Dark Revelations (18 page)

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Authors: Duane Swierczynski,Anthony E. Zuiker

BOOK: Dark Revelations
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MONTAGE: Cable news footage from the “Labyrinth” murders—Malibu, Dubai.
TALBOT
 
 
He calls himself Labyrinth, and he says that he’s a force of good in the world, not evil.
MONTAGE: Police still—items from Labyrinth’s packages.
TALBOT
 
 
And today, in a worldwide exclusive, Labyrinth is here, live, in the very next studio, ready to explain his actions of the past week.
CUT TO: “Labyrinth,” draped in shadow, in a darkened studio, waiting.
TALBOT
 
 
I want you to know, home audience, that we did not come to this decision lightly. We do not harbor criminals; we merely want to facilitate a surrender. And the man calling himself Labyrinth insists that he will give up after this broadcast. But first, he wants a forum to air his views. [Pause] Labyrinth, we are granting your request.
 
LABYRINTH
 
Thank you for having me, Ms. Talbot. I’m a fan of the show.
 
TALBOT
 
Why are you doing this?
 
LABYRINTH
 
Why do
you
do this?
 
TALBOT
 
You mean this show?
 
LABYRINTH
 
Yes.
 
TALBOT
 
I try to be a force of good in the world. To show that one person’s good deeds can have a larger impact.
 
LABYRINTH
 
And that’s what I love about you, and your show. That’s it exactly. I am attempting to do the same thing.
 
TALBOT
 
But you’re . . . accused of
killing people
. No matter the justification, murder is wrong. We must believe that, or we descend into savagery.
 
LABYRINTH
 
I disagree, naturally, and believe that bold actions are the only way to produce bold change. But I can appreciate your position, so let me make a deal with you. I’ll stop killing. In honor of you and your show. Perhaps I’ll spread my message without bloodshed—thanks to your generosity.
 
TALBOT
 
Let me make sure I’m understanding you. You’re willing to stop killing, and surrender yourself on this program?
 
LABYRINTH
 
Oh. . . . [Chuckles] I didn’t say anything about surrender.
 
TALBOT
 
But I don’t understand. I’m offering you a forum to explain yourself to millions of viewers around the world.
 
LABYRINTH
 
Millions, Ms. Talbot? Really? Seems you’re inflating your reach just a touch.
 
TALBOT
 
Let’s get back to you, Labyrinth.
 
LABYRINTH
 
In a moment. I’m fascinated by you, actually. All of the work you do. Especially for children. You’re known for it internationally, aren’t you?
 
TALBOT
 
My viewers would much rather hear about you, and your mission.
 
LABYRINTH
 
You’re really keen on helping schools, aren’t you? Especially here in South Africa. Such a worthy cause.
 
TALBOT
 
Yes, I would agree. But again, we’re not here to—
 
LABYRINTH
 
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at your process. Specifically, how you help these schools. It is a fascinating model—one I briefly considered adopting myself. See, what you do, and what the viewers at home may not know, is that you’ll do a show on a struggling school, right here in Johannesburg, perhaps. And you will solicit contributions from major corporations—
shame them
, really, into donating computers and books and other educational supplies.
And you’ll skim just enough cash off the top to not quite do the job.
 
TALBOT
 
I’m sorry. We’re done.
 
LABYRINTH
 
If you or any members of your production team touches a single fucking button, the bomb under your chair will fucking explode. You will die on live TV, Ms. Talbot.
Is that what you want, you vile cunt?
 
TALBOT
 
W-w-what? You did . . . what?
 
LABYRINTH
 
You graciously allowed me to inspect the studio before I agreed to this interview. While doing so, I left a little present under your chair. Surprised no one noticed it.
 
TALBOT
 
James, kill the feed now.
 
LABYRINTH
 
Kill the feed, James, you kill your boss.
 
TALBOT
 
Don’t do this. Please don’t do this. You’re making a big mistake.
 
LABYRINTH
 
I could have said the same to you. Don’t do this, Jane. Don’t pretend to help children while keeping them struggling the whole time, just because it will help your ratings, help you reach those millions of viewers you so covet.
 
TALBOT
 
No, I don’t—
 
LABYRINTH
 
Don’t you fucking lie to your viewers, Jane. Poor show. I’ve collected the evidence into one document, and your viewers can see it for themselves . . . why, right now, as I’ve just released it into a thousand different servers and download sites. Just search for the terms “Jane Talbot” and “Child Abuse” and you’ll be on your way.
 
TALBOT
 
Labyrinth, you don’t have to do this. We can still talk. You promised me you’d stop killing.
 
LABYRINTH
 
And you promised those children so much, didn’t you? Hand them a scrap of bread while pressing the heel of your Manolo Blahniks into their dirty little faces.
 
TALBOT
 
You bastard.
 
LABYRINTH
 
I don’t blame you, personally. You’re just a symptom of a larger disease. The education system for our most precious resource, our children, is not serving their needs. It’s serving the needs of the administrators, the government, by putting the focus on test scores in order to get more funding. Why no creative schools? Why is it all based on one assembly-line system? The current education system is based on Henry Ford’s idea from the turn of the century. Education shouldn’t be a business. It’s outdated and doesn’t help our kids. It’s a shadow of what it should be.
 
TALBOT
 
But . . . I agree with you, I’m trying to fix it.
 
LABYRINTH
 
Still clinging to your lies? Let’s leave it to your viewers then, shall we? James, I’d like you to open the lines, phone and Web. If you’ve downloaded the documents, and you wish to see Janey here punished for her crimes against the children, then let your voice be heard. Thy will be done . . .
 
TALBOT
 
Talk to me. Please talk to me. Don’t do this. Whatever you’re planning. We can talk it through.
 
LABYRINTH
 
James? Are we rolling? You be sure to keep me updated on those calls, James. Patch them through.
 
TALBOT
 
Please....
 
LABYRINTH
 
You’re right in the middle of what will become the most-watched television show in the history of the medium. You do realize that, don’t you? They’re going to watch this and read about you forever. It will be bigger than the moon landing. Enjoy it, Jane.
 
TALBOT
 
I’m begging you. . . .
 
LABYRINTH
 
Don’t fucking beg me, you bitch. Beg them. Beg your viewers. Beg the children!
chapter 31
 
LABYRINTH
 
I
love it—
The sound of a human mind snapping when you trap it and it realizes it has nowhere left to go—no more turns, no backtracking, no do-overs. . . .
Just wall.
Poor sweet Jane Talbot, listen to her hem and haw and stutter and stop—so inarticulate all of a sudden. It’s not just me who enjoys seeing that pig sweat. News of my first three messages, on opposite ends of the globe, excites the media like nothing since the Unabomber or that clown prince Assange.
Jane Talbot, I wasn’t lying—you and I are going to make history together.
Stop glancing at the space under your seat.
You can see it from where you are.
I guarantee it.
Already the worldwide Internet chatter is cranked up to unreal levels, beyond my greatest expectation.
Who knew the world cared so much about the education of poor South African children?
Amazing what the populace will care about once you give them a reason.
Some call for me to run for president; others want to give me Jane Talbot’s old talk show slot.
I wouldn’t take either if you paid me.
Because you can’t save the world if you’re Jane Talbot.
You can’t save the world if you’re the president of the United States.
But you can save the world if you follow me.
chapter 32
 
DARK
 
D
ark and Natasha looked like any average couple catching a flight from Paris to New York City. No luggage to check in, but what did it matter to a young couple in love? However, even casual observers would have picked up on the body language. The male seemed indifferent, while the woman seemed to be realizing that she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.
“Why are we doing this?” she asked.
“I don’t have a gun to your head.”
“How sure are you?”
Dark smiled. “A mentor of mine—the guy who taught me how to do this? He was famous for playing his gut hunches. Most of the time he was right. It used to frustrate me, until I learned to follow my gut, too.”
“I’d love to meet this mentor of yours,” Natasha said, “so I could punch him in the face.”
“He’d probably like it.”
About an hour into their flight, as they were cruising thirty-five thousand feet above the icy Atlantic, Natasha received a text message from Blair. The plane featured Wi-Fi, but from the sound of Natasha’s voice, it was clear she preferred it didn’t.
“Fuck,” she said.
“What?”
“Blair knows we’re on our way to the U.S.,” she said, “and he’s not happy about it. Not in the slightest.”
“No?”
“I’m actually softening his language.”
“He told us to investigate. So we’re investigating.”
“You and I both know what he meant. I was a fool to follow you. Is this what your mentor also taught you? How to nuke the careers of your colleagues?”
“Blair will cheer up when we catch this son of a bitch.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“And see, I thought you were beginning to trust me.”
Natasha shook her head and dropped her cell phone to her lap. “This has nothing to do with trust. Labyrinth’s on live TV right now, confessing everything to Jane Talbot.
In South Africa.
”

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