Free The Bonner Incident: Joshua's War by Thomas A Watson, Michael L Rider Page B

house.
    “Yep,” Buck said pulling out more bags. Each one held a single surgical glove. “They tossed them out down the road and one of my deputies collected them. I’ve ran the fingerprints but wouldn’t you know it, these two men don’t exist. What really pisses me off is fifteen minutes after we ran the prints, Homeland calls me, wanting to know where I got those prints.”
    “Sheriff, I swear to you, I never heard anything about this and wouldn’t condone it,” Moore said leaning back. “I’m here to catch a man wanted for the murder of federal agents.”
    “So you’ve said,” Buck huffed putting the bags away. “No, I called you here to deliver a warning from me.”
    “Sheriff, I’m not a messenger,” Moore said.
    “Oh, you are now,” Buck said putting his elbows on the table as he leaned over it. “You tell those cocksuckers what I have and I have way more than one copy of this. If my wife or any member of my family or the families of any of my deputies so much as stubs their big toe and gets an infection, you are going to fight this entire county. I’ve already written out my will with a taped message calling for everyone to grab a gun and head for your command area. The line has been crossed.”
    Winters let out a gasp sliding her chair back. “Sheriff, that’s inciting insurrection against the government. You’re an elected official and just for that threat, you could be arrested.”
    “Damn it sheriff,” Moore said in a hushed voice. “They will rendition your ass out of the country for talking like that.”
    “They will try,” Buck said with a somber face. “What really irritates me now, Moore, is you don’t even care that they were going to kill my wife to get my mind elsewhere. You’re just worried about me blabbing that I caught two government assassins in photos, on video, and have physical evidence.”
    “Of course I care,” Moore snapped in a harsh whisper. “But you don’t know what you’re going up against, I do. The men in those photos will never be charged and on that, I can give you a guarantee. Just help me catch Joshua and we’ll be out of here. Then you won’t have to worry anymore.”
    “Sheriff,” Winters said laying the photos on the table. “Mr. Anderson is a terrorist and you’re being seen as someone who’s putting up resistance in his capture. Other law enforcement agencies have hindered our investigations, but you’re the first to act openly hostile. I urge you to listen to Agent Moore.”
    “Yeah, I had one of those sheriffs call me two days ago,” Buck said grabbing his glass of water. “He said he wanted to fight back because he knew you were wrong, but knew he would end up broken and in prison if he did. Me, I don’t give a shit. I’ve talked this over with my wife and she agrees; we won’t be bullied into collaboration. Moore, I told you I stand the line, but your side has broken it to get to me. Push me anymore and we won’t be in a civil peace, understand? No longer will I tell people to leave your people alone, nor will I arrest or detain them for their actions.”
    Watching Buck drink the glass of water, Moore nodded and stood up. “Yes I do, sheriff, but you must understand, they won’t be pushed and don’t deal well with threats.”
    Seeing Winters stand up, Buck smiled. “Leaving so soon?”
    “I’ll see that your message is delivered,” Moore said sliding his chair under the table.
    “I haven’t said the meeting was over,” Buck snapped standing up. “You know who those two are. Tell me who they are and I’ll tell you the easiest way for you to catch Joshua.”
    Dropping her hand to her pistol, “We are federal agents and yo-,” she stopped as Moore put a hand on her shoulder.
    “Yes, I have seen them before sheriff. They came in with Homeland Agent Wagner. They are on his special response team,” Moore said in a low voice looking at Buck’s face, but didn’t see a reaction. “You already knew.”
    “Yes, I