Black Dawn
Chapters 1-5
Chapters 6-10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
The Terrorist Base
Adam is holding up Kevin at gunpoint, while Kevin has his own gun pointed at Silverman who is lying on the ground. Kevin has waited for four years to pierce Silverman's head with a bullet for murdering his wife, but Adam knows Silverman is neck deep in the conspiracy that has compromised whatever legitimacy the government had left, so he is way too valuable to die before giving answers.
Silverman is also most likely responsible for branding Adam a traitor to his country, forcing him to fake his death five years ago and be on the run. So it's personal for Adam, too.
"Kev! Put the gun down, we'll handle this the right way!"
Kevin is caressing the trigger with his finger. He has worked so hard to finally find Silverman, he has gone through dozens of shadow organizations, worked his way up to earn Silverman's trust that enabled him to meet him face to face. The only that has mattered to him during the past four years has been the thought of killing the man who murdered his wife.
"The son of a bitch murdered my wife, Adam! I'm not like you, I didn't want this life, working as a field agent was a job for me! Me and Jessica, we had gotten out of this, we had a life, a real life. It took us years to build it, and then it took Silverman two years to tear it all down!"
"Damn it, Kev! I know! I had a life, too!"
"No, you didn't, Adam! This is all you knew, it always was, you could never understand! You don't know what I lost, you never had a life!"
Adam tries not to show it, but deep down he knows Kevin speaks the truth. After all, he could dragged into all of this again. And even though he doesn't admit it, there's a part in him that enjoys it. Enjoys the danger and the thrill. He doesn't like that part in him, but it's there, and always has been.
Maria also sees it in Adam that Kevin's words hit their mark. She intercepts.
"Kev, you're like a big brother to me, but Jessica was my best friend, stop acting like you're the only one who lost her! We all did. And how many other lives has Silverman ruined, huh? Don't they deserve justice? You kill him, and no one will ever know how to stop this conspiracy. Kev, please. This isn't you. You do the right thing."
Maria's words have an effect, and Kevin slowly starts to lower his gun. But all the while staring a hole in Silverman. His murderous tendencies have not gone away in the slightest.
As soon as he dies, a group of Silverman's men make an ambush and start firing at Kevin, Adam and Maria. They take cover behind a set of pillars, as Silverman gets away. Kevin gets absolutely furious as everything he had worked four slipped through his fingers.
"Damn it, Adam, I had him! I had him!"
Adam refuses to listen to the accusations and goes straight to business.
"We'll get him, but we won't be able to do it if we're dead! We can take them out if we work together! Maria, stay here. Kev, you have a better visual, give me the targets."
Even though Kevin is not exactly enamored with working with Adam, he knows it's the only way out.
"Two guys at 12 o'clock, three more at 10."
"Cover for me."
Kevin nods as Adam engages in a fire fight with the soldiers.
The White House
The President, Palmer Cannon and the security staff are reviewing the tapes to find out whether what Paul claims is true about Bruce Miller's disappearance, and they do indeed come across footage of a member of the security staff kidnapping Bruce and driving away in a black vehicle. The President's Head of Security immediately activates a search as he recognizes the man responsible.
"I need an APB on an agent Aaron Jones, last seen driving a black BMW, heading east from the White House, he is..."
Palmer Cannon pulls The President aside.
"Looks like agent Douglas was telling the truth. If this gets out, it will look very bad for the legitimacy of your administration. But there may be a way out."
"And what would that be?"
"Douglas will want to go save his wife. We can keep this under wraps by giving him what he wants in exchange for his silence. It's his wife, I'm sure he'll agree. And we can also make one more demand."
"Which is?"
"Should agent Douglas be successful, we can order him to arrest Adam Black."
"Why do you feel that is such a pressing priority?"
"Mr. President, with all due respect, Adam Black is a wanted fugitive. Capturing him could turn today's events from a tragedy to a triumph. And we can't discount the possibility of Adam Black working with the terrorists."
"That seems to be an obscene suggestion, he sacrificed himself today to save the hostages."
"He is still a terrorist and a traitor to this country. We can't take chances. This is our opportunity to capture him. And you, sir, will be the hero who got it done. Think of the headlines. And should agent Douglas not be successful, we will go ahead with the strike, and you'll save the day anyway. Either way, you won't lose."
Once again, Palmer's weasely persuasion skills get the better of The President.
"Very well."
The Terrorist Base
Adam and Kevin clear out the soldiers and go on pursuit for Silverman. Adam doesn't fully trust Kevin, but knows that Kevin knows that in order to get to Silverman, he needs to work with Adam.
"Alright, stay with me, Kev. I need to trust you. We're not going to let him get away."
Kevin is angry about not pulling the trigger on Silverman earlier, but tries to push that aside for the time being.
Adam then puts his arm on Kevin's shoulder in a rare act of sensitive caring.
"I'm really sorry about what happened to Jessica. I really am. But you need to work with me on this."
"Yeah."
Adam leads the way, as Kevin and Maria follow.
Silverman is quickly making his way out of the base and makesa call to Palmer Cannon.
"Has the situation been handled?"
"Yes, sir. We will send agent Douglas to the base to apprehend Adam Black. That should take care of our problems."
"Yes, I will handle it from there. I'm on my way out right now. You will be rewarded for your efforts tonight, Mr. Cannon."
"I'm happy to hear that, sir."
The White House
The President meets up with Paul to brief him on the situation.
"It turns out what you suspected was true. Bruce Miller was kidnapped my a member of my security staff. The situation is being handled. I trust you to keep your silence about this in exchange for the location of the base. I will authorize you to save the hostage."
"Just give me the location."
"There's one more thing."
"What's that, sir?"
"I am authorizing you for this operation under one condition: the apprehension of Adam Black."
The name hits Paul like a punch in the face.
"Adam Black?"
"Yes. Your wife's ex fiancé."
"But he's dead? How's that possible?"
"You'll be briefed on your way, but you should get going. It is of utmost importance that you take Adam Black into custody. That way, the stunt you pulled earlier will be forgotten about."
Paul thinks for a second, this is a lot to take in, but he knows time is of the essence, so he agrees.
The Terrorist Base
Silverman manages to make his way to the courtyard and enters the backseat of his limo.
"Drive."
As the limo starts to drive out of the base, Adam, Kevin and Maria arrive at the courtyard just in time to see the tail lights.
Kevin shoots at the limo, but Adam knows it's a waste of time.
"That thing's bulletproof, Kev, we need to chase after him! Let's take one of the vans."
Kevin breaks the driver's seat window of one the vans Derek's group used and the three get in. Kevin takes the driver's seat and hotwires the car.
Kevin then steps on the paddle and the three are on the chase for Silverman's limo through the tunnel.