Deadly Intent: An Action Thriller (Adrian Hell Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

second agent. “He’s notoriously camera-shy, and keeps a low profile at all times. However, he’s thought to have orchestrated multiple attacks around the world over the last few years.”
    “That’s all very tragic, but why are you telling me?”
    They get nervous and look at the sheriff before responding.
    “Adrian, we… have your file,” says the first agent. “We know what happened in San Francisco a few years ago…”
    “We understand you’ve started over down here…” says the second, looking at the sheriff again, who stands up, presumably sensing the awkward reluctance of the agents.
    “Adrian, this ain’t none of my business now these boys are here,” says Raynor. “I know you’re a private person. If you’d prefer me to wait outside, I won’t take offense.”
    I think for a minute. If they have my FBI file, and they know about San Francisco, then they know exactly who I am. Or, who I used to be, anyway. I don’t want any mention of Adrian Hell in Texas—I’ve worked hard to bury him, and done a damn good job. I’m not about to jeopardize that now. “Sorry, John. Would you mind?”
    He retrieves his hat from the table and nods as he leaves. I watch him go back out to the bar. He’s one of the good guys, Sheriff Raynor. I feel bad asking him to leave, but it’s necessary.
    I look back at the agents. “I appreciate your discretion,” I say. “Now, get to your point so I can get on with my life.”
    The first agent stepped forward. “Adrian, we believe those men were here to recruit you.”
    I frown. “They said they wanted to offer me a position in their organization, but I didn’t ask for more details. What were they trying to recruit me for?”
    “Well, we don’t honestly know. There’s a lot of chatter about a terrorist network hiring a lot of heavyweights. If that’s true, we can only surmise there’s a large attack being planned, but we have next-to-nothing to work with. We don’t know if the CIA has any more to go on, because they’re not sharing anything with us.”
    I raise an eyebrow. “Well, their files are out of date. I’m retired.”
    The agent at the back steps forward this time. “Maybe it’s not as easy as you think to get out of that line of work?” he offers, sounding surprisingly sympathetic.
    I take a deep breath and think about how good a point that is. “What’s the bottom line here, guys? Why come and see me?”
    “Just… be careful,” says the first agent. “We don’t know who we’re dealing with here yet, but it’s likely they won’t take too kindly to being refused and then attacked. We don’t know who shot those men last night, but the smart money would be on this terrorist network assuming it was you. Which means you might not have seen the last of them.”
    “Okay, well, I’m glad you fellas came to see me, and seriously, if there’s anything I can do to help you out, let me know. But don’t worry about me. I can handle myself, and rest assured, I won’t be signing up to any extreme causes or anything any time soon.”
    They both nod, and we all file out back into the bar. The agents head for the door, and Raynor, who must’ve been sitting at the bar waiting, stands to follow them. He turns to me and says, “I hope everything’s alright, Adrian.”
    “You got nothin’ to worry about, Sheriff, you have my word,” I reply.
    He nods and puts on his hat. “See you around.”
    No one in the bar seems to have paid any attention. Except Tori. She heads straight for me. I sit on a stool and rest an arm on the counter.
    “Phil, get me a beer, would you?” I ask him.
    He obliges without a word, and I take a long pull on the bottle he passes me.
    “What was all that about?” asks Tori as she approaches. “You alright, baby?”
    “It was nothin’ to worry about,” I say, trying to sound as relaxed and dismissive as I can. “The FBI is investigating the shooting, and the sheriff thought it’d help them if they spoke with