Page 34 of Cross Down
A pursed smile. “You have a vivid imagination.”
“It’s worked for me so far,” I say. “Care to disagree? Or is this just the start of having me Gitmo’ed to Cuba or some other black site?”
“That depends,” she says, “on how cooperative you are.”
“Thanks for giving me a goal,” I say. “But one-way cooperation has always been something I stay away from.”
Chapter
39
In Alex Cross’sroom, his would-be killer freezes. The armed woman steps toward her, revealing a couple of couch cushions on the floor where she’s apparently been napping.
Always be on offense.“Hey, hey, hey,” she says. “Tell me who you are first! And put that damn gun down!”
The woman says, “I’m Brianna Stone, Alex Cross’s wife, and I want to know who you are and what you’re doing.”
Shit.“I’m doing my job, ma’am,” she says. “My name is Mary Mullen, I’m an RN on this floor. And please put that gun down or I’ll get security.”
The gun is unwavering, still pointed at her.
“I know every nurse and doctor who comes here,” Cross’s wife says, motioning to a whiteboard on the wall. “And you’re not on that list.”
“Something’s come up and—”
Brianna starts walking around the bed. “Security? Sure. Go get security. I’ll stay right here and wait for you to come back.”
Shit,she thinks again. “All right, fine, right after I administer this medication.” She pulls the IV tubing closer to her and brings up the syringe, and the armed woman says, “You putthat syringe away. You get it any closer, I’ll shoot you.”
“No, you won’t,” she says.
The sound of the gunshot is deafening in the ICU room. The pain erupting from her right shoulder causes her to cry out, and as she falls to the floor, the syringe flying from her hand, she thinks,Damn, the bitch wasn’t joking.
Chapter
40
Agent Wagner says,“Why are you here, Detective Sampson?”
“Meeting up with an old buddy of mine,” I say. “Sergeant Mel Carr. Eighty-Second Airborne Division, Third Brigade, First Battalion. But I imagine you already know that.”
“Why did you come from DC to see Sergeant Carr?”
“I heard the Drop Zone Café serves a great breakfast,” I say. “But now I’ll never know, since you and your partner interrupted us before we were served.”
“Sorry about that,” she said.
“Thanks,” I say. “Maybe CID will comp us.”
“Trust me, Detective Sampson, you’ve got a lot more to worry about than missing some eggs and bacon.”
“It was French toast and sausage,” I say. “So, do tell, Agent Wagner, why the big production in taking us out of the restaurant? Why are you so interested in my travels? You two could have joined us for breakfast without all the official doom and gloom. I would even have picked up the check. Or were you just interested in making a show for your superior officers?”
A long pause. “I’m never interested in making a show for my superiors. I’m interested in your travels because we believe you might be involved in an ongoing investigation.”
“What kind of investigation?” I ask.
“The confidential kind,” she says. “Detective, why are you really here, right outside of a sensitive military installation? And what did the two of you talk about?”
