Page 106 of Red Zone Awakened

CHAPTER46

Shuttle crash site

Buffalo Bayou Park

Houston, Northern Territory

Daniel Mercer turnedto the head of Houston Enforcement, who’d been trying to get his attention during his communication with CommTECH’s CEO.“Yes?”

The man swallowed and took a step back.It was a reaction Daniel was used to.“There are fresh tire tracks from two vehicles on a path leading down to the water and evidence that at least two people made it out of the bayou alive.What are your instructions?”

Daniel took a step toward the man.“My instructions are to ignore those findings.That evidence has already been assessed and eliminated.It has nothing to do with this investigation.Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”He turned to flee.

“And, Agent?”Daniel’s soft voice stopped him.“Make sure there’s no mention of these findings in any report.”The threat in his tone was unmistakable.

“Yes, sir.”With that, the man turned and ran.

Daniel reached into his back pocket and pulled out his personal datapad, the one with his research into Keiko’s background.Her parents were Freedom sympathizers, but he doubted she knew anything about their involvement.Keiko had always struck him as the type who never asked questions about the world around her.Although she’d always been kind to the people she dealt with.

He remembered the day she came to their office, carrying a cake to celebrate their promotion to heads of security.That was the day she’d put herself firmly on his brother’s radar, something he’d been hoping to avoid.Still, he’d been strangely touched by her gesture.That was why he’d planned to kill her fast rather than letting Charles get his hands on her.Because his brother did love to torture his victims before killing them.

With a swipe of his thumb, all research on Keiko and her family disappeared.Later, when he was alone, he’d make sure no one else in CommTECH could dig up any information on the former press secretary.He looked up the bank to the route her saviors had taken when rescuing her.One thing was for certain—Mace Armstrong was no reporter.Reporters didn’t have a backup team ready to whisk them away to safety, and they sure as hell didn’t fight the way that man had fought him.No, Mace Armstrong was something far more dangerous.Daniel just wasn’t sure what that was.

Yet.

He recalled the look on the man’s face when he realized he was dying.How he’d searched for Keiko, found her through the carnage, and his eyes had filled with warmth.He’d spoken aloud, although Daniel didn’t think he’d been aware he was doing it.But in those last seconds, he’d told Keiko Sato just how much he loved her, and his words had made Daniel ache, as they were a stark reminder of all the things he didn’t have.The things he’d never have because he was born to be his brother’s keeper.

He let out a sigh.There was no time for regrets or wishing his life was different.It was what it was.But, if he could have just one wish, it would be that Keiko’s freak shot had killed his brother rather than wounding him.

The world would have been a far better place if it had.