“Sorry, bro. What you are is a distraction. And what I am is rich. See, I had a little side project, one worth millions in gold. The only problem was how to get away without getting caught. That’s why I want to thank you. Because what you’ve done today? That’s tied up every cop and deputy and FBI agent for miles. And since they’re all busy with you at the mall, they don’t care about little old me.”

“Wait a minute,” Lips says slowly. “When’s the plane coming? I don’t get it.”

“Idiot!” Ron gives Lips’s shoulder a shove. “He double-crossed us.”

“But what about the cause?” Wolf asks.

“What about it?” Kilo says. “Nobody cares. Nothing’s going to change. Timothy McVeigh blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma and killed 168 people. He thought he’d inspire a revolt against the government. All he got was a lethal injection. And how about 9/11? Two freaking buildings collapsed and nearly 3,000 people died. But did anything fundamental change afterward? No.”

“Our message will still get out!” Mole insists, but his voice trembles.

“I used to be like you guys,” Kilo says. “I thought I could make people listen. But they’re not going to change. They don’t want to. They like buying crap. They like mindless TV. They like caring about celebrities. And they don’t really care if politicians lie or the army sends poor kids overseas to die. They don’t want to know how things really work. Just as long as they have their creature comforts.” He makes an amused noise. “And you know what? I’ve realized I’m not that much different.”

Wolf shakes his head as if Kilo can see him. “Right now, we’re being carried live on every news site and TV station,” he insists. “And they’re going to broadcast our manifesto. People are paying attention to the cause.”

“And once the live feed ends because you’ve all been killed,” Kilo says matter-of-factly, “people will stop watching and go on to the next entertainment.”

“Forget you!” Lips says. “We’ll tell the cops it was all your idea. You planned the whole thing.”

“I’m afraid you’re not going to be able to do that, Timmy,” Kilo says. “Because we’ve come to a parting of the ways.”

“Yeah!” Wolf says bitterly. “You’re abandoning us here.”

Kilo answers, “That’s not exactly what I mea—”

The last syllable is cut off by a tremendous explosion.

Three Inches Away

THREE INCHES AWAY

6:12 P.M.

Everyone stills as Grace’s hands close on Cole’s throat. Miranda looks at the door. Has Grace’s shout just given them away?

“Shh, Grace, they’ll hear you.”