Page 45 of Defender

Damien put his arm around Harper’s shoulder and walked him to another bedroom.He showed him “the wall”—an impressive collection of maps, pictures, newspaper clippings.Like something straight out of a super-spy movie.

Some of it was junk, but not all of it.Damien had no doubt when the brilliant profiling minds at Omega finally saw the wall, they’d be able to put together the clues.To follow the breadcrumbs Damien was leaving them about his next intended victims.And there were many.

Whether they’d figure it out in time wasn’t really Damien’s problem.If they did, he’d just move on to someone else.

Of course, Agent Fitzgerald wouldn’t be helping them figure out the next victims.He’d be too busy mourning the current ones or hopefully be dead himself.

How well Damien remembered those early days of losing Natalie.When the grief was so fresh he couldn’t breathe because of it, much less do anything functional.

Omega Sector would know that grief.The unbearable grief.And then Fawkes would take over with his revolution and tear the entire place down.

Harper walked over in awe of the wall, as Damien knew he would be.

“Wow, this looks like something from out of one of those CSI shows or something.”

Damien smiled.“A good plan is the backbone of any successful mission.And we have one.”Damien gestured at the wall.“You just need to trust me.You know you can trust me, right, Curtis?We want the same thing.”

Harper nodded, obviously as clueless as he’d ever been.“Yeah, Damien.I know I can trust you.”

Damien talked to Harper for a few more minutes, promising him his revenge against Ashton Fitzgerald soon, before walking Harper to the door.

“I’ll be in touch, don’t worry.”

Harper smiled.“As long as Fitzgerald’s dead at the end of this, I’ll give you the time you need.”

You had to admire a simple-minded man’s single focus.He slapped Harper on the back.“Absolutely.”

He closed the door behind him as Harper left.

“Harper is an idiot, you know.”Fawkes had relaxed a little with Harper’s exit, although Damien doubted the man ever relaxed completely.Some people didn’t.

“Harper is weakening a piece of Omega’s Critical Response Division, no matter how small.That’s all that matters.”

“They know it’s him.They already found forensic evidence of him on the roof.I’m sure they’ll find more at Summer Worrall’s place.They’ll be hunting him.”

Damien rubbed his palms together.“That’s fine.Because Curtis Harper is expendable in our greater plan.Don’t forget that.”

Fawkes sighed.“Harper isn’t smart enough to stay out of Omega Sector’s clutches for long.They’ve been studying his patterns and known associates all day.They’ll catch him soon.”

“Hopefully not before he’s served his ultimate purpose, but if so, we can adapt.”

“Aren’t you afraid Harper will implicate you?I know he only knows your first name, but I’m surprised you brought him here at all.”

Damien smiled and walked into the kitchen.“Curtis leading Omega agents here is part of my ultimate plan.”

“But they’ll know who you are.They’ll be hunting you.”

“They’re already hunting me.This will just make them a little more diligent about it.So I hope Curtis Harper’s limited information about me will lead them straight here and eventually directly to me.I want Omega’s eyes wide open about who they’re fighting.I want them to know from where their destruction comes.”

“If they ‘know from where their destruction comes—’” mockery tinged Fawkes’ voice “—they’re going to be much more likely to try to defend themselves.Don’t underestimate them.”

“I don’t underestimate them.”Damien lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.“I just don’t underestimate myself, either.”

Fawkes sighed.“Why is Summer Worrall even being brought into this?Our fight is not with her.”

Natalie’s face came to his mind.Her face right before Omega Sector had burst into their home, killing her.She hadn’t even looked surprised.

Oh yes, his fight very much was with Summer Worrall.She was a loved one of Omega Sector.Just like Natalie had been a loved one of his.

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