Chapter 14 - THE SHOOTER WHO MISSED
The bullet hit Voss's shoulder.
Not his heart.
The shooter fled through a maintenance exit.
Federal agents lost him in an alley.
Walter hated that professionals could fail.
Then remembered he had once been one.
Voss survived surgery.
He agreed to talk in exchange for protection.
His version was uglier than anyone wanted.
June did ask him to stay.
But only after Voss arrived pretending Thomas was dead.
He had planned to use the identity for weeks.
Then guilt complicated the lie.
June discovered the truth.
She threatened to expose him.
Voss showed her forged evidence suggesting Thomas had betrayed the operation and endangered American assets.
June believed him.
Later she learned Thomas was alive.
By then Michael loved Voss as his father.
June made a terrible choice.
She kept the lie.
Thomas eventually contacted her.
She met him once.
Thomas saw Michael from across a park.
He chose not to approach.
Not because he was noble.
Because he was ashamed.
He had spent years drinking.
He had participated in theft while underground.
He had become someone he did not want his son to meet.
Michael cried.
Not beautifully.
He kicked a hospital chair.
Called Thomas a coward.
Then apologized to nobody.
Voss admitted the warning at Harrison's came from him.
He wanted Walter kept away from Michael because he feared the box would surface.
But he did not send the shooter.
"Who did?"
Voss looked at Walter.
"Ask Raymond."
Walter's jaw tightened.
Voss continued:
"Raymond didn't take money to abandon Thomas."
"Then why the payment?"
"To kill me."
The room went silent.
May you like
"And he didn't."
