The Last Resort

Jack, Jason, Eugene, and Tom gather at the hospital, where doctors cannot yet say whether Richard will recover from his fall. Tom remains suspicious of him, but Jason believes Richard has been hurt because his investigation came too close to the truth. Rodney also slips into the hospital to ask about Richard. Jason corners him in an elevator and demands an explanation, and Rodney admits that Blackgaard and Jellyfish captured Richard at Whit's End while he was trying to obtain Jellyfish's laptop.

Jason verifies from outside the Harlequin that the laptop contains files named for Edgebiter and the Bones of Wrath. Its records could clear Tom and expose the scheme, but simply taking it is not an option. With a court order, Jason and Eugene plan to use an infrared transmitter hidden near the computer to copy its contents into a receiver outside. They need someone the conspirators will not immediately suspect, and Eugene knows the ideal man: Bernard Walton.

Bernard poses as an overly friendly window washer determined to honor his contract with Edwin's theater. He refuses Blackgaard's attempts to dismiss or pay him and produces a powerful, foul-smelling cleaner. Wearing a mask and goggles, Bernard drives Blackgaard and Bovril from the office for fresh air, then places the disguised transmitter behind the laptop.

The remote search finds no records about Edgebiter, the recall, or the vandalism. Instead, it uncovers Professor Bovril's chemical formulas; the laptop in the office is his, not Jellyfish's. The mistake nevertheless reveals the larger truth. Every formula depends upon the same mineral found beneath Whit's End, where it serves as a catalyst that makes otherwise ineffective compounds work. The old name “Silent One” reminds Jason of Ruku, and he realizes Blackgaard wants the mineral to create a deadly virus that can survive exposure to the air.

Jason sends Eugene and Bernard to watch Whit's End and summon the Israelites while he handles other preparations. Before he can leave, police arrest him for threatening Blackgaard. Blackgaard has edited the secretly recorded conversation at the Harlequin so that Jason's ordinary questions and warnings sound like a string of menacing statements. Jason tells the police to verify his identity with the National Security Agency.

At the hospital, Richard awakens. Eugene tells Tom that Richard was injured while trying to help him, and Tom finally faces the anger and pride that have controlled him. He admits that he has sinned against Richard and God and asks forgiveness. Richard believes Tom's anger was deserved, but Tom refuses that excuse and proposes that they forgive each other. Richard agrees.

Jack visits Jason in custody. Jason admits that his arrogance and reckless confidence have helped Blackgaard trap him. He has tried to fight entirely through his own cleverness and ignored the real spiritual battle. He asks Jack to forgive him, then begins explaining his secret work, Blackgaard's history, and Whit's role. Before he continues, he asks Jack to join him in the prayer he should have offered from the beginning.

At another public statement, Blackgaard portrays Jason as unstable and expresses false concern for him. Then Blackgaard suddenly collapses in front of the reporters.