Free End Days Super Boxset by Roger Hayden Page B

so damn set on cracking this case that I didn’t see the danger I was putting us in.”
    “Why don’t you come lie down?” Rachael said. She walked with him back to their bedroom, where Craig sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes.
    “They’ve suspended me, Rachael. Pending investigation.”
    “We’re gonna get through this. I know it. You need to take a step back, clear your head, and relax.”
    He looked into her concerned eyes and felt true comfort. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”
    “You’d be a sad old man, taking selfies with your gun in front of the mirror for dating sites.”
    Craig laughed and put his arm around her. “I suppose you’re right.”
    Suddenly his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen: Supervisor Walker. He looked at his wife apologetically.
    “Here we go again.”
    She nodded, understanding, and got off the bed as he answered. “Agent Davis.”
    “There’s been some new developments, and things just might turn around for you,” Walker said.
    “What is it?” Craig felt a moment of hopefulness.
    “The mother of those Surkov boys. She flew in tonight and so far has been very cooperative. Her name is Malaka Surkov, fifty-eight-year-old widow.”
    “Okay?”
    “She’s very distraught over what has happened and wants to provide additional information that she has about their activities. Things they sent her in letters. There’s only one catch.” Walker stopped and sighed.
    “And believe me, Calderon tried to fight this all he could. This Surkov mother, she requested to talk to you and only you. She claims that our government has been infiltrated by the very people her sons worked for. She says the information she has can only be trusted to you.”
    Craig paused. “ISIS?”
    “That’s her claim.”
    “So what does that mean?”
    “It means get your ass to headquarters, pronto.”
    The call ended, and Craig still held onto the phone in bewilderment. His work, it seemed, was never done.

Mother Surkov
    Patterson’s wife, Kathleen, looked at Craig almost as if he was a different person. She looked hurt and betrayed, distrustful of the man standing in front of her. Craig gave her a knowing look, prepared to take whatever she had to throw at him. He thought of Rachael and how distraught she would be had it been him in that hospital bed, unconscious, sedated, with tubes coming out of his stomach. Patterson was in a bad spot, and his family was obviously upset and had every right to be.
    “He would have done anything for you,” she said, eyes down, her voice quivering.
    “I know, Kathleen. He always went above and beyond. He’s the best field agent I’ve ever worked with. And he’s going to get better, I know it.”
    She shut her eyes and shook her head as tears rolled down her cheek. “What were you two doing out there? Just the two of you?”
    “We were conducting surveillance. Neither of us thought it would escalate like it did. Believe me, if there was anything I could do…”
    Her body was shaking, and she looked ready to collapse.
    “You should sit or something. Can I get you something?”
    Her eyes opened, and she pointed a finger right in his face. “I haven’t been able to talk to my husband in two days. Your department better give him the best care available. If anything happens to him, so help me God, I’ll…”
    Her voice drifted, and she started to cry, keeping her head down and eyes closed. Craig brought a hand to her shoulder and then pulled her close.
    “I’m sorry. I’m going to make everything right, okay? I promise.”
    “It’s all your fault,” she said, pulling away. “You put my husband in danger, and I’ll never forgive you.”
    Craig kept his hand locked on her shoulder. “It is my fault. You’re right. Someday you will forgive me, though, I’m sure of that. He’s going to get better. He’s a strong person. A fighter. And so are you.”
    With that, Kathleen turned away, sobbing, and