Veil - 02 - The Hammer of God Read Online Free PDF Page A

of FBI experience fail, we’ll give you a holler.” Agent Baxter walked away before Robert could respond.
    Thorne stepped up beside him. “What gives?”
    “We’re cleared as suspects, but the FBI wants us out of town,” said Robert.
    “And?”
    “Call Evelyn back at the office, and tell her to put a hold on all of our cases until further notice. We’re not going any fucking where.” Thorne smiled. “Damn right.” She pulled out her cell phone and stepped outside.
    Robert sat down next to Alison, who seemed to be resting more comfortably. Donovan, finished with the platoon of agents around him, limped over.
    “How are you holding up?” asked Robert, standing to give his friend a hug.
    “As best I can,” said Donavon. “I’ll feel better when we hear something.”
    “What do the suits think?”
    “That it’s just money, which means we should get a note or a call soon.”
    Robert was aware that most kidnapping requests for money came within twenty-four hours. Every hour after that was not a good sign.
    “Donovan, Thorne and I want to join the search. See what we can work up,” said Robert.
    Alison stirred and sat up. The compress fell in her lap, eyes swollen, red, and pouring water. “Haven’t you done enough?” she snorted.
    “Enough? What do you mean?” asked Robert, taken aback.
    “What have you brought to our house?” she continued, through the tears.
    Stunned, Robert considered for the first time the possibility someone in his past or present was responsible for taking Samuel. He and Thorne had put away some pretty despicable characters over the years, inside the CIA and on their own, some international terrorist and kidnappers, others, serial killers and crime lords.
    “You’re just upset,” said Thorne, moving closer to Alison. “We’d never do anything to…”
    “How do you know?” Alison bellowed. “How do you know this isn’t because of you and Robert?”
    Robert fidgeted. Fact is, we don’t know. He cleared his throat. “We can’t be one hundred percent, but I doubt this has anything to do with any of our cases.”
    Everyone in the room soaked in uncomfortable silence. Only Alison’s snorting and crying were audible. Robert took her by both arms and stared into her eyes. “Thorne and I intend to do whatever we can to get Samuel back safely. You have my promise.”
    “I don’t want your fucking promise,” Alison snapped, snatching out of his grasp. “I want you out of here now!” Robert opened his mouth to speak. “Robert, if you care about Samuel you’ll leave us alone!” Alison screamed, collapsing on the couch in a frantic heap.
    Donavon, in tears, sat down next to his wife and stroked her hair.
    Robert searched for the words, but none came.
    “Just go,” said Donavon, never looking Robert’s way. “I’ll call you later.
    Robert’s eyes filled with tears, his heart with anger, not at Alison, she was doing what any distraught mother would do. He boiled over at the men who’d put them in such a horrible situation. A hand on his shoulder gave him a start, and Thorne pulled him from the room.
    Outside, Robert wiped the moisture from his eyes and pounded his fist on the hood of Thorne’s rental, a black Monte Carlo, and kicked a deep dent in the front bumper.
    “Get in the car and let’s get out of here,” Thorne ordered, ignoring the damage. Robert leaned back against the hood, grinding his teeth, arms folded tight across his chest. “Okay, you let me know when you’re ready,” she said. She slid in on the passenger side and dialed her cell phone.
    Robert fumed at the thought of not joining the search for Samuel, a boy he loved as his own. He considered Alison’s tirade, searching his memory for a name or face, any case that could’ve spilled over and resulted in an attack on an innocent ten year old boy, but nothing came to mind. The Monte Carlo’s horn intruded his thoughts. Thorne motioned, l et’s go!
    “So, where shall we start?” she asked,