26could see it instantly.
18:27These were not
18:28ordinary federal agents.
18:30They were operators.
18:31Patrick watched them
18:31take up positions
18:32along the corridor
18:33like javelins
18:34driven into the floor
18:34and his mind short-circuited
18:36once again.
18:36His father's first phone call
18:38had summoned the FBI.
18:39His father's second phone call
18:40had summoned a force
18:41capable of making
18:42the entire Pacific fleet tremble.
18:44This man,
18:44the man he had always assumed
18:46was just a retired veteran.
18:47Who the hell was his father?
18:49Doctor,
18:49how is my grandson?
18:51How is my son?
18:51Doctor Nathan Chun,
18:53Chief of Trauma Surgery
18:54at Naval Medical Center San Diego,
18:56looked at the old man
18:56standing before him
18:57then at the stone-faced
18:58NCIS agents lining the corridor
19:00and felt his own pulse quicken.
19:01He drew a deep breath
19:02and willed his voice
19:03to remain steady.
19:04General Mr. McRaden,
19:05you can breathe.
19:07After an all-out effort,
19:08Ryan's vitals have stabilized.
19:09All internal bleeding
19:10has been brought under control
19:11and the fractured ribs
19:12have been set.
19:13He's not completely
19:14out of the woods yet,
19:16but he's past the hardest part.
19:18Doctor Chin peeled off his gloves,
19:19exhaled slowly
19:20and looked at me
19:21with a faint, weary smile.
19:23Your grandson is a fighter, General,
19:25just like his grandfather.
19:27At those words,
19:27the wire that had held Patrick together
19:29all night finally snapped.
19:30His legs gave out.
19:31He slid down the wall
19:32until he was sitting on the floor,
19:34pressed both hands against his face
19:35and wept without a sound.
19:37My own ramrod straight spine swayed
19:38just barely, just once
19:39and a fist I kept clenched
19:41for hours slowly,
19:42finally uncurled.
19:44Thank you, Doctor.
19:45It's my job, General,
19:47and it's an honor.
19:48When can we see him?
19:50He'll need 48 hours
19:51of observation in the ICU.
19:52Once he's fully stabilized,
19:54we'll transfer him
19:55to the step-down unit.
19:56At that point,
19:57family members can visit
19:58during desictated hours
19:59on a rotating basis.
20:01If needed,
20:01we can arrange
20:02for one family member
20:03to stay overnight.
20:04I gave a single nod
20:05and said nothing more.
20:06I walked to the ICU observation window
20:08and stood there,
20:09gazing through the thick glass
20:10at the young figure
20:11lying in the bed,
20:12tubes and monitor leads
20:13running from every part of his body.
20:14That boy was the last bloodline
20:16of the McRain family.
20:17The final branch
20:18on a tree
20:18that war had hacked down.
20:20Generation after generation.
20:21My great-grandfather
20:22died at the Somme.
20:23My grandfather died
20:24at Normandy.
20:25My father died
20:26in the ice and snow
20:27on the far side
20:28of the Chosen Reservoir.
20:29My second son,
20:30Michael,
20:30vanished 20 years ago
20:31during a classified operation.
20:33My daughter perished
20:34at a field hospital
20:34in Afghanistan.
20:35And now this boy,
20:37Ryan McRain,
20:38was very nearly all
20:39I had left in this world.
20:40He was all I had left.
20:41Just then,
20:41the elevator doors
20:42at the end of the corridor
20:43slid open once more.
20:45Harlan had returned
20:46and behind him
20:47shuffled a middle-aged man
20:48in an expensive suit.
20:49His face contorted
20:50with barely contained terror.
20:52Brett Prescott,
20:53United States Senator
20:53from California,
20:54member of the Senate
20:55Armed Services Committee,
20:56the true power
20:57behind the Prescott family.
20:58His complexion was ashen.
21:00His legs were shaking.
21:01Two FBI agents
21:02were half-guided,
21:03half-carrying him forward.
21:03Brett knew this
21:04was his last chance.
21:05If he could not
21:06turn things around here,
21:07tonight,
21:08the name Prescott
21:08would be erased
21:09from San Diego's
21:10power structure.
21:10No,
21:11from the entire
21:12power map
21:12of the United States.
21:13He was brought before me.
21:14The icy stares
21:15of the NCIS operators
21:16scraped across him
21:17like knives,
21:18and he felt as though
21:19he were standing naked
21:19in a blizzard.
21:20General,
21:21sir.
21:22The moment Brett Prescott
21:23opened his mouth,
21:24his voice shattered,
21:25his knees buckled,
21:26he nearly crumpled
21:27to the floor,
21:27but the two FBI agents
21:28on either side
21:29caught him
21:29and held him upright.
21:31They wouldn't even
21:31let him fall.
21:32He would stand
21:32and face this.
21:34On behalf of
21:34the Prescott family,
21:36I offer you
21:36and your family
21:37my deepest,
21:38most heartfelt apology.
21:40He drew a ragged breath
21:41and tried to summon
21:42the senatorial composure
21:43he had spent
21:4330 years perfecting,
21:44but his voice
21:45splintered all the same.
21:46As for my disgrace
21:47of a brother
21:47and his worthless son,
21:48I've already contacted
21:49the family attorneys.
21:51Wayne and Chad
21:51will be permanently removed
21:52from the Prescott family trust.
21:54They will be cut off
21:55from every Prescott asset,
21:56account,
21:57and property.
21:58As far as I am concerned,
21:59they are dead to me.
22:00He paused,
22:01as though pushing
22:01his last card
22:02across the table.
22:03I am prepared
22:04to liquidate
22:05every asset
22:05under the Prescott family name,
22:07every property,
22:08every contract,
22:09every investment,
22:10all of it placed
22:11into a compensation fund
22:13for your grandson,
22:14whatever it takes.
22:15If only you,
22:16if only you would
22:17leave us a way out.
22:18Brett broke down completely.
22:19The polished mask
22:20had spent three decades
22:21buffing to a shine,
22:22cracked apart,
22:23and fell away.
22:23Tears streamed
22:24down his face,
22:25dripping onto the linoleum floor
22:27of the Naval Medical Center.
22:28And yet I did not
22:29so much as glance at him.
22:30My gaze had never
22:31left my grandson
22:32in the ICU.
22:33The corridor was silent
22:34as a tune.
22:35Nothing but Brett Prescott's
22:36ragged breathing
22:37in the distance.
22:38Rhythmic beeping
22:38of a heart monitor.
22:39The seconds crawl by.
22:40Each one was an eternity
22:42for Brett.
22:42Just as despair
22:43was about to swallow him whole,
22:44I slowly turned my head.
22:46My gaze settled
22:46on Brett Prescott's face.
22:48There was no anger in it,
22:49no hatred,
22:49only a fathomless indifference,
22:51bottomless and cold.
22:52All your assets.
22:53My voice was quiet,
22:54but every word
22:54pierced Brett's chest
22:55like an ice cream.
22:56Tell me,
22:57Senator,
22:58how much do you think
22:59one drop of my grandson's
23:00blood is worth?
23:01Brett's face went white,
23:02then flushed a deep crimson,
23:04then darkened
23:05almost a purple.
23:06Shame,
23:07terror,
23:07despair.
23:08The emotions crashed
23:09over him
23:10and waved out of life,
23:11each one dragging him deeper.
23:12His mouth opened and closed,
23:14but no sound came out.
23:15He stood there,
23:16drowning in silence.
23:17I was done with him.
23:18I turned to Harlan.
23:20Case file ready?
23:22Harlan stepped forward instantly.
23:24General,
23:24yes, sir.
23:25Preliminary results are in.
23:26He produced a tablet,
23:28tapped open a video file.
23:29The footage was somewhat grainy,
23:31but clear enough
23:31to show everything
23:32that had happened.
23:33On the screen,
23:33Ryan was riding
23:34an electric scooter
23:35along a street
23:35in the gas lamp quarter.
23:37At an intersection,
23:38he appeared not to notice
23:39a red Lamborghini
23:40hurricane parked at the curb.
23:41The scooter's handlebar
23:42grazed the car door
23:43with a light scrape.
23:44The Lamborghini's doors
23:44flew open
23:45and four young men
23:46piled out.
23:47The one in front
23:47was Chad Prescott.
23:49Chad jabbed his finger
23:49at a scratch on the door,
23:50a mark so faint
23:51it was nearly invisible
23:52to the naked eye,
23:53and unloaded on Ryan.
23:54You stupid piece of shit!
23:56Do you know how much
23:57this car costs?
23:58Do you know
23:59who the fuck I am?
24:00Ryan stood there,
24:01both hands raised,
24:02palms out,
24:03apologizing repeatedly.
24:04His tone was sincere.
24:05He offered to pay
24:06for the damage,
24:07but Chad didn't care
24:08about an apology.
24:08He wanted a punching bag.
24:10The four of them
24:10closed in on Ryan
24:11like a pack of hikes.
24:12Fron won.
24:13They shoved him back
24:13into fourth between them.
24:15Ryan never once fought back.
24:16He never even lowered
24:17his raised hands.
24:18Not until Chad
24:19drove a kick in his abdomen
24:20and sent him crashing
24:21onto the sidewalk.
24:22What came next
24:22made every person watching
24:23in that corridor
24:24clutch their fists.
24:25Chad and his companions
24:26unleashed a frenzy of punches
24:27and kicks on Ryan
24:28as he lambed around.
24:30They were like a pack
24:30of wild dogs
24:31tearing into prey
24:32that could no longer resist.
24:34And then,
24:34the most sickening moment of all,
24:36one of them ran
24:36to the Lamborghini's trunk
24:37and pulled out a tire iron.
24:39The metal glinted cold
24:40onto the streetlight.
24:41He ran back,
24:42raised it over his head
24:43with both hands
24:44and brought it down
24:44on Ryan's skull.
24:45Blood stained the pavement
24:46and fenced him.
24:48They didn't stop
24:48until Ryan had gone
24:49completely still.
24:50Then,
24:51Chad straightened up,
24:52wiped the blood off
24:53his sneakers on Ryan's jacket
24:54and strolled back
24:55to his Lamborghini
24:55with a grin.
24:56One of them actually
24:57pulled out his phone
24:58and snapped a selfie
24:59with Ryan's motionless body
25:00in the background.
25:01Then,
25:01the engine roared
25:02with tires screaming
25:02and they vanished
25:03into the San Diego night.
25:05Ryan lay alone
25:05in a pool of his own blood.
25:07Eleven full minutes passed
25:08before a homeless veteran
25:09walking by dial 9-1-1.
25:11The footage was horrifying
25:12from start to finish.
25:13Patrick watched the video
25:14in silence.
25:15His jaw was clenched
25:16so tight
25:16that the muscles
25:17in his neck
25:18stood out like cables.
25:19His fingernails dug
25:20into his arms
25:20until blood seeped
25:22from between his fingers.
25:23If two FBI agents
25:24hadn't physically
25:24restrained him,
25:25Patrick would have charged
25:26across the corridor
25:27and torn Brett Prescott
25:28apart with his bare hands.
25:29Harlan's expression
25:30was equally murderous.
25:31He leaned toward
25:32the supervisory agent
25:33beside him
25:33and spoke,
25:34this isn't mutual combat.
25:35This isn't even
25:36aggravated assault.
25:37What I just watched
25:38on that video
25:38is attempted murder
25:39with a deadly weapon.
25:40Notify the U.S. Attorney's Office
25:42I want federal charges.
25:43Every suspect,
25:44every single one.
25:45No plebeos.
25:46My face remained expressionless,
25:47but anyone who knew me understood,
25:49the calmer I became,
25:50the more terrible the story.
25:52I finished the video,
25:53closed the tablet,
25:54and handed it back to Harlan.
25:55Then I walked slowly
25:56to where Brett Prescott
25:57was being held upright.
25:59Brett saw me coming
25:59and nearly left his body.
26:01A dark stain spread
26:02down the leg
26:03of his $3,000 trousers.
26:04A United States senator
26:05had just wet himself.
26:07I stopped in front of him.
26:07I said nothing.
26:08I simply reached out
26:09and gave his cheek
26:10a light pad,
26:11gentle, almost casual.
26:12But Brett felt
26:13that weathered, calloused hand
26:14like a red-hot branding iron
26:15searing into his soul.
26:17Your brother raised
26:17a fine son, Senator.
26:19I held his gaze
26:19for one long final moment.
26:21Go back and tell your family,
26:22every last one of them,
26:24the name Prescott
26:25is finished in this city.
26:26Get out!
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