Read Online Holding Their Own IV: The Ascent by Joe Nobody - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joe Nobody
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soldiers. No others. I haven’t found the head of the snake.”
Bish op shook his head at the memory. “Look, I centered the dot on the guy’s ear. I can tell you he was holding a Beretta. The hammer was back. He was saying something to the president. I only saw his profile though. I could help one of those sketch artists like you see on TV draw a picture of the guy’s profile, but that’s about it.”
Powell knew the answer to his next question, but had to ask. “The bodies weren’t in the right places. Is there any chance the guy walked out of that room on his own?”
Bishop’s head snapped up, his eyes boring into Powell’s. “I can assure you he didn’t walk out of that room on his own. I had to take a headshot. I didn’t miss. I’m 100% sure. I told you where you could find his DNA. I showed you the specific patch of gore on the wall that belonged to the guy. I watched it splash there … I’ll be seeing that image for the rest of my life, Agent Powell.”
“Bishop, we don’t have DNA testing capability, and we definitely don’t have DNA matching right now. I’m sorry, but put yourself in my shoes. There was no corpse in that room lying in a position like you described. How did it get out or get moved?”
“Well, sir, I’m no Sherlock Holmes. It was all so fast, Agent Powell. Maybe I’m not describing it well. Maybe my memory is hosed up. It could be that simple.”
Powell sighed. “There’s no way anyone could have carried that body out or moved the bodies around. Loyal troops were in that room within 20 seconds after you and the president left. Every exit was sealed within one minute. I still can’t identity the leaders of the coup, yet no one could have gotten out of that building.”
Bishop grunted, “I did.”
“Yes, you did. But there was an MP at the exit you used almost immediately after you got out. That was the last of the exits to be covered, at least according to our Army friends.”
“That’s true. That MP pulled up about 15 seconds after we bolted across the alley. Still, someone might have had time to move the body.”
They arrived at the guest quarters, Powell idled with the vehicle in park, a clear sign the conversation wasn’t over. “Assuming you’re correct, that means there is someone else involved that we don’t know about. Someone with internal access . . . hell, it could be another member of my own team.”
“ I suppose, but wasn’t there a lot of fighting going on after I got out with the president? I heard it took the army hours to round up everyone they thought was on the other side. As I understand it, a lot of them decided to shoot it out rather than be arrested. Maybe your missing man was one of those killed in the fighting?”
“Bishop, I can’t assume that. You wouldn’t if you had my job. My instincts tell me there’s more to this than just a bunch of rebel soldiers trying to knock off the chief executive.”
The two men sat in silence for a few moments. Bishop understood Agent Powell’s dilemma and couldn’t blame the man for going with his gut. Such intuition had pulled his butt out of the fire more times than he could remember.
Powell broke the silence, “Could you come over to the HQ building today? We still have the area roped off. I’m hoping it will refresh something in your memory.”
Bishop grimaced, not wanting to return. The scene still burning in his mind, the visions extremely unpleasant … memories of blood and smoke . . . the sounds of dying men . . . it all made Bishop’s gut hurt. The carnage had been off the scale horrific. Teams of highly trained professionals going at each other in such close quarters had resulted in a bloody, desperate battle.
I don’t need to go back and relive that … not again , thought Bishop. Looking up at Powell, his tone remained firm. “Man, I’ve been back there twice already. I think if anything were going to pop into my head, it would’ve done so by now. Besides, I’ve got
Bish op shook his head at the memory. “Look, I centered the dot on the guy’s ear. I can tell you he was holding a Beretta. The hammer was back. He was saying something to the president. I only saw his profile though. I could help one of those sketch artists like you see on TV draw a picture of the guy’s profile, but that’s about it.”
Powell knew the answer to his next question, but had to ask. “The bodies weren’t in the right places. Is there any chance the guy walked out of that room on his own?”
Bishop’s head snapped up, his eyes boring into Powell’s. “I can assure you he didn’t walk out of that room on his own. I had to take a headshot. I didn’t miss. I’m 100% sure. I told you where you could find his DNA. I showed you the specific patch of gore on the wall that belonged to the guy. I watched it splash there … I’ll be seeing that image for the rest of my life, Agent Powell.”
“Bishop, we don’t have DNA testing capability, and we definitely don’t have DNA matching right now. I’m sorry, but put yourself in my shoes. There was no corpse in that room lying in a position like you described. How did it get out or get moved?”
“Well, sir, I’m no Sherlock Holmes. It was all so fast, Agent Powell. Maybe I’m not describing it well. Maybe my memory is hosed up. It could be that simple.”
Powell sighed. “There’s no way anyone could have carried that body out or moved the bodies around. Loyal troops were in that room within 20 seconds after you and the president left. Every exit was sealed within one minute. I still can’t identity the leaders of the coup, yet no one could have gotten out of that building.”
Bishop grunted, “I did.”
“Yes, you did. But there was an MP at the exit you used almost immediately after you got out. That was the last of the exits to be covered, at least according to our Army friends.”
“That’s true. That MP pulled up about 15 seconds after we bolted across the alley. Still, someone might have had time to move the body.”
They arrived at the guest quarters, Powell idled with the vehicle in park, a clear sign the conversation wasn’t over. “Assuming you’re correct, that means there is someone else involved that we don’t know about. Someone with internal access . . . hell, it could be another member of my own team.”
“ I suppose, but wasn’t there a lot of fighting going on after I got out with the president? I heard it took the army hours to round up everyone they thought was on the other side. As I understand it, a lot of them decided to shoot it out rather than be arrested. Maybe your missing man was one of those killed in the fighting?”
“Bishop, I can’t assume that. You wouldn’t if you had my job. My instincts tell me there’s more to this than just a bunch of rebel soldiers trying to knock off the chief executive.”
The two men sat in silence for a few moments. Bishop understood Agent Powell’s dilemma and couldn’t blame the man for going with his gut. Such intuition had pulled his butt out of the fire more times than he could remember.
Powell broke the silence, “Could you come over to the HQ building today? We still have the area roped off. I’m hoping it will refresh something in your memory.”
Bishop grimaced, not wanting to return. The scene still burning in his mind, the visions extremely unpleasant … memories of blood and smoke . . . the sounds of dying men . . . it all made Bishop’s gut hurt. The carnage had been off the scale horrific. Teams of highly trained professionals going at each other in such close quarters had resulted in a bloody, desperate battle.
I don’t need to go back and relive that … not again , thought Bishop. Looking up at Powell, his tone remained firm. “Man, I’ve been back there twice already. I think if anything were going to pop into my head, it would’ve done so by now. Besides, I’ve got
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