Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday morning arrived, and Ewen wasn’t sure what he thought would happen, but getting up and making coffee…it was all very ordinary. He sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, watching Lamont’s phone light up with yet another call request, the thirteenth call in two hours.
“You could turn it off,” Ewen suggested.
“I will.” Lamont declined the call. “After I make sure Redford doesn’t need anything.”
“He said he’d call if he needed us.”
“I know which is why” - another call, another decline - “I just want to be available in case…”
“In case something goes catastrophically wrong?” Ewen pulled Lamont’s laptop - that he’d been using - closer to him, refreshing the Der Spiegel homepage for the umpteenth time.
His article sat at the top, the headline huge and impossible to miss – “BLOOD MONEY: How Hardline Defense Sacrificed Soldiers for Profit.” “Face it, no matter what, it’s done.
The story’s out there. We can’t un-publish it. ”
“I know that, too.” Lamont finally powered down the phone and tossed it on the nightstand. “How are you feeling?”
“Honestly? A little anticlimactic.”
Ewen scrolled through the comments section, watching the numbers climb.
There were thousands of shares and hundreds of comments.
Most people were furious at Ewen’s findings, some were skeptical, and yes, there were a few who were calling him a liar, but Ewen didn’t let that bother him.
Some people still believed the Earth was flat.
“I spent months on this investigation. People died because of this. That’s discounting the fact I got kidnapped, nearly died from mating sickness, and now it’s just...out there. People are reading it over their morning coffee, and most of them will just go on with their day.”
“That’s generally how journalism works.”
“I know, but…it doesn’t make it less weird.” Ewen closed the laptop. “I keep expecting something to happen. Another attack, or Arcturus agents breaking down the door, or…”
“Arcturus agents are too busy dealing with federal agents to worry about us.” Lamont sprawled out on the bed beside him, resting on his side.
“I didn’t think any of the arrests were going to happen until tomorrow, but Redford’s team is already moving.
Half of Arcturus’s leadership is in custody already. ”
“Only half?” That wasn’t making Ewen feel any better. It only took one random with a gun…
“The other half scattered like roaches when the lights came on.” Lamont’s hand stroked through Ewen’s hair. “But they’ll turn up eventually. They always do.”
Ewen let out a long breath, forcing himself to relax, which was another term that always seemed weird to him, but it worked.
Keeping his breathing slow and deep, in and out, he took in Lamont’s scent, sensing through their bond how proud Lamont was of him…
and how protective. “You know I said I wasn’t doing interviews. ”
“I know.”
“So why does everyone keep calling?”
“Because you wrote the story of the year and everyone wants a piece of you.” Lamont kissed the top of his head. “They’ll give up eventually. Did you want to watch the news? We’ve got cable.”
“I suppose we’d better see what people are saying.” Although a big part of Ewen wanted to hide under the blankets, but then he always felt like that when a story of his went live.
There was a lot of news, and a lot of outlets were covering Ewen’s article, both in Europe, in the US, and even in places like Australia.
Ewen and Lamont spent Monday and most of Tuesday eating takeout and flipping between different news channels, catching the updates as fast as they were going live.
CNN was running updates every hour, bringing in military experts to analyze the armor specifications.
MSNOW interviewed veterans who’d served with the forty-three soldiers killed by faulty equipment.
Fox News tried spinning the whole thing as some kind of conspiracy before public outrage forced them to shift focus to Hardline’s corporate wrongdoing.
The German coverage was more measured but no less damning.
Der Spiegel ran a special evening broadcast with Klaus Brenner himself walking viewers through the evidence.
The Guardian published a companion piece about the UK’s own defense contractor oversight failures.
Le Monde connected Hardline’s corruption to broader patterns in the military-industrial complex.
“Look at that.” Ewen pointed at the CNN ribbon scrolling across the bottom of the screen, late Monday afternoon. brEAKING: Congressional Hearings Announced for Hardline Defense Scandal.
“They really didn’t have any choice with all the outcry this business is causing.” Lamont refilled Ewen’s coffee mug. “Can you imagine the number of phone calls that would’ve been going on since your article broke? There’ll be a lot of people looking to cover their asses.”
“Hmm, public pressure is working.” Ewen watched Senator Channing - one of the politicians he’d named in the article - issue a carefully worded statement condemning Hardline while conveniently ignoring her own involvement. “She’s trying to get ahead of it.”
Lamont laughed. “I wonder if she knows the FBI already has her financial records.”
The best moment came on Tuesday morning when Ewen was eating toast in bed. He was scrolling the internet looking for a new phone. He couldn’t keep having Lamont take his calls, although it was really peaceful not having to respond to anyone. Lamont had the German news playing in the background.
“Ewen.”
Something in Lamont’s voice made him look up.
“Winters has been arrested.”
Ewen nearly choked on his toast. “He what?”
Lamont turned up the volume. The anchor was describing FBI raids at the Department of Defense, using words like “sealed indictments,” and “multiple arrests.” A photo of Assistant Deputy Director Martin Winters flashed on screen - the same smug bureaucrat who totally devalued soldiers’ lives to save money - now being escorted out of his office in handcuffs.
“They got him,” Ewen whispered, tears prickling his eyes. “They actually got him. That one’s for you, Cortesi.”
“I am so damn glad we have Redford on our side.” Lamont was grinning with pride. “That is one man who doesn’t mess around.”
Ewen put his toast down and quickly swiped at his eyes.
He should be celebrating - Winter’s arrest was a huge deal - and yet no number of arrests was going to bring back the people killed because of corporate greed.
He got held in a basement, and yes, he could’ve died, too.
But Cortesi did die. So did Ewen’s brave contact in Cairo, and that’s without the forty-odd soldiers Ewen proved had died in faulty vehicles.
What’s worse is that there could’ve been so many others, and yet Ewen would likely never know.
“Hey.” The mattress dipped as Lamont sat beside him, reaching for his hand. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” Ewen’s voice came out rough, and he coughed. “Yeah, I just...it’s real. All this shit is actually happening.”
“It’s happening because of you.” Lamont hugged him. “You did this. We might never know how many, but you saved lives today. There is no way any government can hide this under a rug. Positive changes will have to be made.”
The good news kept rolling through the day. Ewen watched Hardline Defense’s stock price plummet in real-time on the business news ticker. By the close of trading on Tuesday the price was down seventy-three percent and still falling. “How long until they declare bankruptcy, do you think?”
“Two weeks. Maybe three if they’re stubborn.” Lamont changed the channel to BBC World News, where a panel of experts was dissecting the implications for international defense contracting. “Either way, they’re finished.”
Leaning back against the pillows Ewen knew he should have been over the moon.
The article, and the work behind it, were the biggest things he’d achieved in his entire career.
It was what any journalist aspired to and, with Lamont’s help, he’d done it.
But instead of wanting to celebrate, Ewen just felt tired and ready to move on.
“When can we leave for Santorini, do you think?”
“Whenever you want.” Lamont pulled out his phone and checked his messages. “Redford says we’re clear to go wherever. He might need us for depositions later, but he’s already said that won’t be for months.”
“So, we could go now?”
“We could.” Lamont hesitated. “You mentioned your house last week. Did you want to go and check it out, perhaps pack some of your own clothes? Not that I have a problem zapping or buying anything you need. Or, you know” - Lamont winked - “you could keep wearing my clothes for the entire vacation.”
Ewen glanced down at the borrowed shirt that hung loose on his slimmer frame. “Your clothes are comfortable. I feel like I can get lost in them.”
“That’s because they’re too big for you. Although, I do like seeing you in them.” Lamont stood, offering his hand. “Come on. The hotel has my credit card on file, so we can check out. Let’s get your stuff, and then we’ll disappear to Greece for a month.”
“A whole month? I thought you said we were going for two weeks.”
“Do you have somewhere else you need to be?”
Realizing that he actually didn’t, Ewen took the offered hand and let Lamont pull him to his feet.
“I did notice in all the news coverage over the past two days, The Times didn’t make a single comment about an article with my byline.
I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall when the paper’s owners realize their own editor was basically paid off to shut me down. ”
“I’d noticed.” Lamont nodded, his face grim. “Fuck The Times. They were too damn chicken to stand up for you or to even care when you went missing. You don’t owe them anything and I know I won’t be doing assignments for them again.”
“I know.” And he did. Louise’s phone call still stung, even though Ewen knew she’d been pressured or lied to, but there had been a time when Ewen considered her and his editor friends. “I’m just not sure what I’m going to do after this.”
“After Santorini, you mean?”
“After everything.” Ewen grabbed the laptop and then shook his head as he held it up.
“I don’t even have a laptop of my own, since my last one was compromised, or a phone.
Some journalist I am.” He shoved the laptop into its bag.
“I’ve spent my whole adult life chasing stories, building a reputation, working my ass off. And now...”
“Now you’ve published the biggest exposé of the decade, and you’re independently wealthy because you’re mated to an ancient hellhound who’s had plenty of time to accumulate more assets than he knows what to do with.”
Lamont’s tone was gentle. “You can do whatever you want, Ewen. We’ll replace your laptop, and buy you a phone…
and get you set up on the Zeus network so your calls and information sent online can’t be traced.
But you don’t have to be a journalist if you’ve had enough of that.
You could write a book, for real this time.
Or freelance, like I do, taking on topics you’re passionate about.
You could even start your own publication.
Or, you know what could be really fun? Why don’t you take a year off and just exist for a while? ”
Ewen knew what Lamont was doing, and he truly appreciated it. People would probably grab an opportunity like the one Lamont was offering him with both hands. But if anything, having so many options… “I’m not sure I know how to just exist.”
“Now that’s something I have a millennium’s worth of experience in.” Lamont stepped closer, pressing a kiss to his temple. “We’ll take one step at a time. Step one, your house. Step two, Santorini and a beach that doesn’t have armed mercenaries or corrupt defense contractors anywhere near it.”
“Are you sure about that? Can you guarantee the beaches are mercenary free?” Ewen chuckled as Lamont wrinkled his nose.
“Surely Consort Ali wouldn’t have recommended the place if it wasn’t safe.”