Then I was in prison for the last ten for manslaughter. Then I got paroled.” “So

you’re in violation of that parole.” “I’m in violation of a lot of things.”

“Have you killed anyone else since you left prison, other than those guys who

attacked you at the bar?” “What do you care?” “I’m trying to understand you,

Paul. So I can decide whether to help you or throw you in a cage forever.”

Rogers looked away. “Two people in an alley who tried to rob me after I left

prison. Then a gun dealer in West Virginia I stole an M11 pistol from. I

wouldn’t have killed him, but he was going to shoot me.” Knox and Puller

exchanged glances. Puller said, “Why would you need a gun?” “I wanted to return

the favor for something Jericho did to me.” Puller said, “A gun dealer? West

Virginia? I heard that on the news.” “That’s right.” Knox said, “But his kid was

with him. And he wasn’t harmed.” Rogers said nothing.

 

Puller said, “Why didn’t you kill the boy too? He was a witness.” “I…I just

didn’t.” “So you can control your…impulses?” “I did then.” “Do you know where

they were taking you?” “Probably to dump me in the ocean like Josh Quentin.

Jericho had finished her tests and I’d told her what I knew about Ballard.”

Puller tensed. “You told us you’d tossed an imposter out the window but there

was another man on the beach later. That must be the real Ballard.” “I think the

real Ballard is dead.” “So why would they pretend that he’s still alive?” asked

Knox.

 

Puller was quiet for a few moments before saying, “My brother told us that

Ballard personally controlled all the patents for the technology that Jericho

was selling off to private interests.” He looked at a quizzical Rogers. “That’s