Read Online Tears of Kerberos by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
Ads: Link
squeezed off two shots. The first missed but the second struck the man above the knee.
“Suspect is down, where are you?” shouted Johnson into his radio gear.
He supported his weight on the metal railings and moved the last few steps to the ground below. In the darkness it wasn’t easy to focus in the shadows. He paused for a second to take a quick gasp of oxygen, the last rush had really taken it out of him. He then went over to the slow moving body of the suspect.
“Freeze!” He lowered his pistol and pointed it at the man’s head.
The man stopped and rolled over to look directly into Johnson’s face, the pain from the wound was evidently becoming worse. He grabbed for a concealed blade but Johnson was ready for that and quickly kicked it away. The agent knelt down next to him and put pressure on the wound.
“I want...” he said before noticing the frothing at the man’s mouth.
He grabbed at the man and tried to force out whatever was there but it was too late. In just seconds the poison had done its work and the man lay dead. Johnson slumped down next to the body, the raid had failed and their suspect was dead. There was still no sign of his backup and that was starting to worry him. He looked over to the body of the man, noticing the tattoos again. They were the mark of the secretive Church of Echidna, an organisation that was connected to the Zealots and attacks throughout the System. He checked the man’s pockets but found nothing other than some shells for his weapon. He pulled back the jacket reaching down to the trouser pocket only to find a pouch on the man’s belt. Johnson instantly recognised the feel.
“Datapad!” He pulled out the valuable electronic device. Holding it in front of him he ran his finger along the top to activate the unit. With a flicker of light blue text it powered up and waited with some kind of icon-based security panel. Then he heard footsteps.
“About dammed time!” he said as he looked up from the body.
The shape in the distance was of a man in a long coat and wearing a wide brimmed hat. The man was coming towards him, then he realised he was pointing a weapon. Jumping back he avoided the blast from the man’s pistol. Then he was gone. Johnson gave chase but his back and leg were still causing him pain.
“Special Agent Johnson, in pursuit of shooter. He’s coming around to the side street. Where are you?” he shouted.
The man disappeared through a dark archway in the wall that led to a courtyard at the side of the main building. He approached the arch area with care and popped his head inside then back out, it looked clear. Keeping his pistol raised he slipped through the arch to find an empty courtyard.
“What the hell?” He angrily keyed the radio again, “Johnson here, what’s going on?”
There was a crackle followed by one of the ATU agents. “We’re in the alley, where is the body?”
Johnson shook his head, he simply couldn’t believe the incompetence of these men he had been assigned. He gave one last look to the courtyard and then turned back though the arch and into the alley. As he moved closer he could see three of the ATU men, all stood in their armour with their weapons ready for danger. He approached the first who stood waiting for him.
“He was right here!”
The man looked down then back to Johnson. “Maybe he was just wounded and got away?”
The second officer stepped closer. “Did you find anything?” he asked.
Johnson looked at him, something was clearly wrong with this situation. Not least, because all three of the ATU men had their hands on their shotguns and looked ready to shoot. He instantly felt nervous and decided to take no chances.
“Nothing, this raid was a disaster! Let’s get back to Headquarters, I’ve got paperwork to file,” he said angrily.
As the officers turned to return to the street Johnson noticed a look of satisfaction between the two of the men. He pushed his hand inside his armoured jacket,
“Suspect is down, where are you?” shouted Johnson into his radio gear.
He supported his weight on the metal railings and moved the last few steps to the ground below. In the darkness it wasn’t easy to focus in the shadows. He paused for a second to take a quick gasp of oxygen, the last rush had really taken it out of him. He then went over to the slow moving body of the suspect.
“Freeze!” He lowered his pistol and pointed it at the man’s head.
The man stopped and rolled over to look directly into Johnson’s face, the pain from the wound was evidently becoming worse. He grabbed for a concealed blade but Johnson was ready for that and quickly kicked it away. The agent knelt down next to him and put pressure on the wound.
“I want...” he said before noticing the frothing at the man’s mouth.
He grabbed at the man and tried to force out whatever was there but it was too late. In just seconds the poison had done its work and the man lay dead. Johnson slumped down next to the body, the raid had failed and their suspect was dead. There was still no sign of his backup and that was starting to worry him. He looked over to the body of the man, noticing the tattoos again. They were the mark of the secretive Church of Echidna, an organisation that was connected to the Zealots and attacks throughout the System. He checked the man’s pockets but found nothing other than some shells for his weapon. He pulled back the jacket reaching down to the trouser pocket only to find a pouch on the man’s belt. Johnson instantly recognised the feel.
“Datapad!” He pulled out the valuable electronic device. Holding it in front of him he ran his finger along the top to activate the unit. With a flicker of light blue text it powered up and waited with some kind of icon-based security panel. Then he heard footsteps.
“About dammed time!” he said as he looked up from the body.
The shape in the distance was of a man in a long coat and wearing a wide brimmed hat. The man was coming towards him, then he realised he was pointing a weapon. Jumping back he avoided the blast from the man’s pistol. Then he was gone. Johnson gave chase but his back and leg were still causing him pain.
“Special Agent Johnson, in pursuit of shooter. He’s coming around to the side street. Where are you?” he shouted.
The man disappeared through a dark archway in the wall that led to a courtyard at the side of the main building. He approached the arch area with care and popped his head inside then back out, it looked clear. Keeping his pistol raised he slipped through the arch to find an empty courtyard.
“What the hell?” He angrily keyed the radio again, “Johnson here, what’s going on?”
There was a crackle followed by one of the ATU agents. “We’re in the alley, where is the body?”
Johnson shook his head, he simply couldn’t believe the incompetence of these men he had been assigned. He gave one last look to the courtyard and then turned back though the arch and into the alley. As he moved closer he could see three of the ATU men, all stood in their armour with their weapons ready for danger. He approached the first who stood waiting for him.
“He was right here!”
The man looked down then back to Johnson. “Maybe he was just wounded and got away?”
The second officer stepped closer. “Did you find anything?” he asked.
Johnson looked at him, something was clearly wrong with this situation. Not least, because all three of the ATU men had their hands on their shotguns and looked ready to shoot. He instantly felt nervous and decided to take no chances.
“Nothing, this raid was a disaster! Let’s get back to Headquarters, I’ve got paperwork to file,” he said angrily.
As the officers turned to return to the street Johnson noticed a look of satisfaction between the two of the men. He pushed his hand inside his armoured jacket,
Similar Books
