Chapter 14 - Hannah Takes Back Her Name
Anthony Webb was gone.
His apartment had been cleared.
Phone abandoned.
Bank accounts untouched.
Vehicle found at a bus station.
Laura considered him a fugitive.
Jack considered him something worse.
Unfinished.
But before chasing another ghost, there was one thing more important.
Hannah.
Dustin Parker was formally charged with assault.
Then conspiracy.
Illegal gambling offenses.
Blackmail-related crimes.
Additional charges followed as more women spoke.
The evidence from the gym broke the silence.
Melissa returned to North Carolina and gave a full statement.
Katie testified.
Two other women came forward.
Then seven.
Then eleven.
Hannah watched the news without speaking.
Jack sat beside her.
"You okay?"
"No."
"Good answer."
She smiled slightly.
"I thought I'd feel better."
"Why?"
"Because he's going to prison."
"Maybe."
"You don't think so?"
"I think relief and healing are different things."
She looked at him.
"Another Marine lesson?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Old father lesson."
Hannah leaned back.
"I keep thinking about the first time he hit me."
Jack waited.
"I knew immediately what it meant."
"Okay."
"But I stayed."
"Okay."
"Why aren't you telling me I should've left?"
"Because you already know."
She looked away.
Jack continued.
"You don't need me to prosecute your past self."
Her eyes filled.
"I miss who I was before him."
Jack touched her hand.
"She's still there."
"That's cheesy."
"I've been working on emotional vocabulary."
She laughed.
It hurt her ribs.
She winced.
Jack apologized.
For the first time since the hospital, Hannah's laughter sounded real.
Two weeks later she testified before the grand jury.
Dustin saw her in the courthouse hallway.
He tried smiling.
She did not look away.
"You ruined my life," he whispered.
Hannah stopped.
Jack stood twenty feet away.
He did not move.
This belonged to her.
Hannah looked at Dustin.
"No."
Her voice was calm.
"You did."
Dustin's smile faded.
"You think your dad saved you?"
Hannah shook her head.
"I saved myself when I stopped lying for you."
His face hardened.
"You'll regret this."
A deputy moved closer.
Hannah almost smiled.
"That's the difference between us."
"What?"
"I already know what regret feels like."
She walked away.
Jack felt something in his chest loosen.
Not victory.
Something better.
Agency.
Hannah had taken back her name.
That evening victims met privately with prosecutors.
The case against Dalton expanded.
Forge Athletics was shut down.
Dalton Combat Academy closed permanently.
The state athletic commission suspended licenses associated with the operation.
Several fighters who cooperated avoided charges.
Others did not.
Cole Mercer disappeared.
Victor Mercer was reportedly in Europe.
Ethan Cole entered federal protective custody after providing documents.
For the first time, the visible part of the network was collapsing.
Jack sat on his porch with Hannah.
Sunset.
Quiet.
She drank tea.
He drank coffee.
"Are you going after Anthony?" she asked.
"I'm helping Laura."
"That wasn't my question."
Jack smiled.
"Yes."
She sighed.
"Dad."
"Legally."
"Very specific answer."
"Intentionally."
She looked at him.
"Promise me something."
"Depends."
"If this turns into whatever Atlas is..."
Jack waited.
"Don't make me the reason you destroy yourself."
His expression changed.
"Hannah."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"You went into that gym because of me."
"I went because police asked me to help make Dustin talk."
"You enjoyed it."
Jack considered lying.
Did not.
"A little."
She shook her head.
"You scared everyone."
"That wasn't the goal."
"It was absolutely the goal."
He smiled.
Then Hannah became serious.
"I need you alive more than I need revenge."
Jack looked at her.
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
He meant it.
Mostly.
Then his phone buzzed.
Laura.
We found Anthony.
Jack stood.
Hannah watched.
"Where?"
Jack called Laura.
She answered immediately.
"He's not under arrest."
"Why?"
"Because he walked into the station."
Jack frowned.
"Voluntarily?"
"Yes."
"What does he want?"
"You."
Jack looked toward Hannah.
"Why?"
Laura hesitated.
"He brought a file from 1993."
Jack's grip tightened.
"What file?"
"The original investigation into Rick Danner."
"So?"
"Jack."
Laura's voice became quieter.
"The official report was altered."
Jack froze.
"How?"
"Your testimony isn't the same as the copy in the archived file."
"What?"
"Someone changed it."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"And Anthony?"
"He says he knows."
Jack looked toward the darkening road.
"What does he want in exchange?"
"Nothing."
That worried Jack more.
Laura continued.
"He says he came back because Atlas contacted him."
Jack became still.
"When?"
"Today."
"What did Atlas say?"
Laura took a breath.
"He told Anthony the Miller phase was complete."
Jack looked toward Hannah.
May you like
"What does that mean?"
"Anthony won't explain unless you're here."
