“Your plan is to get him to give everyone else up.” What Dutch didn’t say was that would happen only if they stopped him from killing her first.
“He won’t take the fall alone,” said Burns, who had remained quiet up to that point. “He’s not the man his father was.”
“I have a question,” said Dutch, looking at Doc.
“I’m sure you have many.”
“What about the DHS guy who uncovered all of this? How did he die?”
“Car accident,” answered Copeland. “Or something intended to look like one.”
Dutch scrubbed his face with his hand.
“Can I speak with Dutch alone?” Malin asked.
“Of course,” said Doc.
He, McTiernan, and Copeland stood, but Burns stayed where he was.
“Dad?” said Doc.
Burns nodded. “I’ll join you in a moment.”
Once the three men left the room, Burns stood. “I’ll just say this.” He looked at Dutch. “Montgomery needs to be taken down, but it goes much deeper than just him. Everything I believe in, have fought my whole life for, is at risk. The very principles this nation was founded on are threatened.” With that, Burns walked out.
Dutch understood what the man meant. He also respected what it took for him to say the words out loud. If it were anyone other than Malin putting herself at risk, he wouldn’t have questioned the op that Doc was proposing.
Dutch closed his eyes. He could see the plan that Doc would lay out once they went back in and briefed the team. It would be airtight. Malin would be protected from every angle, but that didn’t stop Dutch from wishing he could volunteer to take her place.
He opened his eyes and looked into hers.
“Dutch?”
He walked over, sat down next to her, and took her hands in his. “I’m struggling.”
“I know you are, but this is something I have to do.”
“I understand. I just don’t like it.”
“Do you have another idea?”
Dutch shook his head. “It’s your mission, Malin. You h
ave to see it through.”
“I’m only going to ask one thing of you.”
“Jesus,” he said, scrubbing his face with his hand. “What?”
“Don’t shoot Montgomery until he’s through testifying.”
“Until he’s through?”
Malin smiled. “After that, I don’t care what happens to him.”
Dutch cupped her cheek. “You’re something else. You know that, right? Think about all the men and women sitting out in that other room. You’re just as badass as every single one of them, if not more so.”
“I think you’re overstating—”