Masters of the Veil Read Online Free PDF Page A

brown-stained cot with no sheets.
    “What are you doing?” Sam asked.
    The Lieutenant closed the metal gate. His weird, red eyes… glowed. A cold shiver of fear ran through Sam.
    Am I seeing things again?
    The Lieutenant twisted the key in the lock and turned to the door.
    “Hey!” Sam banged on the bars. “Let me out! I didn’t do anything! I swear, I didn’t hit him! Just let me out!”
    After the soft clink of metal, Sam heard only silence.

CHAPTER 5

    O fficer Gaetani stared at the door. What the heck’s going on with the
    Lieutenant? First, Lieutenant McNally had put his hands on a fellow officer—which truthfully wasn’t all that bad—but then he’d assaulted the kid without reason. No reading of rights, no nothing.
    Totally out of line.
    The Lieutenant had always gone by the book, never leaving so much as a scrap of paper out of an evidence file. Harassing Sam like that? Gaetani hated to report him to the chief, but—
    A loud buzzing came from the front door. Late-night arrivals usually were drunken students looking for a place to crash instead of driving home—which in a small town like Stanton was perfectly acceptable, actually encouraged. He passed around the metal detectors and opened the door.
    His eyes widened at the beautiful woman dressed in an elegant, tailored suit. Long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and her green eyes radiated intelligence. “What a fine station you have here. Very quaint.”
    Officer Gaetani furrowed his brow. “Thanks, Miss…?”
    “ Agent. ” Her smile broadened as she held up a badge—gold, with an eagle on top. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The black leather holder also included her picture on an official-looking ID card. Her other hand remained buried deep in her pocket. “Agent Greenford. And you are?”
    It took him a moment to respond. “Officer Gaetani.”
    “First FBI agent you’ve run into?”
    He nodded and gulped. “This is a small town. We’ve never had any need for the FBI… at least not since I’ve been here.”
    “Yeah, we get that a lot. You’d be surprised what goes on in some small towns.” She stood on her tiptoes and peeked over his shoulder. “May I come in?”
    “Of course.” He gave a sheepish smile.
    “Thank you.” Her heels clicked on the linoleum floor. “I understand that a young man named Samuel Lock is in your custody. Is that correct?”
    “How did you know that? He just arrived.”
    She turned and flashed him a coy smile, and his cheeks reddened for asking.
    “I’m afraid he has to come with me now.”
    “What? Why?”
    Her playful look said, “Have you never heard of the FBI before?”
    Gaetani almost smacked himself in the forehead. “Right.”
    “Now, where is he?”
    “I actually don’t know. Lieutenant McNally just took him somewhere. I’m actually glad you’re here. The Lieutenant is acting strange. Maybe seeing some brass will set him straight.”
    She frowned. “Strange, how?”
    “I don’t know. Angry? And not following procedure. And his eyes look really—”
    “Red?”
    “Yeah, how’d you know?”
    “Take me to him.”
    Now the FBI’s involved? How bad did Sam hurt that kid?
    Lieutenant McNally’s eyes flashed up as Gaetani opened his office door. “We don’t have the faintest idea where he—I have to go.” He slammed the phone back on the desk. “Officer Gaetani, you know better than to come in without knocking!”
    So much for Lieutenant McNally’s “open door” policy.
    “And who is she?”
    “Agent Shelly Greenford of the FBI.” Gaetani stressed the Bureau’s initials.
    “What the hell does the FBI want?”
    Agent Greenford gave the Lieutenant a long look. “Sam Lock has to come with me.”
    “Sorry. That can’t happen.” Lieutenant McNally turned his attention to a pile of papers on his desk.
    “I apologize, but this is not up for discussion. Sam will be coming with me tonight. I am sorry if this—”
    “HE’S STAYING!” Spit flew out of the