acceptable outcome, he knew. Only one course of action for a true leader to take.
Feeling hypnotized by the shining images of his own resurrection, Sexton was drifting through a fog as he crossed the room. He went to his copy machine and turned it on, preparing to copy the papers Rachel had faxed him.
"What are you doing?" Gabrielle demanded, sounding bewildered.
"They won't kill Rachel," Sexton declared. Even if something went wrong, Sexton knew losing his daughter to the enemy would only make him more powerful still. Either way he would win. Acceptable risk.
"Who are those copies for?" Gabrielle demanded. "William Pickering said not to tell anyone!"
Sexton turned from the machine and looked at Gabrielle, amazed by how unattractive he suddenly found her. In that instant, Senator Sexton was an island. Untouchable. Everything he needed to accomplish his dreams was now in his hands. Nothing could stop him now. Not claims of bribery. Not rumors of sex. Nothing.
"Go home, Gabrielle. I have no more use for you."
Chapter 125-127
125
It's over, Rachel thought.
She and Tolland sat side by side on the deck staring up into the barrel of the Delta soldier's machine gun. Unfortunately, Pickering now knew where Rachel had sent the fax. The office of Senator Sedgewick Sexton.
Rachel doubted her father would ever receive the phone message Pickering had just left him. Pickering could probably get to Sexton's office well before anyone else this morning. If Pickering could get in, quietly remove the fax, and delete the phone message before Sexton arrived, there would be no need to harm the senator. William Pickering was probably one of the few people in Washington who could finagle entry to a U.S. senator's office with no fanfare. Rachel was always amazed at what could be accomplished "in the name of national security."
Of course if that fails, Rachel thought, Pickering could just fly by and send a Hellfire missile through the window and blow up the fax machine. Something told her this would not be necessary.
Sitting close to Tolland now, Rachel was surprised to feel his hand gently slip into hers. His touch had a tender strength, and their fingers intertwined so naturally that Rachel felt like they'd done this for a lifetime. All she wanted right now was to lie in his arms, sheltered from the oppressive roar of the night sea spiraling around them.
Never, she realized. It was not to be.
Michael Tolland felt like a man who had found hope on the way to the gallows.
Life is mocking me.
For years since Celia's death, Tolland had endured nights when he'd wanted to die, hours of pain and loneliness that seemed only escapable by ending it all. And yet he had chosen life, telling himself he could make it alone. Today, for the first time, Tolland had begun to understand what his friends had been telling him all along.
Mike, you don't have to make it alone. You'll find another love.
Rachel's hand in his made this irony that much harder to swallow. Fate had cruel timing. He felt as if layers of armor were crumbling away from his heart. For an instant, on the tired decks of the Goya, Tolland sensed Celia's ghost looking over him as she often did. Her voice was in the rushing water... speaking the last words she'd spoken to him in life.
"You're a survivor," her voice whispered. "Promise me you'll find another love."
"I'll never want another," Tolland had told her.
Celia's smile was filled with wisdom. "You'll have to learn."
Now, on the deck of the Goya, Tolland realized, he was learning. A deep emotion welled suddenly in his soul. He realized it was happiness.
And with it came an overpowering will to live.
Pickering felt oddly detached as he moved toward the two prisoners. He stopped in front of Rachel, vaguely surprised that this was not harder for him.
"Sometimes," he said, "circumstances raise impossible decisions."
Rachel's eyes were unyielding. "You created these circumstances."
"War involves casualties," Pickering said, his voice firmer now. Ask Diana Pickering, or any of those who die every year defending this nation. "You of all people should understand that, Rachel." His eyes focused in on her. "Iactura paucourm serva multos."
He could see she recognized the words-almost a cliche in national security circles. Sacrifice the few to save the many.
Rachel eyed him with obvious disgust. "And now Michael and I have become part of your few?"
Pickering considered it. There was no other way. He turned to Delta-One. "Release your partner and end this."
Delta-One nodded.
Pickering took a long last look at Rachel and then