Read Online End Days Super Boxset by Roger Hayden - Free Book Online Page B

probably been on his way to a larger target. But where?
    Just as he was about to ask Detective Harper about what hospital Patterson had been taken to, Craig noticed several black SUVs pull up near the building, tires screeching. Several men in suits jumped out of the vehicles and quickly moved in.
    Unbelievable , Craig thought.
    Deputy Jenkins led the pack, wearing dark shades and his typical three-piece suit. He approached Craig and addressed him with a serious tone. “You’re wanted back at FBI headquarters, Special Agent Davis.”
    “You guys move fast,” Craig said. “And what division of Homeland am I answering to now? Secret Service? Coast Guard? Immigration and Customs?”
    “Counterterrorism,” Jenkins responded. “I’m glad to see that you find this massacre amusing.”
    Craig stared into Jenkins’s dark sunglasses, enraged, and raised a finger in his face. “You’re out of line, Deputy Jenkins. And I don’t answer to Homeland any more than I would the Peace Corps.”
    Jenkins seemed amused. “Well, since we’re out here cleaning up your mess again, I say that makes us the authority in the matter.”
    “Get out of my way,” Craig said, pushing past him.
    Jenkins turned around. “You look a little angry, Agent Davis. Need a ride back to headquarters?”
    Ignoring him, Craig found Detective Harper and asked him where he could find Patterson.
    “Richmond Medical Center. ‘Bout ten miles from here.”
    “Thank you, Detective.”
    Without saying another word, he left as the Homeland agents took immediate control of the scene. Even with all his work slowly crumbling in front of him, Craig could think only of Patterson. Still light on the details, he ran to his car and drove off, leaving the madness behind.
    ***
    Washington, D.C., Tuesday
    Craig sat in the small downstairs meeting room with only his Supervisory Special Agent Vince Walker and Assistant Deputy Director Calderon sitting across from him. All blinds in the room had been drawn shut over the glass window looking out into the halls.
    It was a tense two-on-one—the first grilling from his superiors since his return from Richmond. He had little idea what to expect. Calderon had been vague on the phone, but Craig was prepared for disciplinary action.
    Calderon sat at one end of the rectangular table with a file in hand while Walker sat in the middle, examining a copy of the same file. Seated at the other end, Craig patiently waited for their verdict.
    He had written a report detailing every aspect of the Richmond investigation. In it, he took responsibility for the outcome, while claiming that their presence had prevented the Surkov brothers from fully carrying out their plans.
    Calderon came across Craig’s conclusion in the report. He shook his head, looked up, and folded his hands together.
    “You make a compelling case, Agent Davis. And your report clearly tries to justify your actions.” He raised one hand and pointed out the window, beyond the blinds. “I was wondering if you happened to catch Mrs. Patterson out there.”
    Craig looked over.
    Calderon continued, “She’s patiently waiting in the lobby for some answers on how her husband took two hollow-point shells to the gut. She wants the bureau to be held responsible.”
    “Kathleen,” Craig said under his breath. In all the commotion, he had yet to talk with her face to face, although she was one of the first people he had called after arriving at the hospital.
    “The doctors tell us that Agent Patterson will be eating from a tube for some time now,” Calderon continued. “But I guess we can thank God that he’s alive.”
    Craig thought back to his brief hospital visit, before leaving Richmond. Patterson had still been in surgery. Craig waited for hours, making calls back home and to Patterson’s wife, apologizing for everything.
    Post-surgery, Patterson was unconscious, on a million drugs, and being closely monitored. Their main concerns were infection and internal