The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) Read Online Free PDF Page B

now had his answer.  Chet thought John was suicidal.  He also knew that Jessica had left Chet, and she left him because of Chet ’ s worry over him.  John walked over to the board and faced both his partners. 
              “ Look there was a time when no one thought we could crack what was supposed to be an impossible case.  We did.  We did it as a team with no secrets.  Chet, I don ’ t know maybe I am suicidal."  Chet nodded. John may have kept Chet away as much as possible, but he was still an FBI agent, and a good one.   "Have I thought about it, yeah . . . but how mad would Sam be at me if I did? ”   Chet looked at John with pity, but John waved it off. 
    “ You want me to get through this?  T hen help me with this case, and you two promise to help me with one more, if . . . IF I want you to. ”   Chet nodded solemnly.  Jessica looked uncomfortable.
    “ John, it ’ s easy to say all of this, but if Chet and I are kicked out of the FBI how can we help you with Sam ’ s case? ”   Jessica asked.
    John straightened.  For the first time in three years, John Fowler felt like himself.  The cocky smirk that drove his teammates crazy, but the one that also let them know he was on the hunt , returned.  Jessica smiled in spite of herself.  For the first time since she and Chet had run into so much trouble at the bureau, things felt right.  They were back.  John reached over to the hat rack and put on what he called his “ crime solving ” hat.
    “ I ’ m going to help you solve this case and then we ’ re all goi ng to get the redemption we deserve. ”

Chapter 10
    John looked at the board and began to study it.  He realized he wasn ’ t getting anywhere.  He sighed and turned to his partners.
    “ I guess it ’ s time I get my comeuppance.  We probably need the big board at the bureau p lus all of the files you have there. ”   Chet looked embarrassed and Jessica was studying her shoes.  John was a little taken aback.  “ OK.  Exactly how bad is it at the bureau? ”
    Jessica was playing with the top button on her shirt.  She wet her lips before she spoke.  “ We were only given this case two days ago. ”   John ’ s mouth dropped.  Jessica held up her hand.  “ It wasn ’ t our fault, it took almost a week for jurisdiction to be decided and it took a few days for everyone ELSE in the department to have their take on the case. ”   John had a bad feeling he knew where this was going.  It was obvious they weren ’ t going to come right out and say, so he asked.
    “ You weren ’ t assigned this case, were you?  You went to Trip and asked for it, and asked for me to take a run on it?  That ’ s what this whole thing is!?!?  You put your careers on the line!!!  Admittedly not that it sounds like much is left of them at this point. ”   Both Chet and Jessica looked a little hurt with that statement.  At this point John didn ’ t care.  He was on a roll and couldn ’ t help himself.  “ You two numbskulls gambled everything that , A, you cou ld get me to come back, and B , and this is the doozy, that I wasn ’ t so drunk or so rusty that I could solve a quadruple homicide that ’ s now over two weeks old!?!?
    “ I didn ’ t think you had been drinking. ”   Chet had been quiet during most of the exchanges that afternoon.  He had taken about all he could though.  Whether John wanted him or not, Chet was John ’ s friend.  He had to do something to try to save John ’ s life.  Chet figured his FBI career was over anyway.  He was willing to gamble with what little he had left for one big win.  John started to speak and Chet cut him off.  John was a little surprised by the ferocity shown by his friend.               
    “ John, for three years I ’ ve let you push me away, but no more.  Look at the evidence in front of you. ”   John looked puzzled and glanced at the board.  “ No you idiot, not the board, YOU!! ”