Chapter
Seven
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Suspicious Accidents
The conversation in the car continued. Matt was still in the briefing mode. “Start at the beginning. Why is the agency so spooked? What else has been happening? I need events, dates and people involved.”
Eve Bond
Eve spoke first. “To be honest, we think the agency has been targeted for months, but no one realized it. The attacks on Dan and myself were not the first to happen. In itself, they all appeared to be an accident or a mugging, but the MO’s are all different.
“You remember Greg and his wife, Eden. They were killed in a hit-and-run accident four months ago. At first we believed it was a DUI. They never caught the person. Then agent Shirley Green, was cycling home on her bicycle and got hit by a car. It was a stolen vehicle with no prints. The driver disappeared. She was alive at the scene, but DOA at the hospital. I was deliberately pushed onto the tracks during rush hour at Victoria Station, then Dan was attacked in front of the office after working late.”
Eve tapped her cell phone and handed it to Matt. “Here’s the CCSV from Victoria Station.” He watched as a man rushed forward and pushed her from behind then disappeared as the crowd gathered around. Then someone jumped off the platform, lifted her back up and crawled out. Matt realized he was holding his breath.
He let out a sigh of relief. “Who’s the hero?”
“His name’s Jason, and I told him I owed him big-time for saving my life. He works for the London Metro. I want to take him to a swank restaurant for dinner.”
Matt Evans
“Dinner? Hell, I’ll buy him a flat in Mayfair or a manor house in the country. He saved the love of my life. I owe him a lot more than just dinner.” His arm went around Eve protectively.
“Ouch!” she jumped as a pain shot through her hip.
“Ooops!” he said. “I’ll kiss it and make it all better later.”
“Promises, promises,” she said, kissing his cheek.
“So,” Matt said returning to business, “We have two dead agents and one dead partner, if you include Greg’s wife. One agent in serious condition at the hospital and one bruised and recovering from an attempted attack. That’s four field agents, one partner and a missing CEO billionaire.”
He thought back to his own recent experience when someone on a motorcycle decided to drive down the sidewalk in New York, knocking down four tourists and almost running over him — if he hadn’t jumped in a waiting taxi and closed the door. No one was seriously injured and the cyclist had disappeared. Was it a freak accident, or had he also been targeted? Lots of questions needed answering.
“The MO is all over the place. Serial killers usually follow a pattern, but nothing is matching up and unless we can find a link, we’re going to have to interview hundreds of people.” Matt grumbled.
“The possibility of dying is something operatives face in their chosen profession. They work in some of the most hostile environments in the world. But attacking the loved ones of undercover operatives doesn’t make sense. That has to mean someone is actively targeting the agency and perhaps anyone associated with it. But what’s their motive?”
As much as he didn’t want to ask, he had to…“Stephen, where were you last night when Dan was assaulted?”
Stephen – Dan’s partner
“I was home. We had had an argument and Dan decided to work late. I fixed his favorite dinner to apologize, but he didn’t answer his phone or return my calls. I don’t even remember what we argued about.” He started to choke up. “I must have fallen asleep, until I heard the phone ringing around 4 am.”
“Who was the call from?” Matt quizzed.
“It was James. His sister-in-law is a nurse in the ER at Saint Thomas Hospital. She recognized Dan when he was brought in and called James at home.
“James drove me to the hospital, but Dan was in surgery. We waited. He was still in critical condition when they moved him into ICU, but the police wouldn’t let us see him. I called the hospital this morning and they said he wouldn’t be allowed any visitors. I was going crazy at home, so I came into work hoping I would find out how he was, but I….” He began to choke-up.
Eve gave Matt a look to cease his line of questioning. “Don’t worry,” she said, patting Stephen on the knee. “We’ll make sure you get in to see him.”
They arrived at the hospital and showed the nurse in charge of the private 10th floor their ID’s. She escorted them to Dan’s room, now under guard by two men in ugly, ill-fitting, gray suits standing by the door. The suits for the agency security guards were the bottom-of-the-barrel in fashion. Eve tried her best not to laugh. They flashed their ID’s again and were allowed entry.
Stephen rushed to Dan’s side. His hand covered his mouth as he stifled a cry at the sight of Dan, hooked up to the IV and oxygen tubes. His face was drained of all color and his breathing labored. He gently took his hand and sat on the side of the bed as tears rolled down his cheeks. They had been together for over twenty years. Eve handed him a handkerchief.
Stabbing victim – Dan Carter
Matt took a deep breath; Dan was hooked up to far too many machines. Stephen suddenly looked like death warmed over. His eyes were sunken and dark from worry and his bottom lip trembled, but he couldn’t speak. Dan wouldn’t have heard him anyway. The drugs were keeping him asleep.
Matt put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go get some food and coffee. When did you last eat?”
Stephen’s head didn’t move as he stared at Dan. “I’m not hungry and I need to stay with Dan.”
Matt ignored his response. “Dan’s not going anywhere. Come on, you need to get out of here.”
Eve pointed at the door. “Go on. I can stay here with your man. You look like you’re about to pass out. We don’t need two of you in the bed, at least not until Dan makes his recovery.”
“You’re no fucking help,” Stephen grumbled as he got to his feet and stretched.
“I know better than to argue,” Matt said as he ushered Stephen out of the room and glanced at Eve.
Eve heard a mumbled conversation with the two guards and the mention of coffee before she closed the door. “He’d better bring me some coffee, too, if he knows what’s good for him,” she said to no one in particular.
She sat on the side of the bed where Stephen had been and held Dan’s hand. His dark lashes rested on his pale cheeks. There wasn’t going to be any conversation, so she pulled out her cell phone and started making a list. She needed to know who he had worked with recently, past and present friends and even possible enemies. She knew Merriweather would not release details about his recent assignments. The agency took confidentially to extremes, and for very good reasons. This was going to require some extra sleuthing.
Stories from Merida 