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

Thaxton began.
    Angela sat quietly, trying to understand her
role in the FBI’s plan.
    “Most of them are ISIS affiliated,” Thaxton
continued. “Al-Qaeda is still every bit a threat, but ISIS is
growing at a much more rapid and dangerous pace.”
    Angela cleared her throat, determined to ask
some questions of her own. “Why doesn’t the government detain
them?”
    Thaxton pursed her lips, looking as though
she was prepared for the question. “We’re monitoring as many as we
can, hoping that they can lead us to their benefactor.”
    Angela clasped her hands together, wishing
she could wrap the conversation up, and took a trusting step.
“Captain Martinez told me that the government hasn’t released a
report on the number of suspected terrorists in two years.”
    “Of course he did,” Thaxton told her. “And
I’m as bothered by that as he.” She leaned back in the chair,
rocking with both arms on the armrests. “Then again, I’m just the
assistant director.”
    Angela glanced at the television where an
image of the first shooter, the one with the large forehead was
being displayed. He was identified as Amadi Rahman, the brother of
the London bombing terrorist, Sayed Rahman. The photo itself was
several months old—taken from Amadi’s passport—and showing a
clean-shaven man with trim hair and a smile.
    “This is what I need from you, Angela,”
Thaxton said, dusting the shoulders of her blue blazer. “We have
some information on a safe house. A house that Jorge last reported
on. He told me that he was going to investigate. Like you, I urged
him not to do it on his own. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard from
him since.”
    Angela didn’t know how much to believe.
Martinez had warned her about the FBI. Maybe some of his paranoia
was rubbing off on her.
    “I want you to accompany us to this safe
house. Jorge’s current state of mind is not where I’d prefer it to
be. But he trusts you. So we will need you with us once we get
there.”
    Angela stared ahead, studying Thaxton while
trying to detect any bit of deception in her blue eyes. She was a
startlingly attractive woman, and Angela found her mere presence
intimidating. She exuded an air of confidence that Angela only
wished she could achieve in her own career.
    “I need to know what you’ve found out about
this station wagon,” Angela said. “That’s what this all comes down
to.”
    Thaxton leaned closer to her as the chair
squeaked forward. “We’re working on it. Police have issued an APB
statewide on the vehicle. Though, I might say, a license plate
would have been helpful.”
    “The truck we were tracking didn’t have a
license plate. For all we know, the station wagon was the same,”
Angela said.
    “Not likely,” Thaxton said, cupping her
chin. “Now, are you game? Will you accompany us to the safe house
to find Martinez?”
    Angela thought to herself for a moment and
then nodded. “Sure. If it means brining him home. Is he in any
danger?”
    Thaxton glanced downward then back at
Angela. “We don’t know yet. But I can tell you that the house in
question is on our list of hot spots.”
    It was all Angela needed to hear. She’d
agree to whatever was necessary. Thaxton seemed pleased and told
her that, “woman to woman,” she wouldn’t let her down.
    “But I expect the same from you,” she
continued. “Don’t let us down either.”
     
    Angela sat in the backseat of a black SUV as
it roared along a rural stretch of desert road with four other
matching vehicles closely behind. She was a part of something now.
Something larger than before.
    An FBI helicopter flew overhead, tracking
them. Angela stared out the window, watching the vastness of the
rolling hills and sand dunes pass by—cypress trees, rocks, and
decaying weeds, plentiful and unending. Assistant Director Thaxton
sat in the passenger seat, next to Agent Sutherland, who drove.
    For Angela, it was hard to believe that
anything worth finding was within their grasp, but