Special Forces Saviour. Janie Crouch

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      “Senator,” Steve responded respectfully. “Ladies and gentlemen.”

      “Let’s cut to the chase, Robert,” Congressman Hougland said, practically cutting off Steve’s greeting to the committee. “Drackett mentioned they have some news. I’d be thrilled to hear that.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.

      Annoyance floated over Senator Edmundson’s face before he reschooled it into its polite mask.

      “All right, then. Director Drackett, please.”

      “Agent Waterman and his colleagues received a tip earlier today while returning from Chicago. They changed route midflight and headed to Philadelphia. Upon their arrival at the location, they were met with gunfire.”

      The men and women were listening attentively from their screens. It made for a nice change from the past two weeks when they’d had nothing of any interest to report.

      “One man gave chase, and unfortunately killed himself rather than be taken into custody,” Steve continued. “The suspects also burned the location to the ground while the team was chasing the running suspect.”

      “So basically, Agent Waterman, you had a more exciting day, but still have nothing to show for it,” Congressman Hougland jumped in. “Is that correct?”

      Derek counted to three before answering. He’d once been thrown from a spooked horse and had to walk the four miles home on a broken ankle. He’d survived that.

      He could survive this.

      “Actually, Congressman, we were able to retrieve a few pieces of evidence from the house before it was totally destroyed. One piece in particular, a communication device of some kind, looks particularly interesting. Although it was damaged by the fire, we’re hopeful the data on it can be retrieved.”

      Most of the committee were nodding, at least accepting that this was progress. Not Hougland.

      “Hopeful,” he scoffed. “Not exactly confidence-inspiring.”

      “All right, Don, let’s stay positive,” Senator Edmundson said.

      “The only thing I’m becoming positive about is that Omega Sector might not be living up to its reputation any longer,” Hougland spat back.

      Derek’s lips thinned. As much as he disliked the congressman, the man wasn’t totally incorrect. He and the team had been pretty inept on this Chicago case. They hadn’t caught a single break until today.

      “We should also have identification of the dead man soon,” Drackett told the committee. “That will also point us in a direction.”

      “The body is there now, at your facility in Colorado?” Senator Edmundson asked.

      Steve nodded. “Yes, our lab is or very soon will be, running the prints. We’ll also have any other helpful evidence from the body.”

      “And the communication device? When will you know if that will provide anything useful?” Hougland asked.

      “By tomorrow morning,” Derek replied. He hoped that would be true. “The lab is working on it tonight.”

      That seemed to placate everyone. Since there weren’t any other questions from the committee and Hougland had evidently gotten tired of poking holes at their case, Steve said good-night to everyone, promising to keep them posted. After the last of the committee had disconnected from the screens, Derek ran a weary hand over his face.

      Jon and Liam stood up from their chairs in the corner.

      “I am so glad I’m not you guys,” Jon said. “That was brutal.”

      Derek couldn’t agree more. He just wanted to get home, change out of his smoky clothes and shower. The burns on his back and shoulders were still bothering him a little. Everyone said their good-nights, agreeing to meet back first thing in the morning.

      Derek partly wanted to go check on Molly, but decided it was better to just let her work on her own since his presence tended to discombobulate her so much. But he hated that she had more work on her plate—probably a whole night’s worth—because of him. Derek promised himself that when this case was over, he would make sure that Steve forced Molly to hire some more people for the lab.

      He needed a good night’s sleep. Once they had this evidence in hand, it would hopefully lead them somewhere, and they’d all need to be able to hit the ground running. Derek was still thinking about the evidence through his meal, shower and even as he was falling asleep. Why would someone kill himself rather than be arrested? What was on that device that was worth burning a building to the ground? Molly’s results would point them in the direction they needed to go. He drifted off to sleep with it on his mind.

      The phone ringing at 2:42 a.m. jerked him out of his sleep. This was not the first call he’d gotten from Omega in the middle of the night. Derek looked at the caller ID: Steve Drackett.

      “Steve, what’s up?” Derek tried to wipe the sleep from his voice the best he could.

      “Derek, I need you to get back to HQ right away. There’s been an explosion at the building. I’m on my way in now, but you’re closer.”

      Derek was instantly awake. “Like what, a fire?”

      “No. I don’t have many details yet, but I know it was an explosion. In the forensic lab.”

      Derek could actually feel his heart stop beating. “Forensic lab?” he parroted.

      “Yes. And I know there’s at least one confirmed death.”

       Chapter Four

      Derek’s general idea of “help from above” was a sniper on the roof, but he prayed like he had never prayed before as he broke multiple traffic laws driving back to Omega Headquarters in downtown Colorado Springs.

      It was nearly three in the morning. The forensic lab had just exploded. One person was dead.

      No matter how much he tried to twist it, there was no way to think that it wasn’t Molly. Who else would even be there at almost three o’clock in the morning?

      Acid ate at his gut when Derek thought of the fact that she wouldn’t have been there at all if he hadn’t asked her to stay. To do something specifically for him.

      But he categorically refused to assume the worst until there was no other choice. Until he was presented with proof positive that it was Molly who was dead.

      He hit the gas harder and rounded a corner, nearly blinded by all the emergency vehicle lights parked at Omega. A uniformed officer stopped him from pulling into the parking lot, but let Derek through when he flashed his badge and ID.

      Which saved Derek from having to pull his gun on the man. Because there was no way in hell he wasn’t getting into that parking lot.

      Chaos reigned as Derek parked his car far enough away not to hinder any emergency vehicles and jogged over to a small group of personnel who seemed to be directing the СКАЧАТЬ