Page 121 of Until the End

Sanborn had a well-laid plan, the depths of which she couldn’t possibly conceive. Diversions. Illusions. False promises.

She didn’t know what to think, what to believe.

“Eight, seven, six.”

Heart throbbing in her throat, she stared at the screen. At Castle. His head was starting to move side to side, but he was in no condition to fight, much less stand.

“Five, four. Castle’s blood will be on your hands.”

Seeing Castle helpless, the gun pointed to his head, the thought of him dying scared the hell out of her. Sent a deep, intense panic spiraling in her gut.

“I have no intention of killing him,” Sanborn continued, “unless you force me to.”

Her lungs ached with each freaked-out breath.

She’d always known she was on borrowed time. Maybe death had let her live this long so she could save Castle now. If there was the smallest chance, no matter how miniscule, that Sanborn would spare Castle, then she had to take it.

Her life for his.

“Three, two.”

Kit entered the code, disengaging the lock. The door swung open and Kit rushed toward Castle. Bravo cut her off, snatching her arm, and hauled her back into the room.

Castle raised his head, his eyelids droopy, and mumbled something, but she couldn’t hear him.

Sanborn bent down, lowering his ear to his mouth. “What was that?” He paused, listening. “Yes, you’re quite right.” Sanborn’s gaze lifted to her. “Castle said you shouldn’t have opened the door, because it was a bluff. I wasn’t going to kill him.”

Her eyes stung. The burn ran all the way to her heart.

“Where’s the third hard drive?” Sanborn asked.

Reflexively, Kit clutched her satchel, wanting to rewind time, open the safety deposit box, and store the drive there for safekeeping. “What are you talking about? There isn’t a third drive.”

Sanborn gestured to the blond woman, who grabbed Kit’s bag and searched it.

“Two drives are in here,” the woman said. “One of them is what you’re looking for.”

“The first day you walked into the Gray Box,” Sanborn said, “I knew who you were, that you had three drives in your possession, and that you were a filthy liar.”

Sanborn gestured to the men holding Castle. They dragged him into the room and handcuffed him to one of the storage units.

“Remove his boots,” Sanborn said. “He keeps handcuff keys in one of them.”

“Why?” Castle groaned, his head lolling from side to side as he struggled to regain full consciousness. “Why send both us and Bravo to the park that day?” His voice was weak and raspy.

“Willow is a shrewd analyst. She found the messages between Kit01Y0L0 and Illuminati411. I’d already deduced that Ms. Westcott was Kit01Y0L0. Knowing her identity helped Bravo make the connection to Gary Hodges, otherwise known as Illuminati411. I had to deploy the Gray Box to the park, there was no way around it, but Bravo followed Hodges in the hopes of intercepting Ms. Westcott first. If Bravo had gotten to her seconds before you, think of the colossal headache it would’ve saved us all.”

“Apartment.” Castle slurred the word. “MIT.”

Kit wanted to go to him, nurse him through this, tell him that he’d be all right.

“Both regrettable incidents.” Sanborn took a knee in front of Castle and raised his chin as he spoke to him. “You neglected to tell me you were going to her apartment or MIT. Bravo is excitable. Not unlike you. Once you give him a mission, he will do his darnedest to see it done. I did tie one of his hands behind his back with orders not to kill you, but he understood how important it was for me to get those hard drives, contain Ms. Westcott, and tie up loose ends.”

“He’s a loose end,” Bravo said, gesturing to Castle. “Are you sure you don’t want me to smoke him?”

“Castle isn’t a loose end.” Steel threaded Sanborn’s words. “He and I were made from the same mold. Both of us willing to sacrifice anything for the republic. For the greater good. He was me, twenty years ago. Once this piece of garbage has been disposed of,” Sanborn said, throwing a glare at Kit that made her heart thunder in her chest, “and I’m able to sit him down, explain my reasons for all this, he will not only understand. He will thank me.”

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