Evan struggled to get his head around it. Jack must have had a Smoke Contingency also, a plan to disappear. Stashed papers and hidden accounts and a cabin in the Alleghenies. Eight years. Eight years.

“So those men I killed that night,” Evan said. “The men who shot you—they were Van Sciver’s men?”

“Yes.”

“How many are there?”

Jack looked at him blankly.

“Orphans,” Evan said.

“From what I can glean, only a half dozen or so left under Van Sciver’s control,” Jack said. “It’s hard to get a precise count because, you know. Orphans.”

“Van Sciver’s hunting down those of us who got out. Those of us who were deemed higher risk.”

“He’s hunting some more than others,” Jack said pointedly.

“They’re neutralizing us.”

“I know,” Jack said. “I been working sub rosa, helping the ones who need it most.”

“You always knew. Even way back when, before you met me in that parking structure. You sent me the fake assignment to kill Van Sciver because you knew I’d refuse and go to ground. You knew I’d never kill one of my own. It was a play.”

Jack broke the mannequin standoff, rubbing his eyes. “It was more complicated than that. Van Sciver was tasked with killing you. If you’d found out, you would’ve destroyed everyone in your path.”

“Yes.”

“The directive came from the highest level. You would have tried to kill your way right up the chain.”

“Yes.”

“You would have died. Even you, Evan.”

“I would have died for the truth instead of running from a lie. That’s what you did to me. Eight years I’ve been running from that goddamned parking lot—”

“Eight years you’ve been alive.”

“That’s all that matters to you?”

“Yes!” Jack brought his fist down on the table, making the bowl jump. “That’s all that matters to me.”

“I thought I killed you. I forced you to break cover to meet me.”

“I told you it wasn’t your fault. I told you it was my choice to meet you. I told you—”

“It doesn’t matter what you said. It matters what happened.”

“I knew you’d never run. Not as long as you thought I was alive. At some point you’d stick your head up, make contact with me, and they would get you.”

“Like you did now?”

“I found out you were in trouble. And I moved heaven and earth to get to you. You’re still a son to me. Look at me. You’re still my son.”

“Do you have any idea what I’ve lived with?”

“How about what I bear?” Jack said. “Taking you from that foster home. Stripping you of … human warmth. Putting you in harm’s way to do harm. I dragged you into all this. I wanted you to get out. I wanted you to have a chance.”

“At what?”