Chapter 8 - Miller Walks Into Dalton Combat Academy
The police wanted Jack and Hannah moved.
Jack agreed.
That surprised everyone.
A protected hotel suite.
Two officers outside.
No social media.
No predictable travel.
Hannah asked:
"Are you really okay with hiding?"
Jack answered:
"This isn't hiding."
"What is it?"
"Removing an easy target."
She smiled faintly.
"Marine answer."
"Father answer."
Meanwhile Laura's team raided Forge Athletics.
The warehouse had been partially cleared.
But not enough.
They found blood on mats.
Betting ledgers.
Camera equipment.
Sedatives.
Medical supplies.
And one locked room.
Inside were belongings belonging to women on the red list.
Phones.
Passports.
Clothing.
Copies of identification.
Material useful for intimidation.
Rick Dalton disappeared before police reached the gym.
Dustin remained.
He believed he was protected by distance.
He believed Hannah still feared him.
He sent her a message.
Tell Grandpa to come talk to me if he's such a hero.
Hannah showed Jack.
"You know this is bait."
"Yes."
"You're smiling."
"No."
"You are."
Jack looked at Laura.
"What if I go?"
Laura stared at him.
"Absolutely not."
"Public gym."
"No."
"Full of witnesses."
"No."
"He wants to posture."
"Jack."
"Which makes him careless."
Laura crossed her arms.
"You don't get to become undercover because you're bored."
Jack looked at Hannah.
She surprised both of them.
"Let him go."
Laura turned.
"Hannah."
"Dustin thinks Dad is an old man."
Jack smiled.
"He isn't entirely wrong."
Hannah ignored him.
"He'll talk."
Laura thought.
Then said:
"Only under conditions."
That was how Sergeant Miller entered Dalton Combat Academy the next afternoon.
Microphone beneath his shirt.
Detectives outside.
Multiple cameras.
Hannah listening remotely.
Jack walked onto the blue mat.
The fighters recognized him only as an old man.
Dustin laughed.
"Did your daughter send Grandpa to scare me?"
Jack said nothing.
The coach filling in for Rick, unaware of the investigation's full scope, pointed toward the exit.
"Walk away before you leave on a stretcher."
Jack rolled his sleeves.
"You put my daughter in the emergency room."
Dustin's smile weakened.
The moment unfolded almost exactly as Jack had predicted.
Pride made Dustin talk.
He mocked Hannah.
He insulted Jack.
He hinted that Rick had protected him before.
Then he made the mistake police needed.
Jack asked:
"Did Rick erase the video?"
Dustin smirked.
"Which one?"
Jack gave no reaction.
Dustin realized too late.
Then the young fighter recognized Miller.
The room fell silent.
Dustin became angry.
Embarrassment replaced caution.
He swung.
Jack controlled him without unnecessary injury.
Police entered.
Dustin was arrested.
Investigators searched the gym.
They recovered the second phone.
Videos.
Messages.
Contact lists.
Evidence connecting Rick to Forge Athletics.
Then Laura found something beneath the office desk.
A hidden lockbox.
Inside was a photograph.
Jack at Camp Lejeune.
Someone had drawn a red circle around his face.
Hannah stared when Laura showed her.
"This started before I was born."
Jack nodded.
But another item mattered more.
An envelope labeled MILLER.
Inside were photographs of Hannah.
College.
Work.
Gym.
Grocery store.
A year's worth of surveillance.
One photograph showed Jack's house.
Another showed Hannah and Jack at Christmas.
Hannah sat down.
"Dustin was watching us before we met."
Jack looked toward the interview-room glass.
Then Laura placed one final photo on the table.
A man stood beside Rick Dalton.
Older.
Tall.
Silver hair.
Jack recognized him immediately.
"Anthony Webb."
Laura frowned.
"The Marine Danner nearly killed?"
Jack nodded.
Hannah stared.
"Why would he be standing with Rick?"
Jack had no answer.
Then he turned the photograph over.
A date had been written on the back.
Three months earlier.
May you like
Under it:
FINAL PHASE APPROVED.
