Free Fatal Dose by K. J. Janssen Page B

house burned to the ground despite the valiant efforts of two fire companies.
    The Bennetts lived at that address for thirty-two years. Their two sons Brice and Peter grew up there. Peter Bennett died in Afghanistan last year and their son Brice died a week ago in a tragic elevator accident.
    Police ruled the cause of the fire as accidental. While the explosion and fire completely gutted the house, damage to nearby homes was minimal. Neighbors were visibly shaken by the multiple tragedies.
    Mark’s first reaction to the headline was one of utter shock and disbelief. He felt a knot in his stomach. He hurried to Peterson’s office. A copy of the paper was open on Dennis’s desk. He looked up at Mark with pained eyes. With a quivery voice, he asked, “Why didn’t I see this coming?”
    “I don’t have the answer, Dennis. The Bennetts were great Americans. Even after what happened to their sons, they were still willing to accept it as a price they would have to pay in the defense of our liberties. This was no accident. They were killed to silence them.” Mark shook his head as if that would make the pain easier to bear; it didn’t. “We both know who’s behind this. This has Vennuti written all over it. Doesn’t he realize this will make us even more resolute about stopping him? How could he be so brazen? The man has to be a psychopath.”
    Dennis seemed not to be listening. Mark suspected that he was mulling over the death count that resulted from undercover assignments a count that, when added to Susan Harrigan, now totaled four during his watch. Dennis looked at Mark with expressionless eyes, finally speaking, “Of course you’re right, Mark, but what more can we do? Justice has tied our hands on this. Apparently there is too much at stake to make any preemptive moves against Vennuti. I swear that if he ran somebody down with his car, they would probably look the other way rather than upset their precious investigations.” Resentment echoed in his words. “He murdered that entire family in cold blood and I have to bide my time as he continues to get away with murder. Somebody high up already leaned on Chief Jacobsen. He’s been advised not to release any details regarding the Bennetts. The same goes for the Fire Marshall’s office. They were too quick to determine the cause as accidental. What are we supposed to do, just sit idly by with our thumbs up our asses as their investigations move along at a snail’s pace? I’m getting to hate this job, Mark. I never thought I’d say that. It was so much easier in the old days. We were a Bureau that took action. All this pussy-footing around sucks. I have to laugh at those do-gooders who say we’re always trampling on people’s civil liberties. If they only knew the restraints we have to work under, they’d sing a different tune.”
    “I’m not so sure, Dennis. There are too many of those groups out there with their liberal leanings that oppose anything we do that might involve an individual’s or group’s freedom of expression. Believe me, I understand your frustration. Sometimes I feel the same way.” He stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts. “All we can do is step up our own investigations. I’ve been thinking about the personnel search we’re doing at Atronen. Once I crack into their system with some of Susan’s software, I’ll be ready to set Marcia loose on doing the detailed background checks on their key people. I intend to deal with Marco Vennuti personally. What I’m hoping for is to find a few people in sensitive positions that we can get to flip. If I find what I expect to, I should have enough evidence against some of their employees to assure their cooperation. How does that sound to you?”
    Dennis looked Mark straight in the eye. Mark could sense that Dennis had something important to tell him. “Close the door, Mark. I’ve got something very confidential that may work with what you’re proposing.” His mood seemed to pick