Chapter 17 - The Choice
Voss shoved Emma toward the control panel. “Reverse it.”
“I can't,” Emma said. “Once the release starts, it doesn't stop.”
The guard nearest Avery hesitated. He was young, barely out of basic training. His eyes kept flicking to the pistol aimed at Emma. Avery spoke to him rather than to Voss.
“What's your name?”
“Don't answer,” Voss snapped.
“Your name,” Avery repeated, “is going to be on the report. Decide what you want it to say.”
The guard swallowed. “Davis.”
“Specialist Davis, put your weapon down. You don't have to be part of this.”
He lowered it a few inches. Voss shoved him aside and raised his own weapon. Rourke stepped forward, putting his body between Voss and Emma.
“No more,” Rourke said. “I signed one bad order. I'm not watching another family pay for it.”
Voss struck him across the face with the pistol. Rourke fell against the wall. Mercer moved in, catching Voss's forearm and turning the weapon safely toward the ceiling. Avery pulled Emma away as a shot cracked into a ventilation panel.
The struggle lasted seconds. Mercer pinned Voss's wrist. Avery swept his balance out from under him and helped lower him hard onto the floor without striking his head. Davis moved to secure the weapon. The second guard backed away.
Rourke pushed himself upright, blood at his lip. “I'll testify,” he told Avery. “All of it.”
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Then Ward's voice rang out over the corridor speaker. “Everyone stay where you are. Federal investigators are entering the annex.”
Avery reached for Emma's hand. Emma gripped it desperately and whispered, “There's one more thing. The files show who ordered Dad's final mission.”
