Chapter 142
Chapter 142
Chapter 142
The morning news blared from the small TV in their latest hideout, a run–down motel on the outskirts of the city. Herod sat on the edge of the bed, watching his own face flash across the screen. The reporter’s voice filled the cramped room.
“Federal authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Herod Preston, naming him as the primary suspect in the Phoenix Grid bombings. Officials cite overwhelming evidence found in Preston’s apartmen including detailed plans and materials matching those used in the attacks.”
Rose emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. “Turn that off, she snapped. “We already know what they’re saying.”
Herod didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed on the screen as the reporter continued.
“Sources close to the investigation reveal Preston had a long–standing grudge against Victoria Kane, whose company developed the Phoenix Grid. If convicted, Preston faces terrorism charges that could carry multiple life sentences without possibility of parole.”
Life in prison. The words echoed in Herod’s mind. A lifetime behind bars for borbs that were never meant to kill. A future destroyed for a plan that wasn’t even his.
“I said turn it off!” Rose grabbed the remote and shut off the TV. “Why are you torturing yourself with this garbage?”
Herod looked at her, really looked at her. The woman he thought he loved. The woman who had set him up to take the fall for everything.
“My father’s old lawyer called,” he said quietly.
Rose froze. “What? When?”
“This morning. While you were in the shower.” Herod rubbed his hands over his face. “He saw the news. He talked about dishonoring my family’s memory.”
“You didn’t tell him where we are, did you?” Rose’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“No.” Herod stood, walking to the grimy window to look out at the parking lot. “He reminded me of what Charles would think. How disappointed he would be in what I’ve become.”
Rose laughed, the sound harsh in the small room. “Your brother killed himself because of Victoria Kane. He’d understand revenge better than anyone.”
“No.” Herod turned to face her. “We both know that’s not true. I told you what Charles was like when we first talked about working together. He was gentle. Kind. When Victoria destroyed our family business, he couldn’t bear the shame, the failure. But he never wanted revenge.”
“Then he was weak,” Rose said coldly.
Something snapped inside Herod. “He was better than me. Better than both of us.” His voice shook with emotion. “He wouldn’t have planted bombs. He wouldn’t have risked innocent lives.”
Rose watched him with calculating eyes. “What’s gotten into you? Yesterday you were fine with our plans. Now suddenly you’re having a moral crisis?”
Herod sank back onto the bed, the weight of his choices crushing down on him. “I keep thinking about Charles. About what he would think. About how I’ve dishonored everything he stood for.”
“Your brother is dead,” Rose said bluntly. “Your parents killed themselves rather than face reality. You’re the only Preston left. You get to decide what the name means now.”
The casual cruelty in her voice cut through him. How had he not seen this side of her before? How had he been so blind? “You never cared about avenging my family, did you?” he asked quietly. “You only cared about using me to get revenge on Camille.”
“We wanted the same thing,” Rose insisted, sitting beside him. “Revenge against the Kanes. Justice for what they did to us.“. “No,” Herod shook his head. “You wanted Camille’s life. Her identity. I was just useful to you because I had resources and a grudge against Victoria.”
Something dark flashed in Rose’s eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?” Herod stood again, unable to bear her cle Successfully unlocked! you. Listening to you. The way you talk about Camille isn’t normal. It’s obsessive. You don’t just want to destroy her, you want to become her.”
“Shut up,” Rose hissed.
“It makes sense now,” Herod continued, the pieces falling into place. “Why you took her husband. Why you tried to take her parents. Why you hate that she’s Victoria’s heir. It was never about hurting her, it was about replacing her.”
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Chapter 142
Rose stood, her face contorted with rage. “I said shut up!”
“What’s your plan after this, Rose?” Herod pressed. “After you destroy Camille completely? Will you try to take her place with Victoria too? Become the daughter she never had?”
Rose slapped him, the sound cracking through the room. “You know nothing about me.”
Herod touched his stinging cheek, staring at this woman he thought he knew. “I know you set me up to take the fall for everything. I know you left evidence in my apartment. I know you made sure you had alibis while I was planting bombs.”
Fear flickered in Rose’s eyes before she masked it with anger. “That’s insane. Why would I do that?”
“Because you never planned for us to be together after this was over, Herod said quietly. I was always going to be the scapegoat. The crazy bomber with a grudge against Victoria Kane,”
“If that’s what you believe, then we have nothing left to discuss,” Rose said coldly, turning away to gather her things.
Herod watched her pack, a strange calm settling over him. “The lawyer reminded me of something Charles used to say.”
Rose didn’t look up. “I don’t care what your dead brother said.”
“He said it’s never too late to be the person you should have been.” Herod’s voice was soft but steady. “I’ve been living with anger for so long. Blaming Victoria Kane for everything bad in my life. Using that as an excuse to do terrible things.”
“Spare me the sermon.” Rose zipped her bag closed. “We need to leave. Now,” She glanced at her watch. “I have a contact meeting us at the bus station in an hour. He’ll get us new IDs, enough to cross the border.”
Herod didn’t move. “I’m not going with you.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Rose grabbed his arm. “If you stay, they’ll catch you. You’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”
“Maybe that’s what I deserve.” Herod pulled his arm away. “For the bombs. For working with you. For betraying everything my brother stood for.”
“This is ridiculous.” Rose threw his jacket at him. “Get dressed. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Herod caught the jacket but didn’t put it on. “Why did you do it, Rose? Why set me up to take all the blame?”
Her expression hardened. “I didn’t.”
“Stop lying,” Herod said, surprising himself with how calm he felt. “Just tell me the truth. Once. Was I ever anything to you besides a useful tool?”
Something flickered in Rose’s eyes, hesitation, perhaps, or calculation. Then her face softened, and she sat beside him, taking his hand.
“Of course you were,” she said, her voice gentle. “You still are. I care about you, Herod. That’s why I need you to come with me now. Before it’s too late.”
The performance was flawless, the concerned lover, the devoted partner. If he hadn’t already seen behind her mask, he might have believed her.
“You’re very good,” he said quietly. “I almost believe you.”
Rose’s grip on his hand tightened painfully. “We need to go. Now.”
Herod pulled his hand away and stood. “I’m done running, Rose. I’m done being your puppet.”
Anger flashed across her face. “If you turn yourself in, they’ll make you tell them everything. I’ll be implicated.”
“Isn’t that what you’re afraid of?” Herod asked. “That I’ll tell them the truth? That the bombings were your idea? That you planned everything?”
“They’ll never believe you,” Rose said, but uncertainty tinged her voice. “You’re the one with the grudge against Victoria Kane. You’re the one with the fingerprints at the bomb sites. You’re the one with the plans in your apartment.”
“Plans you put there,” Herod said. “But you made one mistake.”
“What mistake?” Rose demanded.
“You got greedy. The fake journals, the blueprints, it was too much. Too perfect. It looks staged.”
Rose’s face paled slightly. “You’re delusional.”
“Am I?” Herod walked to his jacket and pulled something from the pocket. A small digital recorder. “I’ve been recording our conversations, Rose. For days now. Ever since I suspected you were setting me up.”
Rose lunged for the recorder, but Herod held it out of reach. “It’s too late. I’ve already made copies. Sent them to people who will know what to do with them if anything happens to me.”
“You’re lying,” Rose hissed, but doubt showed in her eyes.
“Maybe.” Herod pocketed the recorder. “But can you risk it?”
They stood facing each other, the air thick with tension. In Rose’s eyes, Herod saw something he’d never seen before, fear.
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Chapter 142 Real fear.
“What are you going to do?” she asked finally.
“What Charles would have wanted me to do.” Herod picked up his phong from the nightstand. Turn myself in. Tell them everything. Take responsibility for my part in this madness.”
“They’ll lock you up forever,” Rose warned, a hint of desperation in her voice.
“Probably,” Herod agreed. “But at least I’ll be able to look at myself in the mirror again.”
Rose watched him, her mind visibly racing. Then she smiled, that slow, confident smile that had once made his heart race. Now it just made him sad.
“You won’t do it,” she said. “You’re too scared. Too weak. That’s why I had to plan everything. Why I had to push you to act.” Herod shook his head. “You’re wrong. I was weak when I let you manipulate me. When I helped you hurt innocent people. I‘ m finding my strength now.”
He dialed a number on his phone. Rose watched, her confidence faltering.
“Who are you calling?” she demanded.
“The FBI.” Herod held her gaze as he raised the phone to his ear. “It’s time to end this.”
Rose grabbed her bag and rushed to the door. “You’re making a terrible mistake.”
“No,” Herod said quietly. “I already made my mistakes. Now I’m trying to fix them.”
As Rose flung open the door, Herod spoke into the phone. “My name is Herod Preston. I want to turn myself in. But first, I need to tell you about Rose Lewis.”
Rose froze in the doorway, hatred burning in her eyes. “You’ll regret this,” she hissed.
“I already regret so much,” Herod said. “But not this.”
The door slammed behind her. Through the thin curtains, Herod watched Rose run across the parking lot, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared into the distance.
On the phone, a voice asked for his location. Herod gave it, then sat heavily on the bed.
“Sir? Are you still there?” the voice asked.
“Yes,” Herod said, a strange peace settling over him. “I’m ready.”
As he waited for them to arrive, Herod thought of his brother Charles. Of his gentle smile. His kindness. His integrity. “I’m sorry, Charles,” he whispered to the empty room. “For everything. But I’m trying to make it right.”
Outside, sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder. Coming for him. Coming to end one chapter of his life and begin another, one of punishment, of atonement.
Herod closed his eyes, picturing his brother’s face. For the first time in years, he didn’t see disappointment there. Just the gentle understanding Charles had always shown him, even when he didn’t deserve it.
The sirens grew louder. Closer. Herod opened his eyes and stood, straightening his shoulders.
It was time to face what he had done.
A
