Search and Destroy by JT Sawyer (mobi reader TXT) 📕

act of terrorism at the Burke estate outside of Delaplane, Virginia about an hour west of Arlington.”

“Stephen Burke, the software guy? Is he alright?”

“At this point, it appears he and his entire senior staff were killed in a massive explosion at his house. There were only two survivors. I need you over there ASAP before the local cops muddle up the fucking place any further.”

She hopped out of bed, grabbing her pants and blouse then tapping the remote for the TV on the dresser. She froze, seeing the helicopter footage of the burning mansion in the forest and all the fire crews on the scene. The headline at the bottom of the screen indicated that the explosion was from a suspected gas leak in the house.

God, looks like a mortar hit that place. She fumbled with her shoes while staring at the TV. “I can be out the door in five minutes and on site in ninety, sir.”

“Good. Keep me posted. And Carter, once you’re done there, interview the survivor. He was just admitted to St. James hospital.”

“And the other one?”

“Not sure where he’s at. Someone pulled rank on the officer in charge and saw to it that the guy was cleared to leave. He’s listed as Terrance C. Shepard, a security consultant.”

“That sure sounds like someone I’ll need to speak with.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

9

The plum-orange fingers of dawn were just piercing the sides of the window blinds when Cal heard the barely audible sound of a ringtone then realized his iPhone was beckoning him to answer. Cal glanced down at the number, feeling his stomach tighten further as he saw it was Cassie’s sister.

He sighed, answering. “Sara, hi. I was going to call you.”

“Cal, are you OK? Where are you? I heard about what happened at Burke’s place. I know you and Cassie were supposed to be at a party there. Is she with you right now? Can I talk to her?”

“I just got home a little bit ago.” He turned around, leaning against the counter as his eyes lowered. “Sara, I’m…I’m so sorry. She was in the house during the explosion.” He pressed his hand to his forehead, his body shaking. “I, uhm, I’m not even sure how to explain what happened.”

“No! No…no…what? She can’t be… Oh, my God, no!” Sara’s agony pierced through every fiber of his being as she wept.

He wanted to reach across the miles and hug her.

“Cass is gone…no…how?”

“Everyone, Cassie, all our friends, were inside. I had just arrived and was walking up the driveway when the whole place…it just went up in flames.” He tried to push beyond his pounding headache to sort through the fragments of memories, but the pain in his skull was quickly blotted out by the final image of Cassie waving to him from the balcony.

Then he remembered being slammed back into the driveway as the sky erupted in orange and splintering glass hailed down upon him. He’d tried to crawl along the pavement, seeing the shattered windshield on his vehicle… Suddenly, he remembered something.

The delivery van…that white van and the caterers…the guy with the prosthetic leg…what happened to them?

He heard Sara sobbing, her voice trailing off in between gasps of air. She and Cassie had lost their parents a few years ago, making the sisters closer than ever. They spoke several times a week on the phone, constantly exchanged Facebook photos and had a twice-annual girl’s weekend away in the spring and fall. Now Sara was all alone.

Cal squeezed the bridge of his nose, needing to sit down before his headache dropped him to the ground. He shuffled towards the couch, plunking onto the cushions.

“Is Darrel home from his trip yet?” he asked, inquiring about Sara’s husband, who traveled frequently for a pharmaceutical company.

“He’s flying back home tonight, so it’s just me and the kids right now.”

“I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to bear all this alone.”

They spoke for a few more minutes until Sara said she had to go.

“I love you, Sara. Hang in there.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

Cal leaned back on the couch, resting his throbbing head and reliving yesterday’s events on an endless loop he couldn’t turn off.

He heard a vehicle pull into the driveway then stood up, peering through the side of the curtains at a copper-colored Crown Vic and a man and woman in suits stepping out.

Cal habitually stepped back from the window, trotting into his bedroom, retrieving his HK pistol from a gun safe mounted in the closet, then did a partial chamber check to confirm a round was present given the fog in his brain. He slid the weapon into the beltline beneath his t-shirt then headed back to the dining room.

The doorbell rang just as he moved to the front door. He peered through the peephole, seeing that his visitors’ arms were hanging in a relaxed fashion by their sides. The dark-haired woman was staring at the door while her barrel-chested partner scanned the street.

Cal unlocked the deadbolt, prying open the door.

“Mr. Shepard, I’m Special Agent Amanda Carter, and this is Agent James Tremblay. We’re with the FBI. I know this must be a difficult time, but we were wondering if we could have a few minutes to ask you some questions about the events at the Burke estate.”

“Events…the death of all my friends…my wife…my…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence about his unborn daughter. He opened up the door fully, peering beyond the two agents, then shook his head. “Look, I know you’re just doing your jobs, but this will have to wait for another time. I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law, and I’m still trying to keep tabs on what day it is.”

She inched towards him. “It’ll only take a few minutes. I promise. And it may help us in figuring out what happened. My understanding is that Stephen Burke was a defense contractor. Is that right?”

She was smoothly segueing into questioning mode, subtly invading his personal space and even providing the requisite disarming