Read Online Terror Rising: Book 0 – The Insurgence by Roger Hayden - Free Book Online Page A

much.
    “We need to find him,”
Drake said. “Do your best to get in touch with him. That’s your mission for
the day, Agent Gannon.”
    Angela remained still in the chair with her
hands folded over her legs. “Yes, sir. I can do that.”
    “Great.” He went to his desk and grabbed one
of the many files sitting in a stack. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I
have to address the media in an hour.”
    Angela stood to leave when a knock came at
the door.
    “Come in,” Drake shouted, gazing at the door
and looking annoyed.
    The door opened, and a tall, thin woman
walked in. She had straight brown hair down to her shoulders and a
tanned face that contrasted attractively with red lipstick and
bright, bluish-green eyes. She wore a dark blue blazer, a white
silk shirt, and black slacks. An FBI badge dangled from her neck on
a lanyard. The other agents in the room seemed to stand more
upright as she entered, obviously trying to put on a good face.
    “Ah, Ms. Thaxton. A pleasure to see you,”
Chief Drake said with a smile.
    The woman nodded back and then looked at
Angela, pointing. “This is Captain Martinez’s partner?”
    “Yes,” Drake answered, turning to Angela.
“Agent Gannon, I’d like you to meet, Jennifer Thaxton, an assistant
director with the FBI.”
    Angela shook Thaxton’s hand with a friendly
nod as the assistant director carefully studied her. “Pleased to
meet you, Agent Gannon. I’ve been waiting to speak with you.”
    “Me?” Angela said, surprised.
    Thaxton looked around the room and stopped
at Chief Drake. “I’d like a moment to speak with her, if you don’t
mind.”
    Drake wasted no time. “Of course,” he said,
grabbing some files. “The office is yours. Take all the time you
need.” The other agents followed as he left the room. Thaxton then
closed the door slowly and walked over to Drake’s desk, sitting in
his chair.
    “Please,” she said. “Have a seat.”
    Angela felt a tinge of nervousness unlike
anything she had yet experienced that morning.
    Sensing her apprehension, Thaxton leaned
forward. “Relax, Agent Gannon. I’m not here to grill you, although
I am aware that there is an internal investigation underway of
yesterday’s incident.”
    Angela looked up with a smile, hands resting
on the green fabric of her trouser legs, not sure what to say.
    “Angela, I want to cut to the chase because
time is critical,” Thaxton said. “You don’t mind if I call you
Angela, do you?”
    “No…” Angela said, her voice rising, as if
asking a question of her own.
    “Splendid. And you can call me Jennifer.
Fair enough?”
    Angela nodded.
    “I’m concerned about your partner. He has a
lot of crazy ideas, and I don’t blame him. You see, Jorge and I go
way back.”
    “Captain Martinez?” Angela asked.
    Thaxton waved her off with
a laugh. “Yes, of course. Captain
Martinez. I’m afraid he may be in a lot of
trouble.”
    Angela swallowed nervously, wishing she had
just stayed in bed for the day. “What do you mean, ma’am?”
    Thaxton smiled. “Jorge is my friend.” She
spread her arms across Drake’s desk and talked as if she were a
confidant. “Of course, we lost contact over the years. I’m sure he
called you last night with a lot of theories.”
    Angela nodded while glancing at the
television, which was displaying the image of an empty press room
and a banner reading, “Border Patrol Chief Expected to Release
Statement.”
    “I just want to find him,” Thaxton said.
“And I need your help.”
    “There’s nothing I want more to do,” Angela
replied.
    “Excellent,” Thaxton said, folding her hands
together. “Then I need to know exactly what he told you last
night.”
    Angela hesitated. In the
silence, Thaxton’s eyes seemed to burn holes right through
her. This is it, she thought. This is the
interrogation.
     
    Searching for Martinez
     
    “ We believe there are approximately
fifty terror cells operating throughout the state of Texas,”
Assistant Director