Chapter 15 - Come Alone
A message arrived that evening.
MIDNIGHT. DINER. COME ALONE.
Lena showed everyone.
Then she went.
Not alone.
Never again.
Jack hid in the kitchen.
Nolan waited outside.
Federal agents covered the surrounding buildings.
Daniel, against every doctor's order, insisted on being nearby.
At midnight Vale entered.
He looked smaller.
Older.
Defeated.
But dangerous.
Lena stood behind the counter wearing her pink waitress uniform.
Vale almost smiled.
“Coffee?”
She lifted the pot.
“Why not?”
She poured.
His hand trembled slightly as he lifted the cup.
“You could have lived an ordinary life.”
“I did.”
“No. Your parents stole that from you.”
“They made mistakes.”
“They lied.”
“Yes.”
“They abandoned you.”
“My father did.”
Vale looked surprised by her honesty.
Lena continued.
“I don't have to pretend what they did was perfect in order to know why they did it.”
Vale's eyes narrowed.
“You've become inconveniently mature.”
“I work customer service.”
He laughed.
Then placed a gun on the counter.
“Ledger.”
“No.”
“Your father will die.”
“He's already almost died several times. Your threats are getting repetitive.”
Vale's smile vanished.
“Ledger.”
Lena leaned closer.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“You lost before you walked in.”
Sirens illuminated the windows.
Vale grabbed the gun.
Jack emerged.
Nolan entered.
Agents surrounded the diner.
Vale looked at Lena.
“You planned this.”
May you like
“My mother taught me.”
For the first time, Gideon Vale looked afraid.
