Came Home From Deployment Early. Daughter Was Standing in a Hole. «Don’t Look In Other One!»
Morrison must have moved fast because that afternoon, FBI agents executed a search warrant on Herman’s house. Eric watched from down the street as they carried out boxes of documents.
His phone rang. It was Morrison. «How did you know about that file?»
«I didn’t. I just had a hunch.»
«Bullshit. But I don’t care. Eric, what we found… Jesus Christ. These people were killing their own kids.»
«I know.»
«We’re going to need you to testify. About everything. The program. What happened to Emma. All of it.»
«I’ll do whatever it takes.»
«Good. Because we’re about to indict fifteen more people. This is going to be the biggest child trafficking case in the state’s history. Make it count.»
«We will. But Eric? Watch your back. These people have a lot to lose. They might do something desperate.»
Eric thought about that after hanging up. Desperate people were dangerous. But he wasn’t worried about himself; he was worried about Emma. He called Derek.
«I need you to do something for me.»
«Name it.»
«I need you to take Emma somewhere safe. Out of state. Somewhere these people can’t find her.»
«You think they’d go after her?»
«I think they’ve already killed multiple children. I’m not taking chances.»
«I know a place. My cousin has a ranch in Montana. Middle of nowhere. No one would think to look there. Can you leave tomorrow?»
«I’ll pick her up at dawn.»
That night, Eric sat Emma down and explained that she was going on a trip.
«It’s like a vacation. Uncle Derek’s going to take you to see horses and mountains. You’ll be safe there.»
«Why can’t you come?»
«I have to finish something here. But I’ll come get you as soon as it’s done. I promise.»
«Is it about Grandma?»
«Yeah, baby. It’s about making sure she and the people who helped her can’t hurt anyone else.»
Emma was quiet for a moment. Then she said, «Daddy, are you going to do something bad?»
«What do you mean?»
«Like, something you’re not supposed to do. To get the bad people.»
Eric knelt down to her level. «Sometimes grown-ups have to make hard choices. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure those choices are the right ones.»
«Okay. But promise you’ll come back.»
«I promise. Nothing’s going to keep me from you.»
After Emma left with Derek the next morning, Eric felt the weight of what he was about to do. He’d crossed lines already—breaking and entering, illegal surveillance. But what he was planning now was bigger. He was going to expose every single person involved, not just to the FBI, but to the world.
He spent the next week compiling evidence—everything he’d gathered legally and illegally. He organized it into a comprehensive document: names, dates, evidence of crimes, connections between conspirators. It was a hundred pages of damning testimony.
Then he sent it to every journalist he’d been in contact with, every news outlet in Pennsylvania, and several national publications. Subject: The Children’s Grave Conspiracy: How Pennsylvania’s Elite Used a Torture Camp to Silence Their Own Kids.
The response was immediate. Within hours, reporters were calling him. Within a day, the story was on national news. Within a week, it was everywhere.
The public reaction was visceral. Protests erupted outside Herman’s house. The state senator resigned. The CEO was fired. The local businessman’s properties were vandalized.
And Herman’s lawyers called again, desperate this time. «Mr. McKenzie, please. If you’ll just agree to meet with my client…»
«No.»
«He wants to confess. To tell you everything. He’s willing to testify against the others if you’ll speak to him.»
Eric paused. «Why does he want to talk to me specifically?»
«He says… he says you’re the only one who’ll understand. That you’re a soldier. That you know sometimes people do terrible things for what they think are good reasons.»
«There’s no good reason to murder children.»
«Just meet with him. One conversation. If you still want him to rot in prison after that, fine. But give him a chance to explain.»
Eric thought about it. He didn’t want to give Herman anything. But maybe, just maybe, there was information Herman could provide that would help ensure everyone went down.
«Fine. One conversation. At the FBI office. With agents present. Tomorrow.»
«Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. Thank you.»
The meeting was surreal. Herman Savage sat across from Eric in an interrogation room, looking like he’d aged twenty years in the last month. His expensive suit hung loose on a frame that had lost weight. His hands shook slightly.
Morrison and Chun were there, recording everything.
«Thank you for coming,» Herman said, his voice hoarse.
«Don’t thank me. I’m here to watch you confess.»
«I will. I’ll tell you everything. But first, you need to understand something. I’m not a monster. I was trying to help people.»
Eric’s jaw tightened. «By helping them murder their children?»
«By helping them solve problems. These weren’t just any kids, Mr. McKenzie. They were troubled. Dangerous, even. They knew things that could destroy families, careers, lives. Their parents came to me desperate. And I provided a solution.»
«You provided a death sentence.»
«Not always. Most of the kids survived. They went through the program, learned discipline, and came out better. The ones who died… those were accidents. Myrtle was supposed to be careful. But she got overzealous.»
«Overzealous?» Eric slammed his hand on the table. «She buried children alive. She starved them. She beat them.»
«I know. I know. And I should have stopped it. But by the time I realized how far it had gone, I was too deep. The parents were powerful people. They would have destroyed me if I’d exposed them.»
«So you let it continue. You let more kids die to save yourself.»
Herman’s face crumpled. «I made a mistake. I was weak and scared and greedy. And I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry.»
«Sorry doesn’t bring those kids back.»
«I know. That’s why I want to testify. I’ll tell the FBI everything. Who was involved. Who knew what. Who paid for the ‘permanent solutions.’ All of it. I’ll make sure everyone goes down.»
«In exchange for what?»
«Reduced sentence. Protective custody. I’m a judge, Mr. McKenzie. I know what happens to people like me in general population.»
Eric looked at Morrison. «Is this deal on the table?»
«Depends on what he gives us. If his information leads to convictions of the others, we might recommend a reduced sentence.»
Eric turned back to Herman. «How many kids died?»
«Seven that I know of for certain. But there might be more. Myrtle kept some records off the books.»
«Where are those records?»
«Buried. Literally. On the property. There’s a shed out back, under the floorboards.»
Morrison was already on his phone. «Get a team to the Savage property. Northwest shed. Tear up the floorboards.»
Eric stared at Herman. «You knew there were more bodies, and you didn’t tell anyone?»
«I was afraid.»
«You’re pathetic. You’re a coward who let children die to protect yourself. You don’t deserve a deal. You deserve to rot.»
«Please, Mr. McKenzie. I have a conscience. I live with this every day.»
«You know what Emma lives with every day? Nightmares. Fear. The memory of standing in a hole in the freezing cold, thinking she was going to die. You did that. You and your sister and all your rich clients who valued their secrets more than their children’s lives.»
Eric stood up. «Give the FBI everything. Every name. Every detail. Maybe that’ll buy you a few years off your sentence. But nothing’s going to buy you redemption. You’re going to die knowing you murdered children.»
He walked out. Morrison caught up with him in the hallway.
«That was harsh.»
«It was honest.» Eric took a breath. «Did you get what you needed?»
«Yeah. He’s giving us names we didn’t have. With his testimony, we can prosecute at least a dozen more people. This is going to be huge, Eric.»
«Good. Make sure it is. Make sure everyone knows what these people did.»
Over the next month, the arrests continued. The state senator. The CEO. The businessman. Three more parents who’d paid for «permanent solutions.» A doctor who’d falsified death certificates. Two police officers who’d covered up investigations.
The media coverage was relentless. Every day brought new revelations. The public was horrified and outraged. Politicians called for reforms. Child welfare organizations demanded investigations.
And through it all, Eric waited in Montana with Emma and Derek, watching from a distance as the conspiracy collapsed.
«When can we go home?» Emma asked one evening, sitting by the fireplace in Derek’s cousin’s ranch house.
«Soon, baby. When it’s safe.»
«Will it ever be safe?»
Eric pulled her close. «Yes. Because all the bad people are going to prison. And they’re never going to hurt anyone again. Promise.»
«I promise.»
But that night, after Emma was asleep, Eric got a call from Morrison.
«We have a problem.»
«What kind of problem?»
«Two of the parents we arrested made bail. Edward Carlson and Alberto Drew. Both very wealthy. Both very connected. And both have disappeared.»
Eric felt cold dread. «Disappeared?»
«Fled the country, we think. Interpol’s looking for them. But…» Morrison paused. «Eric, these guys know you’re the one who exposed them. They know Emma’s the witness who started this whole thing. I think they might try to retaliate.»
«Let them try.»
«I’m serious. These are desperate men with nothing to lose. You need to stay in Montana until we catch them.»
«How long could that take? Days? Weeks?»
«Maybe months if they’re smart.»
Eric looked at Emma’s bedroom door. He’d promised her they’d go home soon. But home wasn’t safe. Not yet.
«I’ll stay. But Morrison? You find those men. Find them and bring them back.»
«We will.»
But three weeks passed with no sign of Carlson or Drew. Emma was getting restless, missing her friends and her school. Eric was going stir crazy, unable to do anything but wait.
Then Derek came to him with news. «I’ve been doing some digging. Off the books. I found something.»
«What?»
«Carlson and Drew didn’t flee to Europe or South America. They’re still in the US. And I think I know where.»
«Where?»
«Carlson’s family owns property in Alaska. Remote. Off the grid. Perfect place to hide out while their lawyers work on getting the charges dropped.»
«The charges aren’t getting dropped.»
«No. But their lawyers are good. They might be able to drag it out for years. Meanwhile, they’re living free in the wilderness.»
Eric felt anger surge. «That’s not justice.»
«No. It’s not.»
They looked at each other. An understanding passed between them.
«If someone were to find them,» Eric said slowly. «Someone who wasn’t bound by FBI jurisdiction or legal constraints. Someone who could persuade them to turn themselves in.»
«Hypothetically.»
«Yeah. Hypothetically. That someone would need to be very careful. These guys are dangerous.»
«That someone is a ranger. Dangerous is his specialty.» Derek smiled. «When do we leave?»
«Tomorrow. But Emma stays here.»
They flew to Alaska, then took a bush plane to the remote region where Carlson’s property was located. The pilot dropped them ten miles from the coordinates Derek had found.
«You sure about this?» the pilot asked.
«We’re sure. Pick us up here in three days.»
The hike was brutal—dense forest, mountains, rivers. But Eric had done worse in Afghanistan. This was just another mission. They found the property on the second day.
A large cabin by a lake. Solar panels on the roof. Smoke rising from the chimney. Two vehicles parked outside.
«They’re here,» Derek confirmed, looking through binoculars.
Eric studied the terrain. «We go in at night. Non-lethal. Get them restrained. Call Morrison. Wait for extraction.»
«What if they resist?»
«Then we make them not resist.»
They waited until 02:00. The cabin was dark. Eric and Derek approached from different angles, using night vision goggles. The doors were unlocked. These men felt safe out here, far from the law.
Eric entered first, moving silently. He found Carlson in a bedroom, asleep. One quick movement, and Carlson was on his stomach with his hands zip-tied behind his back.
«What the—»
«Shut up.» Eric’s voice was cold. «Make a sound, and I’ll knock you unconscious.»
Carlson shut up. Derek had Drew in the living room, also restrained. They sat the two men on the couch.
«You know who we are?» Eric asked.
«You’re McKenzie,» Drew said. «The soldier. You’re the one who ruined everything.»
«I’m the one who exposed you for murdering your children.»
«That’s not the same thing. We didn’t murder anyone.»
«Yeah, you did. You sent your kids to be killed because they knew your secrets. Because you valued your reputations more than their lives.»
Carlson spoke up. «My son was going to destroy me. He found evidence of my affairs, my financial crimes. He was going to turn me in. I had no choice.»
«There’s always a choice.» Eric leaned in close. «You chose wrong, and now you’re going to pay for it.»
«You can’t prove anything. Our lawyers will get us off.»
«I don’t need to prove anything. The FBI has Herman’s testimony. They have the financial records. They have the bodies. You’re going to prison for the rest of your lives.»
«We’ll see about that,» Drew said. «We have resources. Friends in high places.»
«Not anymore. Everyone’s abandoning you. The senator already pled guilty. The CEO’s cooperating. Your friends are rats fleeing a sinking ship.» Eric pulled out a satellite phone. «Now you’re going to make a choice. You can turn yourselves in voluntarily and maybe get a deal. Or I can drag you back in handcuffs. Either way, you’re going back.»
«And if we refuse?» Carlson asked.
Eric smiled. It was the same smile he’d given enemy combatants who thought they were tough. «Then I’ll make you wish you’d never run. I’m not a cop. I’m not bound by the same rules. And I really, really don’t like you.»
He let that sink in. Then he added, «But here’s the thing. I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to face justice. I want you to stand in trial and be convicted and spend the rest of your lives thinking about what you did. That’s real punishment. That’s what you deserve.»
Carlson and Drew looked at each other. Then Carlson said, «What kind of deal?»
«Testify against everyone involved. Every name, every crime, every detail. In exchange, maybe you get twenty years instead of life.»
«That’s not much of a deal.»
«It’s more than you deserve. It’s more than your kids got.»
Silence. Then Drew nodded. «Okay, we’ll turn ourselves in. But we want it in writing.»
«Call Morrison yourself. Tell him where you are. He’ll arrange transport and a plea agreement.»
Eric handed Drew the satellite phone. He watched as the man made the call. Watched as these two men who’d thought they were above the law surrendered.
