Page 63 of Filthy Liar

He’s goading me.I won’t raise to the bait. “You have a weird idea of fun. This… what did you call it? This game? You’re playing it all by yourself.”

“Hardly.” He gestures the gun he’s holding, indicating for me to move. “Come away from the desk. Slowly.”

I shift my weight from one foot to the other. I can move as slow as molasses. I stop after a half-step in his direction. The files are still uploading, and I need to keep him talking.

“I heard a rumor that the UN is going to start an investigation into PRISM.”

“It won’t go anywhere.”

“You’re confident.”

“I hold all the cards.”

I wonder how many international leaders are implicated in the files I’m currently sending to Wilson.Keep talking.“Are they cards you got from Lively?”

“He was a fool. Obsessed with his craven desires. He lost focus on what really matters.”

“And that is?”

“Making the world a better place.”

“Is that what you think you are doing? Nobody elected you to this. Nobody wants you to do this. You are a single, solitary mad man.”

“This is what my country needs.”

“No, it’s not. And the sad thing is, you are far from the first person to think that—you are not an original thinker in this regard,” I spit out. Another half step, and I prop my hands on my hips. “We have played out this script many times before, and America always finds its way back to justice and dignity. Not perfectly. Not for everyone. But we’re working on it. Others are working on it, fiercely and bravely, and you will not stop them. Not today, and not ever again.”

“What do you think you’re going to do? Kill me and it will stop? I’ve set it all in motion, little girl.” His hand shakes as he spews venom at me. “Plus, I got to have my fun with your little friend Caroline. While you were distracting Jason with your sweet tits and wet pus—”

I pull my Sig from the holster on my back and pull the trigger in one fluid motion. “That’s enough out of you,” I say after he crumbles to the ground.

Jason bursts through the door. “Ellie!”

“I—”

“It’s—” He stops, eyes wide, and stares at his brother lying on the floor. “Did you…?”

“He really deserved it,” I say faintly.

He races around the desk and grabs my hand, but I don’t move.

“He really deserved it,” I repeat. The words hammer in my skull right along with,I killed your brother. Please forgive me.

“Come on. We have to get out of here. There are more of those mercenaries coming.”

“One more minute. It’s still uploading.”

“Ellie, leave it.”

I stand up, reluctantly. I want every last bit of evidence.

There’s a crack in the air, something sharp.

“Ellie!”His voice is sharp, urgent. Full of panic.

I turn slowly, the world around me disassociating from the sound of his voice and the sluggish pump of blood through my veins.What, I mean to ask. It doesn’t come out. I make it as far as opening my mouth, and then everything goes black.

24

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