They entered the bar. The smell of bison burgers and beer hit them. The usual crowd of locals mingled in the dim light. Lacy looked up from behind the bar as they walked in, concern on her face.

  “Back so soon? What’s going on?” she asked.

  Jack and Reese took seats at the bar.

  “We need to ask you about Ben,” Jack said.

  Lacy’s eyes narrowed. “What about him?”

  “Have you noticed anything strange about his behavior lately?” Reese asked. “Anything that might suggest he’s hiding something?”

  Lacy frowned as she wiped her hands on a towel. “He’s been coming in more often, that’s for sure. Always seems on edge. I thought it was just the stress of everything going on.”

  Jack eased in. “Has he mentioned meeting anyone, or have you seen him talking to anyone suspicious?”

  Lacy thought for a moment. “There was one guy. Looked shady. Then again, everyone looks shady to me these days.” She chuckled. “He met Ben a few times in the back. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now....”

  “Did you catch any details about this guy?” Reese asked. “Anything at all?”

  Lacy shook her head. “Not really. I can’t remember every face that comes in here. Just had a bad vibe about him. Sorry I can’t be more help.”

  As they left the bar, Jack and Reese exchanged worried glances. The pieces were starting to come together, but the picture wasn’t clear yet.

  “We need to confront Ben,” Jack said. “We can’t go on like this, not knowing if we can trust him.”

  They returned to the cabin, but found it empty. Ben and Mark were gone. Jack’s heart raced as they searched the cabin, finally finding Ben’s laptop still open on the table. The screen displayed an email sent to an unknown recipient, discussing a meeting location. It was vague but raised enough suspicion.

  “Reese, you need to see this,” Jack called.

  Reese joined him. She read the email quickly. “This doesn’t prove anything, but it’s definitely strange. Why wouldn’t he tell us about this?”

  Jack’s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Officer Tilley. Jack answered. “Tilley, what’s going on?”

  Tilley’s voice was urgent. “Ben and Mark were in an accident. They’ve been taken to the hospital. It doesn’t look good for Mark.”

  Jack’s stomach dropped. “We’re on our way.” He hung up and turned to Reese. “We need to get to the hospital. Now.”

  When they arrived, they were directed to the emergency room where Tilley was waiting. The room was a flurry of activity, with nurses and doctors moving swiftly between patients, the beeping of monitors and the murmur of medical staff creating a constant background noise. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow, illuminating the sterile, white-tiled walls. Tilley stood near the entrance, his face pale and drawn, contrasting starkly with the vibrant scrubs of the hospital staff bustling around him. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic, mingling with the faint, metallic tang of blood.

  “What happened?” Jack said.

  Tilley ran a hand through his hair. “It looks like they were run off the road. Ben’s stable, but Mark ... he’s in critical condition.”

  “Where’s Ben?” Reese asked.

  “Room 204. He’s been asking for you.”

  Jack and Reese hurried to Ben’s room. They found him lying in bed, bruised and battered but conscious. He looked up as they entered, guilt and pain on his face.

  “What happened?” Jack asked.

  Ben winced as he tried to sit up. “We were on our way back when a car came out of nowhere. Forced us off the road. I think it was Hennessey’s men. They must have found out I was getting too close.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us about the email, Ben?” Reese asked, her voice a mix of concern and frustration. “Why keep us in the dark?”

  “What email?”

  “The one on your laptop, arranging a meeting.”

  Ben sighed and winced. He grabbed his side. Probably had a couple busted ribs. “I thought I was protecting you. The less you knew, the safer you were. I was trying to get closer to Hennessey’s men, to gather more intel. I didn’t think they’d come after me like this.”

  “That’s where you were headed?” Reese asked. “To meet with him?”

  Ben didn’t reply.

  Jack studied Ben’s face, searching for any sign of deception. “Marcus warned us about you. Said you weren’t who we thought you were.”

  Ben wouldn’t look at Jack.

  “He said you couldn’t be trusted.”

  Ben shook his head. “I’m on your side. I’ve been trying to take Hennessey down from the inside. I never meant for any of this to happen.” He leaned back and closed his eyes. “I’ll tell you everything. But first, we need to make sure Mark is safe. If Hennessey’s men are willing to go this far, they won’t stop until we’re all out of the picture.”

  Jack and Reese decided to leave Ben to rest and heal. They needed more information, and Lacy seemed like the best bet. They returned to the bar, where Lacy greeted them with a worried look.

  “You two again. What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Jack sat down at the bar. “We need your help again, Lacy. Ben and Mark were in an accident. We think Hennessey’s men are behind it.”

  “Oh my God. Is Ben okay?”

  “Ben’s stable, but Mark’s in critical condition,” Reese said. “We need to know if you’ve seen or heard anything else that might help us.”

  Lacy leaned over the bar, her voice low. “There’s been a lot of talk around town. People are scared. Hennessey’s got his fingers in everything. If Ben’s been poking around, it’s no surprise they came after him.”

  “Do you know where we can find more information about Hennessey’s operations?” Jack asked. “Anything that might help us take him down?”

  Lacy thought for a moment. “There’s a guy who comes in here sometimes. Works for Hennessey, but he’s not happy about it. Name’s Joe. He might know something. I can try to set up a meeting.”

  Jack tapped the bar top. “Do it. Set it up. We need all the help we can get at this point.”

  They stayed for a drink. The bar atmosphere washed away some of the pain and stress of everything they’d been through. After a short while, Jack and Reese settled into comfortable conversation, like they’d had years ago.

  “What’s next for you?” she asked him.

  Jack shrugged. “Not sure. I knew I had to get here, tell you about your brother. Hadn’t thought much beyond that. I want to get back to Mia at some point, but that feels selfish.”

  “Why?” Reese placed her hand on his.

  “I’m not really much of a dad. I know Sean is doing a better job raising her than I ever could. And she’s got her cousins, who are more like siblings at this point.”

  “You miss her?”

  “Of course.” Jack lifted his bourbon and took a sip. “Doesn’t mean I need to uproot her, mess up her life. Every day with me is a year in therapy twenty years from now. Is it really responsible to do that to her?”

  Reese sighed. “Wish I had one of my own.”

  Jack offered a smile. “There’s still time.”

  “Gotta find the right guy though.” She squeezed his hand. “Thought I had him, but he kept slipping away.”

  He stared in her eyes for a few moments. The perfect place to get lost. Reese was a mirage of everything he ever wanted. She had little connection to his past. She offered an uncertain future, but one he could see himself in. But he couldn’t offer her the family she wanted.

  “Perhaps you should leave him in the past,” Jack said.

  Reese withdrew her hand. “Perhaps I should.” She finished her drink and slid off the barstool. “Let’s head back to the hospital and talk to Ben.”

  20

  Back at the hospital, Jack and Reese sat down with Ben, ready to hear his full story.

  “Start from the beginning,” Jack said. “Tell us everything.”

  Ben took a deep breath. “I’ve been working undercover, trying to infiltrate Hennessey’s organization. I knew it was dangerous, but I didn’t realize how deep it went. When I started getting close, they must have found out. That’s when the threats started.”

  “You were working with Brenda the whole time?” Jack asked.

  Ben closed his eyes and turned his head to the side. A single tear slid down his cheek. “I got her involved in this mess. If it weren’t for me⁠—”

  “She’d be alive.” Jack wrapped his hands around the back of his head. “Who else have you pulled into this? Aside from me and Reese.”

  “I can’t trust anyone here,” Ben said. “Hennessey has his hands in everything. But you, you’re an outsider. I could tell right away that you were a man who could get things done.”

  “And the email?” Reese asked.

  Ben nodded. “It was a contact. Someone inside Hennessey’s operation who was willing to talk. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to jeopardize what we’re doing here.”

  Jack’s anger simmered just below the surface. “You should have trusted us. Hell, you didn’t even know me and brought me into this mess.”

  “I know,” Ben said, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry. I was trying to protect you.”

  “We have a lead on a guy named Joe,” Jack said. “Lacy’s going to set up a meeting so we can see if he knows anything.”

  “I know him,” Ben said. “Can’t say you’ll get too much info out of him. At least, I couldn’t.”

  “What do you know about him?” Jack asked.

  Ben rubbed his temples. “Joe’s a ghost. He hasn’t been in town for long—maybe a couple of months. Nobody knows much about his past or what he does for a living. He keeps a low profile, which is probably why Hennessey likes him.”

  “What’s his role in Hennessey’s organization?” Reese asked.

  “From what I gathered, Joe’s a fixer. He handles problems, makes things disappear. People, evidence, whatever Hennessey needs. I’ve seen him a few times, always on the periphery, never getting his hands dirty directly.”

  Jack frowned. “And you couldn’t get any more out of him?”

  Ben shook his head. “He’s cautious, paranoid even. Keeps his cards close to his chest. I tried to approach him, but he brushed me off. He’s not the type to trust easily, especially not strangers.”

  “But if he’s that careful, why is he meeting with Lacy?” Reese asked.

  “Lacy’s got a way with people. She’s connected, and she knows how to make people talk. Maybe Joe sees her as a neutral party, someone who can be trusted to some extent.”

  Jack took it all in. “We need to handle this carefully. If Joe senses a trap, he’ll disappear, and we’ll lose a valuable lead.”

  Reese agreed. “We’ll need to play it cool, make him feel like he’s in control. Let’s hope Lacy can work her magic.”

  Jack and Reese sat in tense silence, the hum of hospital machinery and distant chatter filling the room as they absorbed Ben’s words.

  “Why didn’t you tell us everything from the start?” Jack asked. “Did you already know about the things we uncovered at the safe house, the warehouse?”

  Ben hesitated. “I had my suspicions. I knew Brenda was onto something big, but I didn’t have all the pieces. I needed you to confirm what I suspected, to find the evidence I couldn’t.”

  Reese’s eyes narrowed. “You used us.”

  Ben shook his head. “No, it wasn’t like that. I needed help, and I couldn’t trust anyone else. Hennessey has eyes everywhere. You two were my best chance at bringing him down.”

  “And what about now, Ben?” Jack said. “Is there anything else you’re not telling us? Anything that could help us, or that could get us killed?”

  Ben took a deep breath. “There is something. Something I haven’t told anyone. But you need to understand, I was trying to protect you, to keep you safe.”

  “What is it?” Reese asked.

  Ben opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated, his eyes flicking to the door. Just as he was about to reveal his secret, the overhead speakers crackled to life.

  “Code blue, room 214. Code blue, room 214.”

  Jack’s heart sank. The blood drained from his face as the gravity of the situation hit him. He glanced at Reese, her eyes mirroring his concern and fear. Without a word, he bolted out of the room, his pulse quickening with every step.

  The hospital corridor buzzed with urgency, a flurry of medical staff in scrubs and white coats rushing toward Mark’s room. The wheels of a gurney squeaked against the polished floor, and the overhead lights flickered slightly as if responding to the sudden rush of energy. Nurses and doctors moved with practiced efficiency, their faces masks of intense concentration.

  Jack weaved through the sea of hospital personnel, his eyes fixed on the door to Mark’s room. Reese was right behind him, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. The air was thick with the antiseptic smell of the hospital. As they neared the room, the sound of urgent, muffled voices and the steady beep of medical equipment filled their ears. The scene inside was chaotic, a stark contrast to the sterile, controlled environment outside.

  Jack noticed a man standing at the end of the hallway. The dim lighting cast eerie patterns across his features. Jack couldn’t make out his face. The man’s posture was relaxed, too casual for the chaos unfolding in the hall.

  As their eyes met, a shiver ran down Jack’s spine. The man’s lips curled into a smile, a gesture that felt both taunting and sinister. Jack’s instincts screamed that this was no coincidence. Before he could react, the man turned on his heel and disappeared around the corner with an unsettling calmness, as if he had all the time in the world.

  Jack surged forward. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. He sprinted down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. But by the time he reached the corner, the man was gone.

  He cursed under his breath and rushed back to Mark’s room. His footsteps pounded against the floor, each step echoing his rising panic. As he approached the doorway, the scene before him made his heart sink. The small room was a flurry of activity. Doctors and nurses crowded around the bed.

  Monitors beeped frantically. Their erratic sounds were a stark contrast to the tense silence of the hallway. Tubes and wires snaked around Mark’s motionless body, and the medical team worked tirelessly, their movements a blur as they administered chest compressions and prepared defibrillator paddles.

  Mark’s face was ashen and still. The sight confirmed his worst fears. The doctors’ frantic efforts seemed futile, a desperate attempt to reclaim a life that was slipping away. Jack felt a lump form in his throat, a mix of anger, frustration, and helplessness washing over him. The reality of the situation hit him hard—Mark was dying, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. And any information Mark had would die with him.

  A nurse exited the room and approached them. “Excuse me, you two need to step back,” she said firmly. “We’re doing everything we can in there.” She didn’t wait for either to reply. She turned her back on them and let the door to Mark’s room fall shut.

  Jack looked at Reese and held his hands in front of him, frustrated. “Let’s wait with Ben.”

  He and Reese returned to Ben’s room, but it was empty. Panic surged through Jack as he scanned the room, then the hallway again. Ben was gone. Had he snuck out amid the confusion in the hallway? Had the guy at the end of the hall had something to do with it? Was that man working with a partner?

  “Where the hell is he?” Reese said.

  Jack’s gaze darted around the room, searching for any clue. “I don’t know. But he couldn’t have gone far.”

  A nurse passing by did a double take. She entered the room. “What are you two doing in here?”

  “Our friend,” Jack said. “Where is he?”

  The nurse frowned, puzzled. “I’m not sure. He shouldn’t have left. We’re in the middle of an emergency right now. You two wait here.”

  “Ben wouldn’t just leave,” Reese said. “He was too injured to go far on his own.”

  “We need to find him. He might be in danger.” They stepped out into the hallway. “Let’s check the desk in the waiting room.”

  There was no sign of Ben, and the lady at the desk said she hadn’t seen anything. Jack felt a growing sense of dread. Just moments ago, they had been on the brink of getting crucial information from Ben. Now, not only was Mark dead, but Ben had vanished without a trace. Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that whoever had been at the end of the hallway had something to do with this.

  “Let’s check the exits,” Jack said, his tone resolute. “He couldn’t have gotten far on his own.”

  As they hurried down the hallway, Jack couldn’t help but feel that time was running out. The stakes had never been higher, and the margin for error had never been thinner.

  “Where could he have gone?” Reese asked, her voice tinged with worry.

  Jack’s mind raced. “He must have known we’d come back for answers. Maybe he’s on the run, but we need to find him before Hennessey does.”

  Reese jutted her chin to a door. “Security. Maybe they have footage.”

  Jack didn’t bother knocking. He barreled right into the room. The security guard on duty was startled, but before he could say anything, Jack said, “We need to review the last fifteen minutes of footage.”

  The man rose, waving both hands in front of him. “The hell you think you are barging in here like this?”

  “Stop wasting time. We need to review the footage.”

  “Good luck,” the guard said. “System’s been down for half an hour. Waiting on our IT guy to show up now.”

  Frustrated, Jack threw his hands in the air and kicked the door into the wall on his way out of the room. The man behind the desk was on his radio, calling for backup. By the time they reached the waiting room, two additional guards stood waiting.

  “That’s them,” the first guard called from behind them.

  “Don’t bother,” Jack said. “We were just leaving.”