Divine Justice

Stone and the others watched the street through the front windows of Rita's. Along with the cop cars and black sedans swooping up and down the road, they observed several citizens of Divine walking around as though in shock, some holding dividend checks that they now knew were nothing more than drug money.

Danny's body had been taken to the morgue in Roanoke along with Howard Tyree's. Only when the police had zipped him up in a black body bag did Abby relinquish her grip on her son's hand. And even then she walked down the road after the slowly departing medical examiner's wagon.

When everyone had had some food and coffee, Stone stood in the middle of the small circle of the best and perhaps only friends he had in the world.

'I would like to thank you for what you did,' he began, looking at each of them in turn.

Reuben immediately piped in, 'Oliver, don't go sappy on us. You would have done the same for any one of us.'

'You have done the same for every one of us,' said Annabelle.

Stone shook his head. 'I know how much you risked. I know what you sacrificed to come here and do what you did.' His gaze settled on Alex Ford. 'I especially know what you did, Alex. Even though it went against all your instincts as a Secret Service agent. And I appreciate it more than I can ever express.'

Alex could only meet Stone's heartfelt gaze for a few moments before he looked down at his shoes.

When the door opened, they all turned to see who it was.

Abby had changed her clothes and washed her face, though the imprint of the tears she had bled with Danny's death seemed to linger. Apparently, no soap could reach that. When Stone rose and went to her, the others silently made their way out of the restaurant and out onto the street.

Abby and Stone sat at a back table. When Stone handed her some napkins she shook her head. 'I've got no more left. No more tears.'

'Just in case then,' he said. 'What will you do now?'

'You mean after I bury my son? Haven't thought that far ahead.'

'He saved us, Abby. But for what he did, you and I would be dead. He was a brave man who tried to do the right thing. That's how you have to remember him.'

'I told you I lost my husband. Danny was all I had left. Now he's gone too.'

'I know it's hard, Abby. It's harder than anything else you'll ever have to do.'

'You lost your wife, but you still have your daughter.'

'What?' Stone said, startled.

'That woman out there said she was your daughter.'

'Oh.' Stone looked embarrassed. 'That was a cover story, I'm afraid. My daughter.' He stumbled over what he was about to say. 'My daughter died, like I said.'

'How?'

'Abby, you don't-'

'Please tell me. I want to know.'

Stone slowly looked up to see her gazing at him pleadingly. 'She was shot right in front of me when she was an adult. And the thing was she didn't even know I was her dad. The last time I'd seen her she was only two years old. I found her again after all those years and then I lost her. Forever.'

Abby reached out and took his hand. 'I'm sorry… Oliver.'

'But you do survive it, Abby. You never get over it, but you can keep on living. Because you really don't have a choice.'

'I'm scared. I'm alone and I'm scared.'

'You're not alone.'

She laughed halfheartedly. 'What? Tyree? The wonderful town of Divine?'

'Me.'

She sat back and looked at him. 'You? How?'

'I'm here. Now.'

'But for how long?'

Stone hesitated. He could not lie to the woman. 'I have to go away.'

'Sure, of course you do. I understand,' she said offhandedly.

'I have some things that I have to take care of. Some wrongs finally need to be righted.'

'Okay, whatever you have to do.'

'Abby, I mean it. I will be there for you. Even if I'm not physically here.'

He caught her gaze and held it with a pleading one of his own.

'I want to believe that.'

'You can believe it.'

'When do you have to go?'

'Soon. Sooner than later.'

'Are you sure things will work out for you?'

'I won't lie to you, there are no guarantees.'

'The trouble you might be in?'

'Yes.'

'Will they put you in prison?'

'It's certainly possible,' Stone admitted.

A quiet sob escaped her lips and she rested her face on the back of his hand.

'Will you promise me one thing?'

'I'll try my best.'

'If you can't come back here, will you never forget me?'

'Abby-'

She sat up and put a hand against his lips. 'Will you never forget me?'

'I will never forget you,' he said truthfully.

She leaned across the table and kissed him on the cheek. 'Because I'll never forget you.'

A few minutes later Joe Knox came in. Stone looked over at him.

'You ready?' he asked Stone. 'We need to get this done.'

Stone gave Abby's hand one final squeeze and rose.

'I'm ready.'

CHAPTER 81

THE FRONT DOOR to Macklin Hayes' stately brownstone in Georgetown was thrown open so hard it smacked the wall hard enough to make a dent in the plaster.

'What the hell?' began the man as he half rose from his chair, the book he'd been holding falling to the floor. When he saw who it was he sat back down, stunned.

'Hey, sir, how goes it?' Knox said as he strode in.

'Knox?' Hayes began nervously. 'How did you get past the guards outside?'

'Oh, that. One of them is a buddy. I said I'd only be a few minutes. So they went down the street for a cup of coffee.'

A panicked look came to the general's face. 'Knox, let me explain-'

When Hayes saw Stone walk into the room, he could only gape in astonishment. When he observed that Stone's hands were manacled together, he started to breathe again.

'Mack,' Stone said. 'Nice place you have here. A lot nicer than the one Joe and I were in. But then you know that, don't you?'

Hayes finally wrenched his gaze from Stone.

'Knox, this will earn you that retirement you've been after, plus anything else in my power. Anything! I swear it.'

'Thank you, sir.'