Now, it was Cooper’s turn to let out a low whistle, “Continue, please.”
As Mitchell brought the presentation to a conclusion, Cooper handed him a flash drive that he had found lying on the desk, “Now, I want you to save all these documents and files onto this drive.”
Mitchell’s face clouded in fear, “Whatever for?”
Cooper smiled, “I’m going to give you a chance to be a hero, since that is what you think you are. I’m going to tell the world what you have done and you can answer directly to them.”
He involuntarily staggered a step backward, “Don’t be silly. The world is far too emotional right now. History will judge me a hero, but not now.”
“Well, I cannot abide lies or those who tell them. And, I have a greater faith in the American people than you do. After all, I lost my wife and I haven’t put a bullet through your brain, despite the opportunity. Maybe you’ll be as lucky with the remaining six billion people left on the planet. Now do it,” he gestured towards the flash drive with the pistol.
Mitchell grimaced at him, but he set to work saving the files. Cooper kept a close eye on him to make sure they were, indeed, being saved. After several minutes, Mitchell tossed the flash drive to Cooper.
“You know you will be making a huge mistake if you release those documents. You will be making a huge mistake for your son.”
“What do you mean?” Cooper shot back.
“You know what I mean. Right now, the plague is petering out. You’ve probably seen it for yourself. No new infections for the past 24-36, hours, right?”
“Right. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Already, for some the plague is now no more lethal than the common flu. In a few days, it will be like that for everyone as it mutates to its less lethal stage. Yet, society around the world teeters on the edge. If you release the information you have, you will send it over the brink, at least here in America. Think about it, all of society’s major institutions colluding in this great scourge? The rioting you’ve seen so far will look like child’s play. Not to mention what the rest of the world might do to America for unleashing a Weapon of Mass Destruction that has hit every country around the world,” Mitchell finished with a satisfied smile on his face.
The truth of his words burned in Cooper’s gut. He knew he was right. Mitchell saw the look on his face and seized the opening, “You don’t want your boy, to grow up in that America, do you? I’ve given him a chance at a decent life…and his children’s children…don’t steal that away from him for some hollow sense of revenge.”
“It’s not revenge, it’s justice. The truth must come out because lies do nothing but destroy everything they touch.” He paused for a moment, contemplating. “You said America, eh?”
Mitchell waited before responding, warily, “Yeah, America.”
“You invoke a powerful word, Mr. Mitchell. You remind me of something. You, sir, gave up on America. You gave up on our democracy and decided to take matters into your own hands.”
“I had to,” Mitchell pleaded.
“Well, then. If you gave up on America, then you gave up on juries and the right to trial as well, didn’t you?”
Mitchell’s face recoiled in horror. He raised his hands in front of his face, “No! Let me explain!” His voice screeched as thin as a razor.
Cooper calmly raised his pistol and pointed it directly at Mitchell’s head, “I’ve had enough of your explaining.” He fired once, the bullet piercing Mitchell’s forehead and exploding blood and gore out the back of his head. His body dropped to the floor. Cooper stepped over him and fired twice more, once into the heart and another into his head. Looking down at the prostrate body of the once powerful man, he felt nothing but pity.
Then, Cooper strode out of the room, shotgun at the ready, and Dranko following close behind.
They made it to the car without incident and were grateful to find Angela there, waiting for them, hiding in nearby bushes, pistol in hand.
They drove toward home in silence, but Cooper could not help noticing that several more sections of the city had gone dark from lack of electricity.
Minutes later he stirred, “We have one more stop tonight.” Dranko could guess.
Angela couldn’t. “Where?”
“Julianne Wheeler’s,” Cooper said.
Chapter 34
When they arrived near her home, Cooper insisted that Dranko and Angela remain behind. Their protests were stifled by the fire in his eyes. He departed, wide strides bringing him to her home.
A candle burned inside, its faint light reaching the front door. Cooper covered the porch stairs in two giant leaps. He hammered on the door. In the night’s silence, the violence echoed down the street.
He peered into the home through the door’s glass, just as Julianne came into view from the hallway. He immediately saw the glint of a stainless steel revolver in her hand. Her eyes flew wide open when she saw him. She stopped for a moment, looking at him. He glared right through her.
Then, her weary, red eyes fell. Resigned, shoulders slumped, she shuffled towards the door. She set the revolver down on the entry table and opened the door.
As soon as the lock fell open, Cooper pushed his way in. She winced as he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her, “Why?”
Tears darkened her flannel shirt. She remained mute.
“Why,” Cooper pleaded again. He rocked her back a half-step, forcing her head up. She collapsed to the ground. He knelt with her, grasping her chin between his fingers. She inhaled deeply. Her vulnerability sapped his anger.
“Mitchell’s dead,” he rasped.
She nodded slowly, “I guessed as much.” Her words were unfeeling.
He waited. Her breathing steadied.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Cooper remained motionless. But, his eyes revealed his desperate plea for an explanation.
“I thought it was the best thing. The right thing. He was so damned convincing. The science was…is…compelling. We were running out of time. You’ve got to believe that!” Her eyes flashed back and forth, scanning for his reaction.
He said nothing. He looked blankly at her. His emotion drained away.
He despised the rising urge inside that beckoned him to reach out and comfort her.
She lowered her head, “We were wrong. We should have let it happen. We should have let mankind live through the consequences,” she paused, her fingers tracing an outline around one of her bruises, “of its own making. Not ours.” When she finished, she looked back up at him.
When their eyes met, he was drawn towards her, despite himself. He clapped his hands on his knees and stood up abruptly.
“You must hate me,” she lamented.
He paused, contemplating her words. “No. I don’t. I saw the best man I’ve ever known, my father, be misled by someone he trusted. So, I don’t blame you for that. But, its worse than that,” he looked down again at her.
“What’s worse?”
“I cannot hate you.”
“Even though you want to?” She asked, her eyes pleading for understanding.
His face betrayed nothing. He turned and walked away.
She watched him go. A hint of a smile alighted onto her face as she pondered his last words. Then, anguish overtook her once more. She collapsed into herself, weeping.
When he returned to the car, Dranko and Angela looked up at him expectantly. Cooper lurched into the car wordlessly. Neither asked. Dranko did not smell fresh cordite coming from Cooper’s pistol. He was surprised, but did not ask his friend any questions about it.
Silence consumed the car as they drove towards home.
A few blocks from their home, Dranko broke the silence. “You think the military will be waiting for us?”