Garrett laughed and turned toward Eli. "Your father made life difficult for a lot of important people," he said. "Then he made the mistake of thinking a little paperwork could protect him." Eli felt his stomach knot. He knew better than to believe a captive audience had the power to win an argument, but he could not let the sentence pass. "He protected more people than you ever will," he replied.
Deak said his name softly, warning him to conserve his words. Garrett stared at the boy, then looked away as though he had suddenly found an unpleasant resemblance he could not quite place. Caleb had been stubborn, too. Eli recognized from the man's reaction that the resemblance was not merely physical. It was the fact that a frightened person could still refuse to help someone lie.
Outside, the negotiator reached Garrett by telephone. Rhett could hear only one side of the conversation, but the coordinator explained that the captors had been informed of their right to legal representation and the consequences of harming hostages. A safe release arrangement was offered, and medical assistance was available for everyone inside. Garrett responded by demanding confirmation that files and financial records had been destroyed, an impossible condition that kept the conversation circling back on itself.
Rhett finally spoke to the negotiator. "Tell him the records are preserved in several places. I can't delete them and neither can he. The boy is not a bargaining chip that can change that." The negotiator relayed the message without adding threats of his own. A long silence followed on the phone, then Garrett asked to speak with Rhett directly.
"Mr. Callahan," Garrett said, "your employer has complicated this for everyone." Rhett frowned at the unfamiliar word. "The Iron Ledger is not my employer," he replied.
"It's my family. The boy is my friend's son. If you release him and Deak, we can stop treating tonight like it needs another victim."
"Hale wants the drive," Garrett answered. "Norah Mercer has it, and unless we get it, the boy stays." Rhett looked toward the federal coordinator and saw her shake her head almost imperceptibly. "It's already in official custody," he said. "Hale is going to face questions whether I live or die. Holding Eli doesn't change that."
Garrett ended the call without answering. A few seconds later the lights in the plant's main building flickered and went out, leaving only the perimeter lamps. Rhett heard raised voices and the scuff of movement behind the walls. The coordinator ordered everyone to remain back while trained responders assessed the change. Rhett stood frozen, imagining Eli in a suddenly dark room with men whose patience had already failed.
Inside, Eli reached instinctively for the watch and forced himself to keep his breathing quiet. Deak was still close enough to speak. "Stay where you are," he told him. "You'll hear a lot of noise.