Read Online Redemption (Enigma Black Trilogy Book #3) by Sara Furlong-Burr - Free Book Online
Authors: Sara Furlong-Burr
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Carver Brooks said with a laugh. “Actually, I’ve come to see whether you’ve come to your senses about Marshall Leitner.” Brooks leaned against the doorframe of the cell, flanked on both sides by an armed guard. “He’s a very dangerous man, Jeremiah, and I would really appreciate you telling me where I can find him.”
“The only person he’s a danger to is you, Carver.” A dry cough escaped from his lips, sending pain shooting through his body, over skin that was losing its elasticity, bruises that weren’t permitted to heal, and open wounds from the whip that had been used to strike him into submission. “What makes you think I know where he is, or better yet, what makes you think I would tell you if I did know?”
“You try my patience, Jeremiah. After all I’ve done for you, and you turn on me at the drop of a hat. And for what? Power? Some self-righteous design to make the world a better place?”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Carver, because you turned on yourself. Somewhere along the line, you allowed the power to get to you, so much so that you became intoxicated by it. It’s like a drug that you refuse to get out of your system, no matter who or what you take down in the process.” As he lifted his arm, Jeremiah’s eyes adjusted to the light enough to allow him to look in the direction of the doorway. “Look at you,” he said, his voice shaking. “Look at the evil you’ve become. The lives you’ve destroyed; the murders you’ve taken part in. It will all catch up to you eventually. Whether it happens weeks, months, or years from now, it will all catch up to you.”
“Thank you for those riveting words of wisdom, but I suppose all they mean is that you still are not willing to cooperate with me and make your death a little more dignified.”
Jeremiah released another cough from the core of his throat, further intensifying the dryness, like a breeze blowing across a desert. “Screw,” he said, coughing once more, “you.”
“Very well. You’ve made your choice, and come execution day you can rest assured that your convictions carried you far in life, as you die next to and forever become associated with the face of terrorism in this country. I will find Mr. Leitner without your help, and you will die together as the faces of the rebellion.”
“At least I still have convictions. I’d rather die fighting for a cause I believe in than serving a lie.”
“If you say so,” Carver Brooks replied with a sneer. “Have it your way then, brother .” He turned to back up and leave the room, when a thought occurred to him and he paused in his tracks. Brooks reached into his coat pocket, where he took out a bottle of water and left it by the doorway, just out of reach of the maximum slack allotted by the shackles. “Here you go. If you can reach it with those bonds locked tightly around your body, then it’s all yours,” he said, a laugh escaping from within. The door shut behind him, leaving Jeremiah alone in the dark.
“Where are we on finding Marshall Leitner?” he asked the younger guardsman.
“Our sources have located a couple of potential hideouts within downtown Washington, D.C. It’s believed he is in one of them with another group of rebels and former soldiers, sir,” the guardsman answered.
“Good. Dispatch soldiers to both locations. I want him found and captured as soon as possible. We have our first televised execution to plan in which both he and Delaney are going to be the stars. If that doesn’t help deter the rest of the rebels, I don’t know what will.”
“Yes, sir. I will dispatch men to both locations immediately and make sure you have a status update within the hour.”
*****
I dug the backpack I brought with me when I came to The Epicenter out of my dresser drawer. In it, I would again pack only the essentials and those items I refused to leave behind: my photographs, Chase’s necklace, a change of clothing, toiletries, and whatever food and
“The only person he’s a danger to is you, Carver.” A dry cough escaped from his lips, sending pain shooting through his body, over skin that was losing its elasticity, bruises that weren’t permitted to heal, and open wounds from the whip that had been used to strike him into submission. “What makes you think I know where he is, or better yet, what makes you think I would tell you if I did know?”
“You try my patience, Jeremiah. After all I’ve done for you, and you turn on me at the drop of a hat. And for what? Power? Some self-righteous design to make the world a better place?”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Carver, because you turned on yourself. Somewhere along the line, you allowed the power to get to you, so much so that you became intoxicated by it. It’s like a drug that you refuse to get out of your system, no matter who or what you take down in the process.” As he lifted his arm, Jeremiah’s eyes adjusted to the light enough to allow him to look in the direction of the doorway. “Look at you,” he said, his voice shaking. “Look at the evil you’ve become. The lives you’ve destroyed; the murders you’ve taken part in. It will all catch up to you eventually. Whether it happens weeks, months, or years from now, it will all catch up to you.”
“Thank you for those riveting words of wisdom, but I suppose all they mean is that you still are not willing to cooperate with me and make your death a little more dignified.”
Jeremiah released another cough from the core of his throat, further intensifying the dryness, like a breeze blowing across a desert. “Screw,” he said, coughing once more, “you.”
“Very well. You’ve made your choice, and come execution day you can rest assured that your convictions carried you far in life, as you die next to and forever become associated with the face of terrorism in this country. I will find Mr. Leitner without your help, and you will die together as the faces of the rebellion.”
“At least I still have convictions. I’d rather die fighting for a cause I believe in than serving a lie.”
“If you say so,” Carver Brooks replied with a sneer. “Have it your way then, brother .” He turned to back up and leave the room, when a thought occurred to him and he paused in his tracks. Brooks reached into his coat pocket, where he took out a bottle of water and left it by the doorway, just out of reach of the maximum slack allotted by the shackles. “Here you go. If you can reach it with those bonds locked tightly around your body, then it’s all yours,” he said, a laugh escaping from within. The door shut behind him, leaving Jeremiah alone in the dark.
“Where are we on finding Marshall Leitner?” he asked the younger guardsman.
“Our sources have located a couple of potential hideouts within downtown Washington, D.C. It’s believed he is in one of them with another group of rebels and former soldiers, sir,” the guardsman answered.
“Good. Dispatch soldiers to both locations. I want him found and captured as soon as possible. We have our first televised execution to plan in which both he and Delaney are going to be the stars. If that doesn’t help deter the rest of the rebels, I don’t know what will.”
“Yes, sir. I will dispatch men to both locations immediately and make sure you have a status update within the hour.”
*****
I dug the backpack I brought with me when I came to The Epicenter out of my dresser drawer. In it, I would again pack only the essentials and those items I refused to leave behind: my photographs, Chase’s necklace, a change of clothing, toiletries, and whatever food and
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