CHAPTER 7 – The Shepherd Unmasked
CHAPTER 7 – The Shepherd Unmasked
New York woke to panic.
Every television station carried the same breaking headline.
THE GOVERNOR'S GRANDSON ABDUCTED.
Within hours, three more children from powerful families had disappeared.
No ransom demands.
No public claims.
Only fear.
For the first time in decades, the city's politicians, police commanders, and crime families all wanted the same thing:
To find the Shepherd.
Inside Callahan's penthouse, the atmosphere was grim.
Maps covered the walls.
Photos of missing children filled the conference table.
June stood beside Maisie, who quietly colored pictures while adults discussed war.
Callahan looked at the Project Heir files again.
"There has to be a connection."
Miles nodded.
"There is."
He placed another folder on the table.
"We identified every child listed in the files."
"And?"
"They all had parents with influence."
"Judges."
"Mayors."
"Business owners."
"Police commissioners."
Callahan frowned.
"They weren't choosing children."
"They were choosing leverage."
Just then, Callahan's secure phone rang.
Only five people knew the number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke calmly.
"You've been looking for me."
"The Shepherd."
"Correct."
"Where are the children?"
"They're safe."
"For now."
Callahan's voice hardened.
"If you touch one of them—"
"You misunderstand."
"I don't want dead children."
"I want obedient adults."
Silence filled the room.
Then the Shepherd continued.
"Your father understood what I was building."
"He tried to destroy it."
"So I destroyed him."
June gasped.
Callahan's grip tightened around the phone.
"You murdered Elias Voss."
"I gave the order."
"You'll answer for it."
A soft laugh came through the speaker.
"I already have."
"Look behind you."
The call ended.
Every weapon in the room came up instantly.
Behind Callahan...
Maisie was holding a folded piece of paper.
"Daddy..."
"A man gave me this yesterday."
"What man?"
"The one with the burned face."
Victor Hale.
Callahan unfolded the note.
Only one sentence was written inside.
DON'T TRUST THE MAN WHO ARRIVES FIRST.
One hour later, the FBI arrived.
So did the NYPD.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Leading them was Special Agent Daniel Mercer.
He walked in confidently.
"Mr. Voss."
Callahan studied him.
Mercer had arrived first.
Exactly as the note warned.
"You have information?"
Mercer nodded.
"We located the Shepherd's headquarters."
"So quickly?"
"We intercepted communications."
Miles leaned closer to Callahan.
"Too easy."
Callahan agreed.
Something felt wrong.
Mercer spread photographs across the table.
"The abandoned customs terminal."
"Tonight."
"We attack together."
Callahan stared at the pictures.
Then quietly asked,
"Who gave you these?"
Mercer smiled.
"A confidential informant."
Callahan suddenly noticed something tiny.
Mercer's cufflink.
A silver shepherd's staff.
The same symbol stamped on every trafficking file.
Callahan slowly smiled.
"So."
"I finally found you."
Mercer's expression changed.
For the first time...
The Shepherd looked surprised.
Mercer reached for his pistol.
Too late.
Callahan flipped the heavy conference table into him.
Miles tackled two undercover agents hidden among the FBI team.
Gunfire erupted throughout the penthouse.
Within seconds the room became a battlefield.
Mercer escaped through a shattered window onto the emergency fire stairs.
Callahan chased him alone.
The pursuit raced across rooftops overlooking Manhattan.
Rain poured.
Lightning split the night sky.
Mercer stopped on the edge of an unfinished skyscraper.
"You should have accepted the empire."
"You murdered children."
"I created power."
"You destroyed families."
"They were necessary."
Callahan stepped closer.
"No."
"You were."
Mercer smiled.
"Kill me."
"You'll never find the others."
Callahan lowered his gun.
"I'm not here to kill you."
Police helicopters thundered overhead.
Mercer laughed.
"You still don't understand."
He stepped backward.
May you like
Into empty air.
The Shepherd disappeared into the darkness below.
