“Like he said, the pieces add up. Well, maybe they don’t add up to anything, but they are definitely pieces of the same puzzle. The problem is, I can’t figure out what that image is.”
“I admit, when you first drew a line between the murders of Dunning and Hawthorne to Ethan Bond because of the plane explosion, I thought you’d lost your marbles.” Murphy shot Harper a deadly look, but Harper threw up his arms in mock surrender. He quickly amended, “But after yesterday’s explosion and the attempt on Bond’s life, I think you’re onto something here. Like you said, I don’t have a fucking clue what, but it’s something.”
* * * *
Ethan
Ethan was bored out of his mind sitting in the silent car without even the radio playing. The FBI agent who grabbed him was silent the entire ride from Pennington to the Houston FBI headquarters. As the agent got off Highway 209, Ethan saw a green monstrosity ahead.
The building was an eight-floor rectangle with green glass plates, making it sparkle in the sun. Even the sign out in front of the building had the same green glass Ethan noted as the agent pulled into the parking lot. The ungodly complex stood out like a sore thumb against the rest of the community.
“I’ve gotta ask,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. “Why is it green?
“Welcome to the Emerald City—or the Green Monster,” Agent Anderson said. “I’ll be the first to admit the building is ugly, but the blasted thing is safe. I hear it can withstand a nuclear blast.”
“Really?”
“Yep, we hope no one tries to blow us up anytime soon, though. They built it after McVey blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Someone decided the FBI wasn’t going to go through that again.”
“So, you’re taking me into a mini-fortress?”
“Pretty much, Mr. Bond. No worries about anyone trying to get you in here. The place is secure.”
“Good to know,” Ethan said, staring at the structure.
“It’s also supposedly good for the planet, not that I honestly give a rat’s ass. But some people do,” Agent Anderson said.
Agent Anderson parked the car, and Ethan followed him into the building. They paused briefly to let two joggers pass by on a jogging path circling the building.
“It’s basically a mini-city,” Agent Anderson said as he opened the door for Ethan.
Ethan walked into the atrium area and saw a few agents here and there talking. Anderson filled out some paperwork for Ethan and gave Ethan a visitor’s badge.Visitor, ehh?Ethan said nothing and followed Agent Anderson like a lost puppy. They went into an elevator and exited on the fifth floor. Ethan was led into a conference room.
“Stay in here,” Agent Anderson said. “There’re bottles of water in the mini-fridge and a small restroom in the back of the room,” Anderson added, pointing to a door in the back. “I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Agent Anderson left Ethan in the conference room. Ethan heard the telltale clicking sound as Agent Anderson locked Ethan inside.
Ethan wasn’t in the mood to be stared at, so he walked over to the glass wall and closed the blinds. Someone could still see he was in there, but at least Ethan didn’t feel like he was a goldfish being watched anymore.
He walked around the room then pulled out his phone to text Blayne and Zach, but there ’was no cell service or Wi-Fi access. Well, there was certainly Wi-Fi in the building, but Ethan didn’t have the password to log on, so he was left with nothing to do. He found a handful of pamphlets on a small table. Most of the materials were recruiting materials for the FBI. Ethan lost interest quickly.
Ethan sat for a spell, flipping aimlessly through his phone. He opened his Kindle app and found a half-read book he’d started a couple of years before. With nothing else on his agenda, he started reading.
After what felt like at least a day-and-a-half to Ethan, but he realized it was probably only an hour or two, Agent Anderson showed up at the door with a couple of paper sacks. Anderson let himself in and locked the door behind him.
“Hope you don’t mind burgers?” Anderson said as he put a paper bag down in front of Ethan.
Anderson spotted the phone in front of Ethan and said, “Hate to do this to you, kid, but I’m going to have to confiscate your phone.”
“Why? I’m not connected to cell service or Wi-Fi. At least let me read my book on here if you’re going to keep me locked up in here too much longer.”
The agent tossed around the idea before giving Ethan a noncommittal “Keep it…for now.”
“What do you know about what’s going on?” Agent Anderson asked.
“I know my ex and his best friend were murdered. I fled New Orleans to grieve because I couldn’t talk to anyone I knew. The plane I was supposed to take to Seattle exploded. Then the paparazzi figured out where I was. My best friend’s house then exploded. Last, Blayne, the guy in the hospital, led the paparazzi around yesterday looking like me and got shot because of it.”
“Okay,” Agent Anderson said, taking a big bite out of his hamburger. While chewing, Anderson asked, “Why are you so special?”
