Free End Days Super Boxset by Roger Hayden

bleeding. Now back in D.C., Craig was ready to answer for everything.
    His supervisor, Agent Walker, spoke up. “Your intended target was Rasheed Surkov, but you seem to have completely disregarded his younger brother, Darion. Why was that?”
    “Because we didn’t know who he was,” Craig answered. “And you are correct. Rasheed was our main focus.”
    Walker continued. “And this was after explicit instructions from the assistant deputy director not to pursue further investigation into this case.”
    “Yes and no,” Craig answered. He appeared calm and unshaken, his palms resting flat and at ease on the table.
    “What do you mean by that?” Calderon interjected.
    His superiors were hard to read. They looked prepared to distance themselves from Craig, and he could understand why. Politics had infiltrated the bureau from top to bottom. The current climate did not tolerate rogue agents, despite the results of their actions.
    “My partner and I discovered evidence prior to the case being closed and decided to pursue our lead without direct involvement from the FBI.”
    Agent Walker cut in. “Which could be understandable, Agent Davis, but the diner shootout should be a stark reminder of what happens when you work outside your chain of command.”
    Calderon was more blunt. “We’ve got bodies in the morgue. A suspect in critical condition. A driver in a coma. Your partner being fed through a tube. Families mourning their loved ones. Thousands of dollars in property damage. And no evidence linking these men to the Islamic State or any other terror organization.”
    “Did you search their apartment?” Craig asked.
    “Yes. We came across your spy camera still implanted on the wall outside, and you better hope the Justice Department doesn’t hear about it.”
    “What did you find inside?”
    “Nothing,” Calderon said. “A big fat nothing.”
    “That’s impossible.”
    “Look, we know that these two were up to no good. We can assume that had you and your partner not intervened, things would be even worse, but we’ve got a big problem on our hands.” Calderon took out his smart phone and scrolled down the screen and began reading.
    “FBI Bungles Terror Attack. Diner Shooting Rocks Richmond. Eight Shot in Cold Blood after Botched Raid. You see where I’m going?”
    “Why don’t they print how Darion Surkov was here on an expired visa? That goes right back to Homeland. Yet you’re closing the entire case at their behest.”
    “That’s just how it is, so you better get used to it,” Calderon said. He then signaled to Agent Walker.
    Walker looked up and adjusted his glasses. “Agent Davis, we wanted to talk to you privately as a courtesy, just to get everything out in the open.”
    Craig remained quiet as Walker took a deep breath and continued. “But there will be an internal investigation into this matter. You will need to have your answers ready to give to an investigative panel in the next couple weeks. And no more accusatory language against other departments.”
    He knew it. They were going to try to bring the hammer down on him. He only wished he had gotten more evidence against the Surkov brothers prior to the shooting.
    “In the meantime, you’re being placed on administrative leave until further notice.”
    The blow was quick and painful, but not unexpected. Craig nodded. “Very well.”
    “We will keep you posted on the details of the investigation, and you are hereby suspended from duty.”
    Craig cleared his throat. “What about Patterson?”
    Calderon interjected, “The bureau isn’t currently pursuing action against him but will determine that upon his recovery.”
    “His wife?” Craig asked.
    Calderon shook his head. “She’s looking into a lawsuit. So I hope you see why we have to do this.”
    Craig nodded. He felt defeated.
    “You’re dismissed,” Walker said, shutting his file.
    Craig rose from his chair. He thanked his superiors and began to walk out of the room while