Cross laughed softly.
“That is what they told you.”
Marcus stepped between them.
“Whoever you are, leave.”
Cross smiled.
“You don't understand what you're standing in.”
He turned toward Dylan.
“Neither does he.”
Dylan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Cross looked at Walter.
“It means your friend here is about to discover why some men spend their whole lives hiding.”
Then he walked away.
Dylan watched him go.
“What the hell was that?”
Walter didn't answer.
He was staring at the door.
Because for the first time in thirty years—
the past had walked back into his life.
The Truth About the Old Man
Dylan's attitude changed after that.
He still wanted to beat Walter.
But now he wanted answers.
He approached Marcus.
“Who is he?”
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I found out Walter used to train military personnel.”
Dylan stared.
“What?”
“That's all I know.”
Dylan looked toward the maintenance hallway.
“So the old man actually knows how to fight.”
Marcus smiled.
“You have no idea.”
Dylan's expression became serious.
“I thought he was just a janitor.”
Marcus answered:
“He is.”
Dylan frowned.
“And?”
“Being a janitor doesn't erase everything else you've done.”
Dylan was silent.
Later that evening, he found Walter alone in the equipment room.
“I owe you an apology.”
Walter looked surprised.
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“For making you a joke.”
Walter nodded.
“Thank you.”
Dylan waited.
“That's it?”
“What do you want?”
“I don't know.”
Walter sat down.
Dylan remained standing.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Tell them what?”
“That you could do that.”
Walter smiled.
“Would it have changed how you treated me?”
Dylan hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Then that's exactly why I didn't tell you.”
Dylan stared at him.
Walter continued.
“I didn't want respect because people were afraid of what I could do.”
Dylan looked down.
“I wasn't afraid.”
Walter smiled.
“You were.”
Dylan didn't answer.
After a moment, he asked:
“Did you kill people?”
Walter's face changed.
“Yes.”