• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 870 0

pass through Lowell’s operation. The guns making their way to gangs, killing twelve- and thirteen-year-old kids? Lowell. The guns going to Mexico for the drug smugglers to import their shit? Again, Lowell. He is the pivotal cog of the illegal domestic gun trade and if he gets wind of the shit going down tonight, he’ll be three thousand miles away.” As Omar spoke, his eyes brightened and a vein in his temple throbbed. Sampson Lowell was his passion, his religion, his one focus. Lucy realized that nothing she could say would convince Omar that Sean’s life—that anyone’s life—was more important than taking down this illegal arms dealer.

Lucy looked over to see Noah standing in the doorway, listening. Omar saw him too.

“Agent Kincaid, may I speak with you for a moment?”

Lucy looked at him quizzically, then followed him into the storage room. “Isn’t ‘agent’ a little premature?”

“Omar needs to think that you have as much authority as he does, because you’re going to find Callahan and the Swain kid.”

“I’m getting Sean.”

“Let me do that. I’m taking Agent Lewis with me. I don’t trust him.”

“But if Sean is injured—”

“An FBI agent needs to take orders. You’re the psychologist here. You figure out where Jon Callahan is going, and you’re the one who can talk him down. You saw what I saw—Omar has tunnel vision. So does Callahan. Our priority is to save our team, Sean, and the innocent people in town. But I think we can do that and defuse the situation enough to set a trap for Sampson Lowell. If Omar is right and he’s coming here personally, we can’t miss this opportunity to capture him. But not at the expense of people’s lives.”

Noah was right. Her mind ran through scenarios, thinking like Jon Callahan, trying to understand his grief and guilt over losing his love, Victoria. His narrow-minded need for revenge against Bobbie Swain. “I understand.”

She knew what was expected of her as a professional; she needed to put her personal feelings aside. Extremely difficult when the life of the person she loved was in grave danger. But she trusted Noah as much as she trusted Sean. For her, such faith was rare, and it had taken her years to develop the ability to have faith in anyone.

He hesitated, as if not quite sure how to reassure her. He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. “I will rescue Sean. It’s becoming kind of a habit.”

“Don’t tell him that.” But Lucy cracked a half-smile.

“He saved my ass today which made us even, and I kind of prefer being one up on Rogan.”

They walked back into the bar. Noah told Omar the plan hadn’t changed and Lucy filled in Patrick.

“Sean will be okay,” Patrick said to Lucy as much as himself. “He has nine lives.”

“How many has he already used?”

Behind her, she heard Omar Lewis raise his voice. “I don’t work with partners. You have no authority!”

Noah was firm. “My boss and your boss came to the conclusion that shooting at civilians, even without the intent to kill, is gross and negligent behavior. You’ve crossed the line, and I know all the reports you haven’t filed, the check-ins you’ve missed, the orders you’ve disobeyed. I will take your badge and disarm you now, or you can do what I say.”

“Fuck it all, I guess I have no choice.”

“Good. You understand.” Noah nodded to Patrick and Lucy. “I’m getting Sean.”

The distant rumble of a powerful explosion shook the foundation of the bar and rattled the glasses. Lucy grabbed the counter and watched as three glasses fell off a shelf and hit the floor behind the bar.

“Holy shit!” Patrick exclaimed.

Omar kicked over a table. “I’ll kill him!”

“Stand down, Agent Lewis!” Noah demanded.

“That came from the marijuana warehouses. Callahan must have blown them up! Do you understand what this means? Thirteen months of the perfect setup, gone.” He threw a chair across the room.

Noah rushed Omar and pushed him against the wall. Several pictures fell to the floor, the glass breaking. Omar pushed back, but Noah had his forearm against his chest and the strength of both training and anger. “Listen to me, Lewis,” Noah said. “I will not repeat myself.