Search and Destroy by JT Sawyer (top non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📗

the other guests were his senior staff,” said Carter. “It seems to me that whoever orchestrated a hit of this magnitude timed it to eliminate anyone who could take over the reins at Burke’s company. This smacks of corporate espionage more than mere revenge.”

“Not to mention that most of the critical hardware at his company disappeared shortly after the blast here,” said Tremblay.

Corelli rocked his head from side to side, contemplating the question. “His software and research would have been extensively backed up. The man had an obsessive nature, judging from all the interviews I’ve read.” He raised his hands. “Look, I’m not a data forensics guy, so you should talk to them back at HQ if you want to know more, but my guess is that he had the source codes for all of his software contained offsite—and I don’t mean on the cloud for someone to hack into. He probably had a physical location somewhere else.”

Carter glanced over at the ruins of the library at the rear. “Hopefully not here.”

15

After a grueling afternoon discussing funeral arrangements with his sister-in-law on the phone and then speaking with the funeral director, who was courteous enough to come to his house, Cal stepped out onto his back porch, slumping into a lounge chair. He welcomed the sun on his face, feeling like his soul had become permanently glacial.

After what seemed like hours, the rumbling of his stomach caught up with him, and he realized he hadn’t eaten much of anything since the previous day. He still wanted to check on Reggie at the hospital, as much to make sure his friend was recovering from his concussion as to find some answers to his questions about those final moments leading up to the explosion. The man had been the head of security and Burke’s personal bodyguard.

Would he have any ideas on who could have been behind the attack? Anything suspicious about the caterers or wait staff or anyone else that day?

He glanced at his watch then got up, recalling that there was very little to eat in the fridge.

I’ll have to get something on the way to the hospital.

Cal grabbed his wallet, keys and phone before heading into the garage, stunned at its emptiness as he remembered that both his and Cassie’s vehicles were wrecked heaps sitting idle in Burke’s driveway.

He walked to the corner near a heavy bag suspended from the ceiling, retrieving the helmet off his Harley Davidson then removing a brown leather jacket from a peg on the wall. Sealed in the concrete at the base of the wall was a small cylindrical tube with Cal’s evasion kit, something that each agent had in place at their residence in case they had to quickly disappear. It contained several passports and assorted foreign currencies, a spare HK pistol and two magazines, along with a burner phone and a small trauma kit.

It was considered life insurance for an agent on the run, but like his colleagues in covert ops, he hoped it would forever remain sealed.

The drive to St. James Hospital took just under forty minutes, even with a quick stop at a taco shop to scarf down some much-needed calories.

Heading inside the hospital, Cal tucked his helmet under his arm then stepped into the elevator beside an older woman and a nurse, pressing the button for the third floor, where Reggie’s room was located. He looked at the floor chart on the wall, his heart sinking when he saw the listing for the pediatric department on the next floor up.

He thought of the visit they’d had with Cassie’s doctor at another hospital and all of the discussions with the clinician about what to expect during the remaining trimesters. For a second, he thought he could feel his wife’s fingers interlacing with his just like after their last visit, as they joyfully rode the elevator down to the lobby after discovering that they were to become parents to a baby girl.

Afterwards, they’d strolled through the gift shop on the first floor as Cassie playfully discussed the traits of the stuffed animals that they were going to fill the nursery at home with. She looked so happy, her eyes lit with the same smile that had drawn him to her on their first date.

He heard a faint female voice piercing through his weary brain. “Sir, this is your floor, I believe,” said the nurse to his right.

He forced himself to breathe, realizing that the doors had already opened. Cal nodded at her then trudged forward onto the floor, pausing to collect his thoughts. He ran his hands through his brown hair, reminding himself why he was here, then walked to the front desk.

“Reggie Sinclair, please. I’m a friend. Can you tell me which room he’s in?” he said to the red-headed woman behind the counter.

She thrust her arm to the left. “Room 224, but you won’t be able to get in—the FBI’s there. Mr. Sinclair died about a half-hour ago. I’m so sorry.”

Cal headed down the hallway, breaking into a trot. He rounded the corner, slowing down as he saw two men in suits standing on either side of Reggie’s room.

The tall figure on the right stepped forward, putting his hand on Cal’s chest. “Sorry, sir, there’s no admittance right now unless you’re family.”

He peered around the man’s shoulder, seeing the two FBI agents who had visited him at his house. “Reggie’s a friend of mine. What happened?”

“I can’t say anything at this time, sir.”

“It’s OK,” said Carter as she moved towards the door. “Let him in.”

Cal stepped inside the room, walking past Carter to the foot of the bed. Reggie’s eyes were glassy, staring at the ceiling, his mouth frozen open.

“I just talked to the nurse here on the phone yesterday—said Reggie was starting to show signs of responsiveness and that he was going to pull through.” He looked at Tremblay then over at Carter. “What changed?”

Carter folded her arms. “Not sure. The doc said that his vitals