Chapter 15 - Silas’s Version of Darren’s DeathSilas talked after arrest.
Not immediately.
Not completely.
But enough.
He insisted Darren’s death created everything.
“My brother was chased into a wall.”
Evan sat behind observation glass.
Lena corrected him.
“He lost control entering an exit ramp.”
“Because police chased him.”
“He was riding a stolen motorcycle at one hundred seven miles per hour before officers initiated pursuit.”
Silas looked away.
“Details.”
“No.”
Lena leaned forward.
“Details are the difference between grief and mythology.”
That line mattered.
Silas had spent years editing Darren’s death.
Removing Darren’s choices.
Removing Paige’s overdose.
Removing vehicle theft.
Removing speed.
Keeping only:
Police chased my brother.
Motor unit killed him.
That story justified revenge.
Evan understood the temptation.
He had nearly built similar certainty around Cole’s disappearance.
Silas continued:
“Mercer beat Darren.”
“That happened.”
“Police covered it.”
“Mercer covered it.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Lena shook her head.
“One officer committing misconduct does not make every officer part of it.”
Silas laughed.
“Convenient.”
“You used Mercer’s crime to make him commit more.”
Silence.
“You became the thing you claimed to hate.”
Silas’s face hardened.
Evan almost entered.
Didn’t.
Later, Cole asked:
“Did you hit him?”
“No.”
“Disappointing.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Healthy sign.”
Cole recovered at Evan’s apartment temporarily.
Two brothers who had lived independently for years now fought over cereal and bathroom towels.
Normal irritation felt miraculous.
Natalie stayed with Elaine and Blaire under protection while cases developed.
Blaire faced charges.
Robbery conspiracy.
Attempted kidnapping involvement.
Vehicle theft participation.
Her cooperation mattered.
So did coercion.
But she was not treated as innocent.
She accepted that.
“I hurt people.”
Natalie told her:
“You were trying to save me.”
Blaire shook her head.
“That explains it.”
Her voice broke.
“Doesn’t erase it.”
Evan respected her more after hearing that.
Cole’s legal position was complicated too.
He had sabotaged stolen motorcycles.
Helped captives escape.
Also participated in unauthorized movement of vehicles and concealed information.
Prosecutors ultimately treated him primarily as victim and cooperating witness.
But Evan confronted him privately.
“You could have gotten people killed.”
Cole stared.
“By staying?”
“By improvising.”
“What was I supposed to do?”
“Find law enforcement.”
“I tried.”
“Again.”
“Mallory knew.”
“Again.”
Cole stood.
“You weren’t there.”
Evan’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“No.”
Cole looked at him.
“You don’t.”
Silence.
“They had Natalie.”
“I know.”
“They told me they’d move her somewhere nobody found if I ran.”
“You believed them.”
“Yes.”
“So you stayed.”
“Yes.”
Evan looked away.
Cole continued:
“I knew you’d look.”
“That wasn’t fair.”
“I know.”
“You left breadcrumbs.”
“Yes.”
“You used me.”
Cole’s face fell.
“Yes.”
That admission hurt.
Evan said:
“You decided what risk I should take without telling me.”
“I couldn’t tell you.”
“I know why.”
He sat.
“That doesn’t make it okay.”
Cole nodded.
The brothers had both survived.
That did not make every decision good.
Cole whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Evan believed him.
“Don’t do it again.”
Cole laughed.
“I’m planning a quieter kidnapping next time.”
Evan threw a cushion at him.
Then became serious.
“Why did Silas keep you?”
“Motorcycles.”
“And?”
Cole looked down.
“He liked making me hear things about you.”
“What things?”
“Mercer’s information.”
Evan’s stomach tightened.
“Your route.”
“Your schedules.”
“He wanted me to know your own people were helping.”
“Why?”
“To break trust.”
Cole looked at him.
“He kept saying if you came, it would be because he allowed it.”
Evan thought of every clue.
Some Cole left.
Some Rourke discovered.
Some manipulated.
The search had been a fight over who controlled the path.
Then Cole said:
“He wanted me to hate you.”
Evan stared.
“For what?”
“For being police.”
“Did it work?”
Cole smiled.
“I already hated you for that.”
“Good.”
“But no.”
His smile faded.
“He wanted me to think the badge mattered more than me.”
Evan’s chest tightened.
“Did you?”
“Sometimes.”
The truth hurt.
Evan traveled constantly for the motor unit.
Missed birthdays.
Canceled dinners.
Told Cole work mattered.
Cole never had children or spouse, so Evan assumed his brother needed less.
Maybe that was wrong.
“I’m sorry.”
Cole looked surprised.
“For what?”
“For making you wonder.”
Cole stared.
Then nodded.
Silas’s methods worked because they attached to existing cracks.
He did not invent Mercer’s shame.
Mallory’s secret.
Blaire’s fear.
Natalie’s loyalty.
Cole’s insecurity.
He found them.
Pressured them.
Used them.
May you like
Evan realized defeating Silas legally was only one part.
Everyone he had controlled had to decide what to do with the cracks he exposed.
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