Page 118 of Airborne
“Did he ever fight back?” Heather said. Jackson shook his head. “What other instances could help us connect with your brother?”
He ran his hands through his hair, another mannerism she’d seen in Thomas. “He said one day he’d build a bomb to kill our father, but he was afraid our mom might be hurt. I wanted to tell Father, but we left the States a couple of days later.”
“Were there happy times with your brother?”
“When Father was gone, we’d play together like boys. The moment Father returned, Thomas changed, as though forced to be a different person. A defense mechanism.” Jackson studied the table as though it held more interest than anything in the room.
“Mr. Powell, are you okay?” Heather said.
He lifted his head. “I’ve had considerable time to think about my brother. I’m fearful Thomas suffered a personality disorder resulting from our father’s treatment, that he’s mad. If I’m right, then the disorder may still be prevalent.”
Jackson’s words reinforced what she’d witnessed. “You were eleven years old at the time. You needed a method to survive the dysfunction, a means of self-preservation. If your conclusions about Thomas are right, he’s a threat to others and himself.”
“While neither of you will tell me the reason Thomas is under investigation, I’ll speculate. A virus breaks out on the flight, a deliberate action according to the media, and Thomas escapes contracting it. Something has prompted the FBI’s suspicion.”
Heather allowed Jackson’s words to settle. “What is the real reason you’re here?”
“We want the same thing—the truth. Seeing me would serve asa reminder of our childhood, trigger an episode or prove my fears are false. There are no legal ramifications for me to ask him if he planned to kill our father and me. And if the situation arises, I’ll ask him if he is involved with the virus.”
“Why now after all these years?”
“If I hadn’t been such a coward, I’d have reported our father’s abuse to a teacher or a neighbor. My intentions are to put a dent in my past mistakes with my brother. To ease my conscience, I will support Thomas whether he’s at fault in a crime or innocent.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
JACKSON POWELL LEFT THE FBI BUILDINGafter promising not to contact Thomas until Saturday. Heather and ASAC Mitchell tossed ideas about how to force Thomas to confess his crimes, and now they had a plan, a shaky one, but Heather believed in it.
“Jackson gave us incredible information,” she said. “Now we have time to implement my idea. Chad wants to help.”
Mitchell frowned. “Aren’t you concerned about his safety? SWAT is all we need.”
“Chad has already taken way too many chances. I’ll request he wear a vest, and I’ll be wired. He said he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
“Sounds biblical.”
“Sort of. I don’t want him hurt or worse, but I accept his reasoning.”
“This has risky all over it, Heather—a huge hole. Who in their right mind wants to visit the zoo in August? Heat index has been well over a hundred degrees for the past five days. My wife ran hot and hotter when she was in your condition.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but your reasons against staging an operation there are the same as why it will work. I’ll tell Thomas I’m taking Friday off, and I’d like for us to spend the morning at the zoo. It opens at nine. Not crowded yet or miserable.” She navigated her phone to the zoo’s website. “There’s a new avian conservation center.”
“A what?”
“Birds.”
Mitchell worried his lip. “Your theory is Chad’s confrontation and your questions will push Thomas into his other personality?”
“Exactly.”
“And then what?”
“Confession. Action on his part. My dad says the purpose of light is to illuminate, and the new information on the Powell brothers explains even more why Thomas has to be stopped.” Mitchell continued to hesitate, and she braved forward. “We’re confronting Thomas. How he responds will be heard and witnessed by agents.”
“What if the ploy fails? He’s sure to see your hand in it. The FBI would look like idiots after he’s been nominated for sainthood. Don’t get me started on the media’s take.”
“It’s a gamble.” She held up her palm. “Do you have a better idea? If so, let’s hear it.”
“No.” He rubbed his face. “At 10p.m. tonight, the FBI will declare Lawrence Labs is cleared, and Chad will be exonerated.”
