Zack raised his head, his face filled with fury. “The entire world knows about your operation, Underwood. It’s all about to come crashing down around you.”
The opening of the door drew Emily’s attention. Relief burst through her when Warden Carpenter entered the room. He would stop Underwood. The police would rush in and take the prison administrator into custody. She was about to go to him when his gaze met hers. Relief turned to horror when she realized he was part of this.
“Warden Carpenter,” she said dully.
His gaze went from her to Zack, then back to her. “Sleeping with the enemy, Emily?”
“Please tell me you’re not part of this.”
“Ah, loyal to the end.” The warden crossed to her and set his hand against her cheek. “Such a shame you have to die because of it.”
“Stay away from her, you twisted son of a bitch.” Next to her Zack struggled to his feet, his eyes black with fury. “Your little empire is about to collapse.”
“My empire, as you so aptly put it, Mr. Devlin, is alive and thriving. I can have all evidence of any wrongdoing removed in a matter of an hour or so. Remember we do have a crematorium on-site.” He looked at Emily and one side of his mouth curved. “The RZ-902 is a roaring success, by the way. In fact, I’ve already got buyers lined up.”
“You sold out your country. You murdered dozens of people,” she said disgustedly.
“Come now, Emily,” Carpenter cut in. “Who am I killing? Murderers? Rapists?”
“They’re human beings,” she choked. “Men who’ve been sentenced to prison, not a life of torture.”
“Most of these men have committed atrocities,” Carpenter said with sudden passion. “Men who will never be a productive part of society.”
“You have no right,” she said.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I do have the right. You see, the criminal justice system gave me the right.”
Zack gazed at him with utter loathing. “You’re selling weapons of mass destruction to terrorist organizations. You not only sold out your country, mate. You sold your soul.”
“My soul is my business.” The warden shrugged. “The rest is for Homeland Security to worry about. I’m merely a businessman.”
“You’re scum.” Emily tried to launch herself at him, but Zack moved quickly to grab her wrist and haul her back.
“Easy,” he whispered.
Carpenter contemplated her a moment, his expression amused and oddly affectionate. “You are your father’s daughter, aren’t you, my dear Emily?”
“I’m nothing like my father,” she said evenly.
“You are more than you realize. Adam Monroe was an idealistic fool.” Carpenter rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “It’s a shame you never knew the truth about him.”
“I know all I need to know.”
“Did you know he stumbled upon the preliminary plans for RZ-902 when we were working out of the women’s correction center? What has it been, fifteen years now? Did you know he found out we had done some preliminary experimentation on a few of the female inmates? Did you know he threatened to go to the police?”
Emily felt the words like a blow right between the eyes. Dazed, she stared at a man who’d been her fa ther’s best friend. His professional ally and advocate. A man she’d trusted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered. “My father committed suicide. H-he was with a female inmate.”
“I’m afraid we had to eliminate poor Adam,” Carpenter said. “He was a good man. Too good. I hated destroying that squeaky-clean reputation of his. But I couldn’t let him take what he knew to the police, now, could I?”
She could feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Disbelief and fury rising in a violent tide. “Easy, Emily. Let it go,” Zack said quickly, touching her arm.
She shook off his hand. “I don’t believe you.”
“Yes, you do. I see it in your eyes.” Carpenter shook his head. “We gave him a choice, you know. Join forces with Lockdown, Inc. or face the consequences.” He shrugged. “He made the wrong decision.”
Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back. “You murdered him.”
“We made it look like suicide, of course. I’m afraid we also had to permanently silence the female inmate.” A smile whispered across his face. “She was the first of many.”
Emily couldn’t believe her ears. For fifteen years she’d believed her father had disgraced the uniform he’d worn by having a relationship with a female inmate. She’d believed he’d committed suicide instead of facing up to his mistakes. In reality, he’d been trying to stop the same madman she and Zack were.
“You’re a monster,” she said.