- 3 hours ago
Five-Star General’s Wrath
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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.
00:22The line went dead silent.
00:24A full five seconds passed before a voice came through.
00:26Trembling with shock, dread, and perhaps even a flicker of awe.
00:30General.
00:31General 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.
00:46My 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, the situation had already escalated beyond anything he could
01:05imagine.
01:06I'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, but the hallway
02:09of some nightclub.
02:10They'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, the biggest military base contractor on the West Coast.
02:20What about the police?
02:21It came, took a report, said 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, and they call that both parties sustained injuries?
02:42At that moment, a middle-aged man in an immaculate suit strolled down the corridor, trailed by someone carrying a
02:48briefcase who had a lawyer written all over him.
02:50It was Wayne Prescott himself.
02:52It 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, more 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.
03:14I 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, and dialed the number that had gathered dust for years.
03:40Wayne 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 gonna do?
03:46Call someone who matters?
03:48He turned back to his son.
03:51Relax.
03:52We'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.
03:58Turning down our money.
03:59Chad Prescott shoved his phone into his pocket, his 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.
04:11Watch your mouth.
04:11Wayne Prescott said the words, but in his heart, he felt exactly the same way.
04:16A powerless, retired old man daring to stand up to the Prescott family?
04:20Laughable.
04:20That was when sirens, urgent, piercing, and relentless, erupted in the distance and came screaming toward them, tearing through the
04:27quiet San Diego evening like a blade.
04:29The sound grew louder, closer, until it seemed to shriek to a halt directly below Naval Medical Center.
04:34Patients and visitors throughout the hospital rushed to the windows.
04:37Outside, seven or eight black Chevrolet Suburbans and several vehicles emblazoned with FBI in bold white letters converged on the
04:44hospital from every direction.
04:46Red and blue light bars blazing, sealing off the main entrance completely.
04:50Doors flew open.
04:51Agents in dark blue tactical vests stamped with FBI front and back leapt out, armed to the teeth, and immediately
04:57began stringing up yellow crime scene tape around the entrance.
04:59Then a black Lincoln Town car glided to a stop at the front of the convoy.
05:03Broad-shouldered man with silver-streaked temples.
05:06Stepped out and strode into the building without breaking.
05:09Stride.
05:09Robert Harlan, special agent in charge of the FBI San Diego field office.
05:13Which floor is Ryan McCravey on?
05:15The third floor.
05:16I see you.
05:18Harlan led a phalanx of FBI agents toward the elevators.
05:21By now, Wayne and Chad Prescott had heard the commotion.
05:24Wayne frowned, a faint unease gnawing at his gut.
05:26FBI?
05:27What the hell warrants this kind of response?
05:30The elevator doors opened.
05:32Harlan and six or seven.
05:33Agents stepped out and moved, swiftly down the corridor.
05:36His eyes swept the hallway.
05:37In the instant they locked, onto the solitary figure, standing in the corner.
05:41Still an immovable ass.
05:42Bedrock, every trace of authority and swagger, drained from his face.
05:46Harlan walked over.
05:46Two steps away, his feet stopped as though they'd hit a wall.
05:49He straightened his back instinctively, reached out with both hands, and clasped mine tightly.
05:53General.
05:54The word detonated like thunder in the dead silent corridor.
05:58That single word, asterisk, general asterisk, froze every face in the hallway.
06:02Patrick was dumpstruck.
06:03He knew his father had been in the military.
06:05Knew the rank had been substantial.
06:06But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the FBI's top official in San Diego would look
06:11at his father with something close to reverence.
06:13Wayne and Chad Prescott went white as sheets.
06:16The SAC.
06:16Robert Harlan.
06:17The man whose very name made every criminal and power broker in San Diego live.
06:22I just called that old man general.
06:23The smirk on Chad Prescott's face shattered.
06:25His iPhone slipped from his fingers and clattered to the floor.
06:28For the first time, it dawned on him that he might have provoked someone with an unimaginable consequence.
06:33Wayne Prescott's complexion turned.
06:34The color of ash.
06:35He remembered the patronizing look on his own face moments ago.
06:38He remembered the casual disdain with which he'd held out that check.
06:41He remembered every word he'd said.
06:43Cold sweat drenched his shirt in an instant.
06:45His legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
06:48I did not acknowledge Harlan's greeting.
06:49I did not even glance at him.
06:51My eyes remained fixed on the sealed double doors of the ICU.
06:53My grandson is in there.
06:55My voice barely above a murmur.
06:57Yet it struck Harlan like a sledgehammer to the chest.
06:59He spun around, his gaze cutting toward Wayne and Chad Prescott like a drawn blade.
07:03They're the ones who did this.
07:05Wayne Prescott felt a column of ice shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his
07:09skull.
07:09His mind went utterly blank.
07:11Beside him, Chad's face had turned to sickly green, his lips quivering, unable to produce a single syllable.
07:17Mr. Harlan, Agent Harlan, this is a misunderstanding.
07:21It's all a misunderstanding.
07:24A misunderstanding.
07:26Harlan's voice dropped to a lethal register.
07:29The general's grandson is lying in the ICU, life hanging in the balance.
07:33And you're telling me it's a misunderstanding?
07:35He took another step forward.
07:37The sheer force of his presence bore down on Wayne Prescott until the man could barely breathe.
07:43I'll ask you one more time.
07:45Did your people do this?
07:47Yes or no?
07:50Wayne Prescott's knees buckled.
07:52He collapsed onto the floor.
07:53In his wildest nightmares, he never could have fathomed that nobody his son had casually beaten up was connected to
07:59someone like this.
08:00General.
08:00What kind of man earns that title from someone like Robert Harlan and draws that kind of expression?
08:05It was my son.
08:06He was my son.
08:07He was reckless.
08:09Agent Harlan.
08:10Just give us a chance to make this right.
08:12Harlan didn't so much as look at him.
08:13He turned on his heel and addressed the supervisory agent behind him.
08:16All suspects, take them back to the field office.
08:19Separate holding, separate interrogations.
08:21Contact the U.S. Attorney's Office.
08:22I want federal charges.
08:24Collect every piece of evidence.
08:25Pull all surveillance footage.
08:27Hospital and surrounding area.
08:28Get a warrant.
08:29I don't care how you do it.
08:30Three hours.
08:31I want a complete case file on my desk, accurate to the second.
08:36Yes, sir.
08:36The supervisory agent pivoted.
08:38With a sweep of his arm, several FBI agents moved in and slapped handcuffs on Chad Prescott
08:43and everyone his friends before any of them could process what was happening.
08:48Chad still had a cast on his leg.
08:50When an agent hauled him out of his chair, he howled in pain.
08:52Dad!
08:53Help me, Dad!
08:54Wayne Prescott lurched forward but was blocked cold by an agent's outstretched arm.
08:57Watching his son dragged away in handcuffs.
08:59Watching the empire he'd spent a lifetime building begin to crack at the foundations.
09:03Wayne Prescott's last psychological defense finally crumbled.
09:06He threw himself at my feet, scrambling on all fours.
09:08Sir, General, I'm sorry.
09:10Please spare my son.
09:11He's young.
09:12He didn't know what he was doing.
09:14I lowered my gaze and regarded him the way one might regard an insect.
09:18When your son was beating my grandson, did it ever occur to him that my grandson is also young?
09:24The words lodged every sob and plea in Wayne Prescott's throat.
09:28He collapsed in despair on the cold hospital floor.
09:31He knew.
09:32This time, no one could save them.
09:33Once those people had been dealt with, Harlan approached me again, carefully, almost deferentially, his posture as low as it
09:39could go.
09:40General, this happened on my watch in my city.
09:43You and your family were subjected to this.
09:45That is my failure.
09:46His voice was heavy with guilt.
09:48You have my word.
09:49I will see to it personally that this is made right.
09:51Patrick stood to the side, utterly speechless, a mid-level civil servant in county government, a man who spent his
09:57days tiptoeing around superiors, reading every room, watching every word.
10:01What had he ever witnessed anything like this?
10:03The most powerful federal law enforcement officer in San Diego, standing before his father with the deference of a raw
10:08recruit on his first day.
10:10I said nothing.
10:10I simply raised my hand and made a small gesture, asterisk come closer, Star.
10:14Harlan understood at once.
10:16He leaned in.
10:16What I want has never been one man's accountability.
10:19I spoke a few sentences.
10:20As Harlan listened, the color drained from his face.
10:23General, that would implicate do as I say.
10:27I cut him off.
10:27My tone left no room for discussion.
10:29Harlan clenched his jaw, then gave a single hard nod.
10:32Yes, sir.
10:34Harlan turned and walked away at a brisk clip, pulling out his phone and dialing as he went.
10:38This is S.A.C. Harlan.
10:39Connect me to the Washington, D.C. headquarters liaison center.
10:43When a line picked up, he dropped his voice low.
10:46Sir, initiate RICO protocol.
10:48Authorization code Eagle 7 Bravo.
10:51Priority level, Alpha.
10:54Sir, please confirm.
10:55You are requesting activation of an Alpha level RICO protocol?
10:59You heard me.
11:01Now.
11:03RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act,
11:06was the federal justice system's ultimate weapon against organized crime.
11:10An Alpha level activation meant the FBI would coordinate with the IRS, the DEA,
11:15FinCEN, the U.S. Marshal Service,
11:18and every other relevant federal agency to conduct a full-spectrum takedown of the target.
11:23I intended to use my grandson's beating as the thread,
11:27would unravel every piece of buried filth in San Diego,
11:31every criminal network,
11:34every protective umbrella,
11:37every link in the chain.
11:40Just then, my encrypted satellite phone rang,
11:42an unfamiliar number.
11:44The voice on the other end was measured.
11:49Who is this?
11:53Am I speaking with Mr. McCrane?
11:56My name is Brett Prescott.
11:58I'm Wayne Prescott's brother.
12:00I'm a United States Senator,
12:01a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
12:04I believe we can discuss this like gentlemen.
12:07Before he could finish, I hung up.
12:08Then I dialed another number.
12:10This one was shorter than Harlan's,
12:11and far more consequential.
12:14A voice came through the line,
12:16powerful, full of iron and gunpowder.
12:18I'll be damned, Iron Bone.
12:21What drags you out of retirement?
12:22I heard that familiar voice
12:24and felt the ice behind my eyes thaw,
12:26just barely,
12:27before a deeper cold replaced it.
12:29Bull, my grandson's been beaten into the ICU in San Diego.
12:32Who the fuck is responsible for this?
12:35William Bull Brennan,
12:37Commander, United States, Indo-Pacific Command.
12:39Four-star Admiral,
12:40a man I have forged with my own hands.
12:42Thirty years ago, in the Persian Gulf,
12:44he'd been a young lieutenant.
12:45During a routine patrol,
12:47his Humvee took an RPG and burst into flames.
12:51I ran through a hail of gunfire,
12:54dragged him from the burning wreckage,
12:55and carried him on my back
12:56for two kilometers across open desert
12:58to a medevac landing zone.
13:01Who the hell did this?
13:03Give me a name, Jim!
13:05Give me a goddamn name!
13:07I will bury them so deep
13:08they'll need a submarine
13:09to find their own grave!
13:11Brennan's roar nearly blew out the speaker.
13:14Stand down, bull.
13:15That's not why I called.
13:17Just say the word, sir.
13:18What do you need?
13:19Prescott Development Group,
13:21a real estate outfit out of San Diego.
13:23They've held contracts
13:23on military-based construction projects.
13:25My grandson is still in the ICU.
13:27I don't know if he's going to make it.
13:29I don't want to see them still open
13:30for business tomorrow.
13:31I spoke slowly,
13:32but every word landed like a bolt
13:33in Brennan's ear.
13:34Brennan understood instantly.
13:36I didn't want their money.
13:37I didn't want their blood.
13:37I wanted annihilation.
13:38I wanted the Prescott family,
13:39who had no concept of the forces
13:41they provoked,
13:42to plummet from heaven to hell
13:43in a single day.
13:44I wanted the business empire
13:45they were so proud of to crumble
13:47like paper in the face
13:48of absolute power.
13:50Understood, General.
13:51You'll have my answer before sunrise.
13:53After hanging up,
13:56Brennan strode back
13:57into Indo-Pacific Command's
13:58Joint Operations Center,
13:59his face dark as a thunderhead.
14:01The flag officers seated
14:02around the room
14:03exchanged uneasy glances
14:04the moment they saw his expression.
14:06Brennan walked to the command console
14:08and swept the room
14:09with a gaze cold enough
14:10to freeze steel.
14:11Contact the Inspector General's office.
14:12Notify DCA,
14:13the Defense Contract Audi Agency.
14:15Initiate the highest level
14:16national security review
14:17on every Department of Defense
14:18related project built
14:19by Prescott Development Group.
14:20All projects currently under construction
14:21are to be frozen immediately.
14:23His voice wasn't loud,
14:24but every word drove
14:25into the ears of
14:26everyone present like a nail.
14:27All pending payments
14:28are to be suspended immediately.
14:29All Prescott personnel
14:30holding military base
14:31access credulees.
14:32Security clearances revoked
14:33effective now.
14:34Place the company
14:34on the DOB debarment list.
14:36He paused,
14:37then added one final order.
14:38Contact the NCIS director.
14:39I want a protective detail
14:40at Naval Medical Center San Diego
14:42within two hours.
14:42Each command was a scalpel,
14:44precise, merciless,
14:46slicing straight through
14:47the arteries of
14:47Prescott Development Group.
14:49The flag officers
14:49in the room were stunned.
14:50A national security review
14:52combined with DOD debarment.
14:53This was the most severe sanction
14:54that could be levied
14:55against a defense contractor.
14:57Once initiated,
14:57it was, for all practical purposes,
15:00a commercial death sentence.
15:01In the entire history
15:02of the United States,
15:03no company placed
15:04on the debarment list
15:05had ever recovered.
15:06What kind of company
15:07could provoke Bull Brennan
15:08into issuing orders
15:09of this magnitude?
15:10Admiral, with all due respect,
15:12Prescott is one of the largest
15:13defense crap-triggers
15:14on the West Coast
15:14and a preferred vander
15:15of the DOEP.
15:16If we sever ties
15:17without due process,
15:18the congressional blowback alone
15:19did I stutter, Captain?
15:20Execute the order.
15:21Brennan whipped around,
15:22his eyes razor-sharp
15:24as a hawk's.
15:25A chill ran
15:26through every person
15:27in the room.
15:27No one dared utter
15:28another word of dissent.
15:29Meanwhile,
15:30in San Diego,
15:31an invisible storm
15:32was gathering
15:33inside the FBI
15:34field office's
15:34holding room.
15:35Wayne Prescott
15:36was frantically working
15:37every connection he had.
15:38Outside,
15:39his brother Brett
15:39was burning through his phone,
15:41dialing number after number.
15:42But to their horror,
15:43every line had gone dead.
15:44The politicians
15:45who had attended
15:45their fundraising galleries,
15:47played golf at their country club,
15:48happily accepted
15:49their campaign donations.
15:50Every last one of them
15:51either sent calls
15:52straight to voicemail,
15:53fired back an icy text
15:54in a meeting,
15:56can't talk,
15:56or had blocked
15:57the Prescott's numbers outright.
15:58The law firm
15:59they retained for years
16:00suddenly claimed
16:01a conflict of interest
16:02and refused
16:03to continue representation.
16:04San Diego's
16:04entire power network
16:06had,
16:06in the span of a single night,
16:07slammed every door shut
16:09on the Prescott family.
16:10Brett was far sharper
16:11than his brother.
16:11He understood immediately
16:12they hadn't merely
16:14crossed the wrong person.
16:15They had kicked a hornet's
16:16nest the size of the Pentagon.
16:18Wayne,
16:18you need to tell me the truth.
16:19Who the hell is that old man?
16:20I don't know.
16:21He didn't say a word.
16:22Made one phone call
16:23and this is what happened.
16:24One phone call, Brett.
16:25Just one goddamn phone call.
16:27At that moment,
16:28Brett's phone ran.
16:29It was Prescott Development Group's
16:30CFO.
16:31Senator Prescott,
16:32we have a catastrophic situation.
16:33Every single one of the company's
16:35bank accounts
16:35has been frozen.
16:36FinCon issued
16:37a suspicious activity report.
16:39All banks cut our credit lines.
16:40IRS showed up
16:41with a search warrant.
16:43OSA has shut down
16:44all of our construction sites.
16:45The SEC sent a subpoena
16:46demanding 10 years
16:47of financial records.
16:48And worst of all,
16:49DCA seized
16:50every military contract document.
16:51Federal agents
16:52have locked down
16:53corporate headquarters.
16:54No one in,
16:54no one out.
16:55The CFO's voice
16:56was cracking.
16:57Each piece of bad,
16:58news detonated like a bomb,
16:59leaving Brett dizzy
17:00and reeling.
17:01DOD debarment.
17:02Brett understood
17:03the weight
17:03of those two words
17:04better than anyone.
17:06It seemed firsthand
17:06what happened to companies
17:07placed on the debarment list.
17:09Stock price cratered to zero.
17:10Banks pulled all credit.
17:12Business partners
17:12severed ties overnight.
17:14And executives were indicted
17:15by federal prosecutors.
17:16No company had ever come back
17:17from the debarment list.
17:18Not one.
17:19Brett lowered his phone.
17:20Every ounce of strength
17:20drained from his body
17:21and collapsed into his chair.
17:23It's over.
17:24It's truly,
17:25completely over.
17:26And all of this
17:27was only the beginning.
17:28Below Naval Medical Center,
17:29a low,
17:30heavy rumble of engines
17:31suddenly filled the air.
17:32Everyone instinctively
17:33turned toward the windows.
17:35Several dark gray
17:36Chevrolet Suburbs,
17:37windows tinted black,
17:39devoid of any markings,
17:40rolled up in a tight convoy
17:41and halted at the FBI perimeter.
17:43The lead man
17:44flashed federal credentials
17:45and the cordon
17:46was open without a word.
17:47The convoy glided to a stop
17:48in front of the main building.
17:49Doors swung open.
17:50A team of men
17:51stepped out at a brisk pace,
17:53clad in dark tactical gear,
17:54gold federal badges
17:55on their chests,
17:56and armbands bearing
17:57a single,
17:57unmistakable word,
17:59NCIS.
17:59They acknowledged no one.
18:01They walked straight inside
18:02and cleared the entire
18:03ICU floor in 90 seconds,
18:05checking exits,
18:06stairwells,
18:07elevator bands.
18:08Within minutes,
18:08the ICU wing
18:09was under full
18:10federal protective lockdown.
18:11In the corridor,
18:12the SDPD officers
18:13and FBI agents
18:14already posted
18:15their instinctively step back
18:16when these men appeared.
18:18These operators
18:18carried themselves differently.
18:19The way their eyes moved,
18:21the way they walked,
18:22the unconscious,
18:23tactical posture they
18:24maintained even
18:25while standing still.
18:25Anyone who had spent time
18:26in the military
18:27could see it instantly.
18:28These were not
18:29ordinary federal agents.
18:30They were operators.
18:31Patrick watched them
18:32take up positions
18:33along the corridor
18:34like javelins
18:35driven into the floor
18:35and his mind
18:36short-circuited once again.
18:38His father's first phone call
18:39had summoned the FBI.
18:40His father's second phone call
18:41had summoned a force
18:42capable of making
18:43the entire Pacific Fleet tremble.
18:45This man,
18:45the man he had always assumed
18:47was just a retired veteran.
18:48Who the hell was his father?
18:50Doctor, how is my grandson?
18:52How is my son?
18:53Dr. Nathan Shun,
18:54chief of trauma surgery
18:55at Naval Medical Center San Diego,
18:57looked at the old man
18:57standing before him
18:58then at the stone-faced
18:59NCIS agents
19:00lining the corridor
19:01and felt his own pulse quicken.
19:02He drew a deep breath
19:03and willed his voice
19:04to remain steady.
19:05General Mr. McGrady,
19:06you can breathe.
19:08After an all-out effort,
19:09Ryan's vitals have stabilized.
19:10All internal bleeding
19:11has been brought under control
19:13and the fractured ribs
19:14have been set.
19:14He's not completely
19:15out of the woods yet,
19:17but he's past the hardest part.
19:19Dr. Chin peeled off his gloves,
19:20exhaled slowly,
19:21and looked at me
19:22with a faint, weary smile.
19:24Your grandson is a fighter, General,
19:26just like his grandfather.
19:28At those words,
19:29the wire that had held Patrick together
19:30all night finally snapped.
19:31His legs gave out.
19:32He slid down the wall
19:33until he was sitting on the floor,
19:35pressed both hands against his face,
19:36and wept without a sound.
19:37My own ramrod-straight spine swayed.
19:40Just barely, just once,
19:41and the fists I kept clenched
19:42for hours slowly,
19:43finally uncurled.
19:45Thank you, Doctor.
19:47It's my job, General,
19:48and it's an honor.
19:49When can we see him?
19:51He'll need 48 hours
19:52of observation in the ICU.
19:54Once he's fully stabilized,
19:55we'll transfer him
19:56to the step-down unit.
19:57At that point,
19:58family members can visit
19:59during desictated hours
20:00on a rotating basis.
20:02If needed,
20:02we can arrange
20:03for one family member
20:04to stay overnight.
20:05I gave a single nod
20:06and said nothing more.
20:07I walked to the ICU observation window
20:09and stood there,
20:10gazing through the thick glass
20:11at the young figure
20:12lying in the bed,
20:13tubes and monitor leads
20:14running from every part of his body.
20:15That boy was the last bloodline
20:17of the McGrane family,
20:18the final branch on a tree
20:20that war had hacked down,
20:21generation after generation.
20:22My great-grandfather died
20:24at the Song.
20:24My grandfather died
20:25at Normandy.
20:26My father died
20:27in the ice and snow
20:28on the far side
20:29of the Chosen Reservoir.
20:30My second son,
20:31Michael,
20:31vanished 20 years ago
20:32during a classified operation.
20:34My daughter perished
20:35at a field hospital
20:36in Afghanistan.
20:36And now this boy,
20:38Ryan McGrane,
20:39was veering nearly all
20:40I had left in this world.
20:41He was all I had left.
20:42Just then,
20:43the elevator doors
20:43at the end of the corridor
20:44slid open once more.
20:46Harlan had returned
20:47and behind him
20:48shuffled a middle-aged man
20:49in an expensive suit.
20:50His face contorted
20:51with barely contained terror.
20:53Brett Prescott,
20:54United States Senator
20:54from California,
20:56member of the
20:56Senate Armed Services Committee,
20:57the true power
20:58behind the Prescott family.
20:59His complexion was ashen.
21:01His legs were shaking.
21:02Two FBI agents
21:03were half-guided,
21:04half-carrying him forward.
21:05Brett knew this
21:06was his last chance.
21:07If he could not
21:07turn things around here,
21:08tonight,
21:09the name Prescott
21:09would be erased
21:10from San Diego's
21:11power structure.
21:12No,
21:12from the entire
21:13power map of the United States.
21:14He was brought before me.
21:15The icy stairs
21:16of the NCIS operators
21:17scraped across him
21:18like knives,
21:19and he felt as though
21:20he were standing naked
21:21in a blizzard.
21:21General, sir.
21:23The moment Brett Prescott
21:24opened his mouth,
21:25his voice shattered,
21:26his knees buckled,
21:27he nearly crumpled
21:28to the floor,
21:28but the two FBI agents
21:30on either side
21:30caught him
21:31and held him upright.
21:32They wouldn't even
21:32let him fall.
21:33He would stand
21:34and face this.
21:35On behalf of
21:36the Prescott family,
21:37I offer you
21:38and your family
21:39my deepest,
21:40most heartfelt apology.
21:41He drew a ragged breath
21:42and tried to summon
21:43the senatorial composure
21:44he had spent
21:4430 years perfecting,
21:45but his voice
21:46splintered all the same.
21:47As for my disgrace
21:48of a brother
21:48and his worthless son,
21:50I've already contacted
21:51the family attorneys.
21:52Wayne and Chad
21:53will be permanently removed
21:54from the Prescott family trust.
21:55They will be cut off
21:56from every Prescott asset,
21:57account,
21:58and property.
21:59As far as I am concerned,
22:00they are dead to me.
22:01He paused,
22:02as though pushing
22:03his last card
22:03across the table.
22:04I am prepared
22:05to liquidate
22:06every asset
22:07under the Prescott family name,
22:08every property,
22:10every contract,
22:11every investment,
22:12all of it placed
22:12into a compensation fund
22:14for your grandson,
22:15whatever it takes.
22:16If only you,
22:17if only you would
22:18leave us a way out.
22:19Brett broke down completely.
22:20The polished mask,
22:21it spent three decades
22:22buffing to a shine,
22:23cracked apart,
22:24and fell away.
22:25Tears streamed down his face,
22:27dripping onto the linoleum floor
22:28of the Naval Medical Center,
22:30and yet I did not so much
22:31as glance at him.
22:32My gaze had never left
22:33my grandson in the ICU.
22:34The corridor was silent
22:35as a tale.
22:36Nothing but Brett Prescott's
22:37ragged breathing
22:38in the distance,
22:39rhythmic beeping
22:39of a heart monitor.
22:40The seconds crawl by.
22:42Each one was an eternity
22:43for Brett.
22:44Just as despair was about
22:45to swallow him whole,
22:46I slowly turned my head.
22:47My gaze settled
22:48on Brett Prescott's face.
22:49There was no anger in it,
22:50no hatred,
22:51only a fathomless indifference,
22:52bottomless and cold.
22:53All your assets.
22:54My voice was quiet,
22:55but every word pierced
22:56Brett's chest like an ice cream.
22:57Tell me,
22:58Senator,
22:59how much do you think
23:00one drop of my grandson's
23:01blood is worth?
23:02Brett's face went white,
23:04then flushed a deep crimson,
23:06then darkened
23:06almost to purple.
23:07Shame, terror, despair.
23:09The emotions crashed over him
23:11and waved out of him,
23:12each one dragging him deeper.
23:14His mouth opened and closed,
23:15but no sound came out.
23:16He stood there,
23:17drowning in silence.
23:18I was done with him.
23:19I turned to Harlan.
23:21Case file ready?
23:23Harlan stepped forward instantly.
23:25Gentle, yes sir.
23:26Preliminary results are in.
23:28He produced a tablet,
23:29tapped open a video file.
23:30The footage was somewhat grainy,
23:32but clear enough to show
23:33everything that had happened.
23:34On the screen,
23:35Ryan was riding an electric scooter
23:36along the street
23:37in the gaslight quarter.
23:38At an intersection,
23:39he appeared not to notice
23:40a red Lamborghini
23:41Huracan parked at the curb.
23:42The scooter's handlebar
23:43grazed the car door
23:44with a light scrape.
23:45The Lamborghini's doors flew open
23:47and four young men piled out.
23:48The one in front
23:49was Chad Prescott.
23:50Chad jabbed his finger
23:51at scratch on the door,
23:52a mark so faint
23:53it was nearly invisible
23:53to the naked eye
23:54and unloaded on Ryan.
23:55You stupid piece of shit!
23:57Do you know how much
23:58this car costs?
23:59Do you know who the fuck I am?
24:02Ryan stood there,
24:02both hands raised,
24:04palms out,
24:04apologizing repeatedly.
24:06His tone was sincere.
24:07He offered to pay
24:07for the damage.
24:08But Chad didn't care
24:09about an apology.
24:10He wanted a punching bag.
24:11The four of them
24:11closed in on Ryan
24:12like a pack of hunkers.
24:14For on one,
24:14they shoved him back
24:15and forth between them.
24:16Ryan never once fought back.
24:17He never even lowered
24:18his raised hands.
24:19Not until Chad
24:20drove a kick in his abdomen
24:21and sent him crashing
24:22onto the sidewalk.
24:23What came next
24:23made every person watching
24:25in that corridor
24:25clench their fists.
24:26Chad and his companions
24:27unleashed a frenzy of punches
24:29and kicks on Ryan
24:30as he lay on the ground.
24:31They were like a pack
24:32of wild dogs
24:32tearing into prey
24:33that can no longer resist.
24:35And then,
24:36the most sickening moment of all,
24:37one of them ran
24:37to the Lamborghini's trunk
24:38and pulled out a tire iron.
24:40The metal glinted cold
24:41onto the streetlight.
24:42He ran back,
24:44raised it over his head
24:44with both hands
24:45and brought it down
24:46on Ryan's skull.
24:47Blood stained the paper
24:48and didn't stop
24:50until Ryan had gone
24:51completely still.
24:52Then,
24:52Chad straightened up,
24:53wiped the blood off
24:54his sneakers on Ryan's jacket
24:55and strolled back
24:56to his Lamborghini
24:57with a grin.
24:58One of them actually
24:58pulled out his phone
24:59and snapped a selfie
25:00with Ryan's motionless body
25:01in the background.
25:02Then,
25:02the engine roared
25:03with tires screaming
25:04and they vanished
25:05into the San Diego night.
25:06Ryan lay alone
25:07in a pool of his own blood.
25:08Eleven full minutes
25:09passed before
25:09a homeless veteran
25:10walking by dial
25:119-1.
25:12The footage was horrifying
25:13from start to finish.
25:14Patrick watched
25:15the video in silence.
25:16His jaw was clenched
25:17so tightly
25:18that the muscles
25:18in his neck
25:19stood out like cables.
25:20His fingernails
25:21dug into his arms
25:22until blood seeped
25:23from between his fingers.
25:24If two FBI agents
25:25hadn't physically
25:26restrained him,
25:27Patrick would have
25:27charged across the corridor
25:28and torn Brett Prescott
25:29apart with his bare hands.
25:30Harlan's expression
25:31was equally murderous.
25:32He leaned toward
25:33the supervisory agent
25:34beside him
25:34and spoke,
25:35This isn't mutual combat.
25:37This isn't even
25:37aggravated assault.
25:38What I just watched
25:39on that video
25:40is attempted murder
25:41with a deadly weapon.
25:42Notify the U.S.
25:43Attorney's Office
25:43I want federal charges.
25:44Every suspect,
25:45every single one.
25:46No plebeos.
25:47My face remained
25:48expressionless,
25:49but anyone who knew
25:50and he understood
25:50the calmer I became
25:52the more terrible
25:53the storm.
25:53I finished the video,
25:54closed the tablet,
25:55and handed it back
25:56to Harlan.
25:57Then I walked slowly
25:58to where Brett Prescott
25:59was being held upright.
26:00Brett saw me coming
26:01and nearly left his body.
26:02A dark stain spread
26:03down the leg
26:04of his $3,000 trousers.
26:06A United States senator
26:07had just wet himself.
26:08I stopped in front of him.
26:09I said nothing.
26:10I simply reached out
26:11and gave his cheek
26:11a light pad,
26:12gentle, almost casual.
26:13But Brett felt
26:14that weathered,
26:15calloused hand
26:15like a red-hot branding
26:16iron searing
26:18to his soul.
26:18Your brother raised
26:19a fine son, Senator.
26:20I held his gaze
26:21for one long,
26:21final moment.
26:22Go back and tell
26:23your family,
26:24every last one of them,
26:25the name Prescott
26:26is finished in this city.
26:28Get out.
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