by Robin Mahle
“What’s going on here?” the man asked.
“Are you Greg Hughes?”
“Yes. Liz said we have to go with you. Why? I don’t understand.”
“You will when I get you three out of here. We should go now.” Duncan started back toward the building and spotted Stallard. “We’re good here. I’m taking them back to the field office.”
“Got it.” He turned to them. “This will all make sense very soon, folks. Thank you for your cooperation.” Stallard looked at Duncan again. “I’ll see you back there. I’ve still got to get these guys back inside.”
“See you soon.” Duncan walked into the building with the employees trailing.
“Wait, can I go back into my office and get my stuff?” Greg asked.
“I’m afraid not.” Duncan didn’t elaborate and continued through the hall.
He looked at his co-workers when Liz spoke up. “It’s okay Greg. We’re going to be fine. You can call your wife when we get out of here, I’m sure.”
He patted his pockets. “Shit. I don’t have my phone.”
“Is it upstairs?” Liz asked.
“No, I left it in my car, and I was going to get it earlier when all this happened.” He caught up to Duncan and tapped her on the shoulder. “Ma’am, I left my cell phone in my car. It’s just out front. Can I at least get that? It’s not in the building.”
They reached the front entrance and he pointed through the glass doors. “Right there. The blue sedan. Please. I have to call my wife and let her know what’s going on. I was supposed to meet her for lunch today and it’s almost that time.”
Duncan pushed through the doors and looked at her car that was only feet away. “I’m afraid not, sir. Please, just follow me to my car.” She pressed the remote to unlock it and heard the footsteps behind her. “Mr. Hughes?”
He’d started to jog to his car. “I’ll just be a minute. Hang on.”
“Mr. Hughes? No. I need you to come back here.”
Liz tapped Duncan’s shoulder. “I don’t understand. Why can’t he go get his phone? I thought the building was all clear and everything was okay?”
Duncan turned to the women. “Just get in the car, ma’am. Please.” She turned back to find Hughes had reached his blue sedan. “Mr. Hughes?” She shouted and ran ahead. “Get away from the…”
The heat struck her first, then the energy wave. Duncan was blown off her feet and came down hard on the concrete. Blood trickled from the back of her head and down to her shoulder. With blurred vision and ears ringing, she saw black smoke rise in the air.
Duncan tried to look back to see that the women were safe, but a faint feeling swept over her. She gasped for air and her eyes closed until she felt a hand slap her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered open, and a hazy figure hovered over her with moving lips and no sound.
“Wake up! Duncan, wake up!” Stallard tapped her cheek. “Come on. Keep your eyes open. You can do it.” He gazed back at the scene. The two women were inside the car, peering through the window, screaming and crying. And as he gazed out to where the smoke billowed, he saw the blue sedan on fire. “Oh, God.”
23
The narrow two-story home where Danny King and his sister had grown up was shrouded in overgrown shrubs and tall grass from a wet spring. Dry rot under the eaves and missing roof shingles made evident the family’s financial struggles. The drawn curtains and a vacant driveway were pretty good indicators that no one was home.
“I see ATF coming up behind us.” Agent Tillis peered through his rearview mirror. He rolled down his driver’s side window when one of the agents leaned in. “Afternoon.”
“Sir,” the agent replied. “I’ll have my team get started on a perimeter sweep. Checking for tripwires, things of that nature. Then, we’ll work on access to the interior. This will take some time and I’ll need you three to stay put until we clear the place. Are we good?”
“We’re good. Thanks, man.”
The agent nodded and turned around. “Okay guys, let’s get started.”
When he walked away, Tillis heard his phone ring in the center console and answered the call. “Tillis, here.” He shot a look at Kate. “What? Is anyone hurt? Is she okay?”
Kate’s heart jumped into her throat. She whipped back at Surrey, who appeared just as in the dark as she. “What’s going on?”
“Got it. No, we’ll head down there now. ATF is at the King home with us and preparing to sweep the place. We’ll see you down there. Thanks, man.” Tillis ended the call. “A car bomb went off at the building where Agent Duncan had gathered the case workers. I’m sorry to say that she was injured in that explosion.”
“Oh my God.” Kate’s eyes reddened and her lips quivered. “Is she okay? I have to see her.”
“Just chill out a second.” Tillis held up his hands. “Stallard’s getting her onto an ambulance now and he’ll go with her to Pittsburgh General Hospital. She’s hurt, but he says she’s doing okay.”
“Thank God. How did this happen? I thought Stallard’s people cleared the building,” Kate pressed on.
“They did. You were right about the case workers being King’s next targets. After the building was cleared, Duncan ushered the staff to her car. One of them asked to grab his phone from his car in the parking lot. She insisted he stay with her. He didn’t listen. When he reached his car, Duncan went after him. It blew up seconds later. He’s dead.”
With impassioned eyes, Surrey touched Kate’s shoulder. “Duncan’s okay, Reid. She’s okay. That’s the takeaway.”
“But I don’t understand. If the car was rigged, that must’ve meant Danny was there and was watching them. He uses a remote detonator.”
“I only know what Stallard just told me.” Tillis stepped out of the car and reached the agent in charge. “Hey, we have to go. There’s been another explosion. Do me a favor and stay here to clear the home? Keep the neighbors back. These houses are too damn close, so if you find something, evacuate them. And for God’s sake, watch yourselves. This asshole is all over the board right now.”
“It’s under control,” the agent replied. “I’ll update Stallard.”
“Thanks man.” Tillis returned to the car and slipped behind the wheel. “Let’s go.”
Kate grabbed her phone. “I need to call Fisher. He has to know what’s going on.”
“We should wait to see how she’s doing,” Surrey began. “You heard what Stallard said. She’s doing all right. That’s a good sign. Get the facts and then tell him, otherwise you’ll only worry him.”
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.” Kate leaned her head back on the headrest. Her eyes stared up at the car’s roof. “He must’ve been there waiting for them. But how could he have done this with his sister there, and so fast? He wouldn’t want her to see him for who he really is.”
Tillis glanced at her while he drove. “Stallard and his team are all over this, Reid.”
She gazed through the passenger window and blotted her stinging eyes. The two had relied on each other and had grown close in recent months. Duncan backed Kate all the way where Quinn had been concerned. And their closeness had become especially evident since Nick’s departure. Duncan deserved far more credit for her work on this team than she got and that was going to change if Kate had any say.
“This is it.” Tillis pulled up to the emergency entrance. “We’ll find someone with answers.”
Kate stepped out of the passenger side and Surrey caught up to her. “She’ll be fine, Reid. Duncan will be fine. You have to stay positive.”
She replied with a measured grin that quickly vanished when they entered the lobby.
Tillis hurried to the front desk. “FBI Agent Tillis. One of ours was just brought in. Eva Duncan. We need to know how she is and if we can see her.”
The nurse checked her computer. “Yes. I’ll call up the doctor now.”
He shook his head as he focused on Kate and Surrey. “What I want to know is did ATF check the other vehicles?”
Agent Stallard approached from beyond the corridor, apparently having heard the question. “I instructed my team to check the cars. The other two had explosive devices as well. I don’t have all the details yet, but it appears that the one that did go off was somehow signaled when the guy used his phone.”
“He had already cloned it,” Kate said.
“That’s my best guess.” He nodded as the doctor approached. “I think that’s the woman you want to see.”
Kate spun around. “How is she? Can I go see her?”
“You must be Agent Reid,” the doctor replied.
“Yes.”
“Ms. Duncan has been asking for you. She does have a concussion. Minor contusions and lacerations on her face and head. She’s rattled. The blast temporarily caused her to lose her hearing, but it seems to have returned to near normal. Otherwise, she’ll be just fine.”
“Then I can go back?” Kate pressed on.
“Of course. I would prefer one at a time if that’s all right with everyone.”
“You go,” Surrey replied. “I’ll get the download from Stallard.”
Kate followed the doctor into the hall when they arrived at the door. “She’s right through here. Ms. Duncan, you have someone here to see you.”
Kate watched as she struggled to pull herself up in the bed. “Don’t. It’s okay. How are you doing?”
“I’m okay. Just have a nasty headache,” Duncan replied.
“I’ll have the nurse give you some more pain meds.” The doctor left the room.
Kate took her hand. “What happened?”
“Something I should’ve been prepared for, given who we’re dealing with. I screwed up—again.”
“You didn’t screw up. Stallard said the guy took off to his car. You tried to stop him. This isn’t on you. If anything, ATF should’ve swept the cars first. Stallard knows King’s M.O.” Kate shook it off. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Do you want me to call Cam?”
“No. I’ll call him. Really, I’m okay. You need to get me out of here today, Kate. Somehow, Danny King leapt right over us, and we have to know how far he’s gone. The other cars…”
“Stallard’s team checked them out. We were at King’s house when he called and told us what happened.”
“Then you should get back there. Seriously. We can’t afford to lose him. He’s off the rails now that he knows we’re closing in.”
“I had to see you first. Now that I know you’re okay, then we need to head back there. ATF had to clear the property and they’re keeping everyone away. So, we should be able to get inside now.”
“Then go. I’ll be fine. I’ll be such a pain in these doctors’ asses that they’ll bend over backwards to release me.” Duncan laughed. “Just stay safe. Please.”
Danny stood at the door of the cottage tucked into the woods. He kept Mel steady with one hand while he knocked with the other. “Grandma said she’d be here.”
“We haven’t been here in a long time. Not since Mom died,” Mel said.
“I know.” Danny’s attention was captured when the door opened. “Hi, Grandma.”
“Danny. Mel.” Her wide smile deepened the wrinkles at her eyes as she peered over her glasses. “My beautiful grandchildren. Come in. Come in.”
Danny helped Mel lift her walker over the threshold and guided her inside. The place smelled just as he remembered, musty with a hint of coffee. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a lot of notice that we were coming.”
“Don’t you apologize. My grandchildren are welcome here any time.” She closed the door.
Danny let his gaze roam around the small living room. The furnishings were a little more worn. The carpet was worse for wear. He could see his grandmother struggled to care for the place on her own. After losing her daughter two years ago, she’d lost her husband a few short months after that. Danny hadn’t brought Mel back here since. He wasn’t the same person after his mother died. Now, he hardly recognized himself at all.
“How about I get Mel settled in and then I can go and pick up food and stuff? I need to take care of a few things, Grandma. Do you think you’ll be okay here with her?”
“Well, of course. I would love nothing more than to catch up with my granddaughter.”
Danny eyed her obvious frailty, knowing this was his only option. At least Mel wouldn’t be alone. “About what happened after Mom died…”
“Don’t think about it. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you’re here. I can see to Mel for a while.” She held his gaze with her soft, but tired brown eyes. “Just take care of whatever you need to take care of, Danny. We’ll be just fine.”
He took Mel gently by the arms. “You’ll be okay here for a while?”
“When are you coming back?” she asked.
“Not until late,” Danny replied. “But I’m doing this so we can be together. That’s all that matters, right?”
“Yeah. That’s all that matters,” Mel replied.
“Good. Then it’s settled.” He peered at his grandmother. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
He stepped into his car and started back into the city. They knew exactly who he was now. Danny had nothing left to lose, so he might as well finish what he started.
The perimeter of the house had been cleared and the ATF team leader waited at the front of the home. Tillis pulled up to the curb. “I need you both here with me right now. I’m sorry about what happened to your colleague, but…”
“I know what I have to do. You don’t need to be concerned about me.” Kate got out of the car and hurried up the steps, leaving the others in her wake. While the outcome could have been much worse, Kate bore responsibility for what happened to Duncan. Whether it was warranted hardly mattered. Once Fisher learned of the incident, she pondered whether he would jump on the first flight here, or if he would let Kate see this to its end. If it was Nick in the same spot, the answer would’ve been clear. And Kate would soon find out if Cameron Fisher was going to do the same.
“We’re good to go in?” Tillis approached the agent.
“It’s clear,” he replied.
Kate was about to speak when Surrey grabbed her arm. He shook his head and led her several feet away. “Before we get in there, I know you’re pissed about what happened to Duncan. I am too.” He released her arm, but his eyes remained fixed. “Just remember who we’re dealing with. I know these guys are good, but this kid; he’s not concerned about anyone else except his sister. Just be careful inside. We’re close now. We just have to dot the i’s, you hear me?”
“I appreciate your concern, Surrey, but people have died because we aren’t doing our jobs. More could’ve died today too. This is on me. I pushed King over the edge. I forced him to make a move and I didn’t anticipate the results. It’s up to me to fix this.”
“My God, Reid. Do you ever tire of blaming yourself? How’s that cross on your back feel, I wonder?”
Kate pulled back at the unexpected swipe. “Excuse me?”
“I get that you’re some kind of super sleuth. And hey, I’ve seen your work. I don’t dispute the title. You are a hell of an agent. The way you develop your profiles… Look, all I’m saying is not everything is on you. We are a team here, aren’t we? We all put in our two cents to help Agent Tillis and this is where we’re at.”
“But I’m supposed to be the lead on this case,” she replied.
“And you have been. But if you don’t figure out how to separate yourself from a case, how to step back so you can see the whole picture, you’re not going to be the best. Despite your best efforts. And you have to let shit go, Reid. I know that you’ve been struggling with the Lehmann case and yet, you do nothing to resolve your issues. You just push it in so no one else can see it. You want everyone to think you’re bullet-proof. Trust me, you’re not. Just like I’m not and neither is anyone on our team.”
Kate folded her arms in defiance.
“I can see you don’t agree. That’s fi
ne. You don’t have to. But mark my words, if you don’t let this stuff go, get help for it—I guarantee you that you won’t be the BAU’s lead profiler in two, maybe three years, max.”
“Then where will I be, Agent Surrey?” Her tone hardened.
“In my opinion? Probably dead.”
Tillis walked toward them. “We’re burning daylight. Let’s get in there, folks.”
24
Cameron Fisher didn’t rise to anger easily. The former NYPD detective hadn’t been built that way. But when he got the call from Duncan, anger that derived from a feeling of helplessness arose in him. He marched through the BAU halls. Sweat soaked through the underarms of his dress shirt. One of his own was in the hospital, and it just so happened to be the woman he loved.
He arrived outside Walsh’s office. “We’re going to Pittsburgh. I’ve requested the plane. Just waiting on Cole’s approval.”
Walsh stood from his desk. “What happened?”
“Duncan’s in the hospital. Another car bomb. She’s okay but she has a concussion, cuts and bruises. One more dead. It’s time we get our asses up there and help our team. It’s looking more and more like the serial bomber realizes he has nothing left to lose. And I don’t think he’ll have any qualms taking out anyone who gets in his way.”
“I’m ready when you are,” Walsh replied. “What’s the status of Reid and Surrey?”
“They’re about to search the bomber’s house. They’re hoping to learn where Danny King fled to.” Fisher started out of the office. “Be ready in twenty.”
Walsh waited for him to leave when he picked up the phone. “Scarborough, it’s me. Fisher and I are headed to Pittsburgh. Shit hit the fan. Duncan’s in the hospital…”
“Oh my God. Is she okay?” Scarborough asked.
“She’ll be fine. Have you talked to Reid today?”
“No. She texted me a quick update. Nothing specific. Listen, if you’re going there, I’ll need you to keep eyes out. Kate’s being watched.”