The Breach - Ghost Country - Deep Sky

you’ve lost that advantage now. So who’s going to believe you? It won’t carry much weight that you’re a former president, when the people contradicting your claim include the sitting president and his entire cabinet, among many others.”
    Travis watched the resolve fade from Garner’s eyes. Watched something darker take its place.
    “It’s over, Rich,” Currey said. “All that’s left is to acknowledge it. And the sooner, the better—at least for you. We’d be happy to leave you alone, once you’ve cooperated. It’s not in our interests to stir up any headlines just now.”
    Garner looked at Paige, right beside him, then at Bethany and Travis.
    “What happens to the others?” Garner said. “And don’t bullshit me, Walter. I’ll be able to tell.”
    “I know it,” Currey said. There was a long pause, and then he said, “All right, fine. They die. They go to Rockport Army Depot on Long Island, they get interrogated by some friends of ours there, and then they get a bullet to the temple each. Sound like the truth? The thing is, that part happens regardless of the outcome. You can’t help them. You need to take care of yourself, now. So do it. Get on the call and make it right. I’ll get out of the way so you can.”
    The line clicked dead.
    Finn pressed the button to hang up the phone, then held it out to Garner.
    The wall clock showed thirty seconds left. In all likelihood, Travis knew, the other parties had already called in and were waiting.
    Garner didn’t take the phone. He looked at the three of them again, beside him along the wall. His eyes stayed on each one for a few seconds. Then he looked down, straight in front of himself. Travis saw his eyes track across the floor in an arc, just below the feet of the six gunmen. It almost seemed that he was getting a sense of the men, without appearing to do so. Travis wondered why. He did the same himself. He took in their posture. They were alert but not poised. Their weapons had dropped to their sides over the past couple minutes—but they could be aimed again in a quarter second, so Travis couldn’t see how it mattered. Maybe Garner’s assessment was only the manifestation of a wish that he could do something. Nothing more than that. Already he was staring down at his hands, folded before him. Looking hopeless. Looking like he’d made up his mind.
    He took the phone from Finn.
    “Keep it on speaker,” Finn said.
    Garner nodded.
    “Sir, don’t do this,” Paige said.
    She looked at Garner, but the man could no longer meet her eyes. He punched a number into the phone. It began to ring.
    “Mr. President…” Paige said. Travis heard her voice crack. It had nothing to do with fear, he knew. It was simply disappointment to a crushing degree. Paige had known Garner for some time, and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Or didn’t want to, at least.
    The ringing stopped and a recording came on. It told Garner to enter something called a bridge code. He entered it. There was a tone and a series of clicks. Travis guessed the same recorded voice was letting the others on the call know that Garner had joined.
    A tear overran one of Paige’s eyes and drew a long track down her cheek.
    Then the line opened and several voices were speaking at once, saying hello and asking if everyone was on.
    “Gentlemen,” Garner said.
    The voices went quiet.
    Garner took a breath. Continued avoiding Paige’s stare. He let the breath out slowly.
    “Gentlemen, I seem to have inconvenienced you for nothing. I’ve just spoken at length with President Currey, and I’m now confident that he has control of what I planned to discuss with you. It’s not something any of us needs to worry about. And I’m sorry to cut it short, but that’ll be it.”
    He turned the phone off. Lowered his head.
    Finn looked more relieved than happy. Travis could almost see sympathy for Garner in his expression.
    “You’re a realist,” Finn said. “I could always see that in you. There’s no shame in it. You’re a man who understands his options, that’s all.”
    He took the phone from Garner.
    Garner didn’t look at him, but after a second he finally met Paige’s eyes.
    “You probably want to slap my face as hard as you can,” Garner said.
    “Don’t tempt me,” Paige said.
    “No, I think you should do it. You’ll feel better. So will I.”
    For a moment she only stared at him. His face was devoid of anything but pity, maybe for himself more than the three