Free Gone Bad by J. B. Turner

the fridge and took a long gulp. “This is the only thing that will calm me down.”
    “The doctor recommended you don’t mix too much booze with the medication.”
    “What do doctors know?”
    The Fed sighed.
    “I want to see my mother and my kids. When can I see them?”
    “We’ve got protocols. This is not the right moment.”
    “At least let me speak to them.”
    “That’s not gonna happen. Look, you’re safe here, right?”
    “What the fuck does that mean? My ex-boyfriend is a psychopath. He called my mother. This ain’t gonna end good.”
    “You’re safe.”
    “You reckon? Let me tell you, Hunter Cain can reach anyone, anywhere, at any time. I know only too well what he’s like.”
    Burke sat down and opened a beer, taking a long gulp. It felt good. “Goddamn.”
    The Fed said, “Look, Kathleen, you need to focus. And cool it.”
    Burke felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes and her throat tighten. “What a fucking mess I am.”
    The Fed said nothing, gaze averted.
    “Look at me.”
    The Fed looked across the room at her. “What?”
    “I want to speak to Meyerstein.”
    “Not possible.”
    “Listen, I want to talk to her.”
    The Fed sighed and shook his head. “Why?”
    “I want to tell her how I feel.”
    “Look, I’ve told you …”
    “Are you gonna let me speak to her or not?”
    The Fed sighed and headed into the kitchen. She heard his voice on the phone, explaining the situation. Then he came back into the living room and handed her the phone. “Assistant Director Meyerstein. You’ve got a minute.”
    Burke took the phone. “Meyerstein, I don’t like being holed up like this. I want somewhere different.”
    Meyerstein said, “Kathleen, now just relax. You’ve got everything you need there. Medication and whatever else, right?”
    “I feel sick. I want to see my kids. My mother. I want to call them.”
    “Not possible.”
    “What do you mean, not possible?”
    “There can be no contact till this is over.”
    “And when will that be?”
    Meyerstein said nothing.
    “See … you don’t know yourself when this whole thing will end. I could be stuck here for months.”
    “That’s not going to be the case, Kathleen.”
    “Well, how long?”
    A silence opened up down the line. “Maybe a few days. Maybe a week or so.”
    “I’m going out of my mind here.”
    “Listen, how about we get a new doctor sent round, and he can get your mood lifted – how does that sound? It might be what you need. Do you suffer from anxiety?”
    “Yeah. Big time. And this isn’t helping.”
    “Leave it with me. I’ll get a doctor and maybe he can help you out.”
    Burke felt tears spill down her face. “I’m sorry … you must think I’m pathetic.”
    “You’re not pathetic, Kathleen. This is a terrible situation you’re in. But we’re here to help you. And protect you and your family. Don’t ever forget that.”

NINETEEN
    Matt Pearce pulled up a block from the waterfront house where the Feds had Kathleen Burke. Exterior security lights, and lights on upstairs. He switched off his engine and checked the GPS tracking app on his iPhone. It showed Burke inside the smart house with a Lincoln parked outside. He took a note of the license plate and relayed that back.
    He wondered who was inside with her. Was it friends? Boyfriends? Was it their car outside? His instructions had been simple. Find her. Watch her. And then kill her.
    He knew he had to comply with the request. It was made by Hunter Cain no less. He’d served time with him, along with his brother, in Leavenworth. Aryan Brotherhood had certain codes of honor. Blood flowed. And it always flowed with the AB. He knew if he didn’t carry out the order, he’d be killed himself. As would his brother. No ifs or buts. It was just the way it was.
    And that was fine. He knew they’d be there for him.
    Since he’d been released, he’d killed three people on orders from Cain. A former AB guy who had turned informer. A Texas