Page 93 of Ground Zero

“Danny was a fool!” The words exploded from Rebecca with years of suppressed rage. “He believed in the system. Believed in this country.”

Sheridan’s weapon remained steady despite her shock. “That still doesn’t tell me why you joined people planning to kill thousands of innocent people.”

“Innocent?” Rebecca’s eyes blazed. “Just because they’re in the military doesn’t mean they’re innocent.”

“This isn’t what Danny would want.” Sheridan’s voice cracked with desperation. She hardly recognized the woman in front of her right now.

Rebecca’s aim shifted slightly toward Maverick. “You understand, don’t you? Your parents died for the same truth.”

“My parents were murdered,” Maverick said.

“So were mine. Well, my dad at least. My mom died of an aneurysm right after I was born. But my dad . . . he was in the FBI. They say he was killed while on assignment. But I know the truth. The government killed him to cover up what they were doing.”

“What were they doing?” Sheridan asked.

“My father worked for Defense Intelligence. He uncovered Project Firebreak—a series of planned domestic terrorist attacks that would be blamed on foreign enemies to justify increased military spending. They made his death look like suicide. Depression, they said. But he’d never been happier. It was all lies.”

“That’s terrible, Rebecca,” Sheridan said. “It needs to be fixed. But that doesn’t mean that more innocent people should pay the price.”

Rebecca’s gaze narrowed. “The system is broken, and sometimes the only way to fix it is to burn it all down.”

“So you’re helping Sigma destroy our country.”

“I’m helping them expose its sins.” She gestured at the explosives with her free hand. “This attack will trigger investigations, congressional hearings, a complete restructuring of military contracting. The corruption will finally be dragged into the light.”

“Along with thousands of bodies,” Sheridan said.

“Martyrs for a necessary cause.” Rebecca’s voice had gone flat, emotionless. “And you two are about to join them. You’re not stopping this attack. It’s too important, too necessary.”

“Rebecca, please—” Sheridan started.

“Drop your weapons.” Her gaze hardened. “Now.”

Sheridan glanced at Maverick, seeing her own realization reflected in his eyes.

Rebecca wasn’t bluffing.

The woman Sheridan had trusted, the widow she’d gone out of her way to help, was prepared to kill them both.

CHAPTER 51

Maverick contemplated his options.

Put down his weapon? Or try to tackle Rebecca and risk being shot?

Before he could decide, gunfire filled the air.

He froze as he tried to figure out who had fired, to figure out if someone had been hurt.

Then Rebecca’s eyes went wide.

She crumpled forward, blood spreading across her shirt.

The weapon fell from her hand, clattering across the concrete.

Had Sheridan shot her?

But Sheridan gasped beside him, shock written on her features.