Falling: A Novel by T. J. Newman
Author:T. J. Newman [Newman, T. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Published: 2021-07-06T00:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THEO WATCHED BRAVO UNIT PULL into a parking spot at the twenty-four-hour burrito joint across the street from the strip mall. They were far enough away from the Hoffmansâ vehicle, but had direct line of sight. Everyone waited for their assessment.
âNothing,â a voice finally reported through their earpieces. The lights in the vehicle were off and no one was visible. But the windows were tinted so dark, it was hard to be sure.
Liu chewed on a fingernail while Theo watched the only storefront in the plaza with lights on. A minute later, a plainclothes agent walked out the door. Her voice filled their ears a moment later.
âThis store and one other are the only open properties in this entire lot,â she said. âOnly one has a surveillance system, and it hasnât worked in months.â
Theo hung his head.
If the family wasnât in the SUV, they needed to move on. They were running out of time and wasting what little they had by just sitting there.
The suspect set the stakes with the explosion at the first site. Following FBI protocol in situations like this was vital to ensuring the second location didnât hold any more surprises. The bomb squad needed to perform a complete sweep before they could even approach the vehicle.
But FBI protocol didnât take into account the aircraftâs ETA. Every second the plane got closer to its destination. Every minute counted. Theo checked his watch at the same time Liu did.
They locked eyes. He knew they were thinking the same thing.
âComms, how long until the bomb squadâs here?â Liu asked into her radio.
âSeven minutes, maâam,â said a voice.
âAnd once theyâre here, how long to set up, sweep, and clear the car?â
âProbably half an hour.â
The agents looked at each other.
âHow long?â Liu asked Theo, meaning until the flight was scheduled to land.
He glanced at his watch again. âAbout an hour twenty. But the captain will have to gas the cabin before that.â
Liu seemed to measure his words as she stared at the Hoffmansâ SUV. She spit a piece of fingernail out and moved on to another.
âIf we wait for clearance and then find out theyâre not in the car?â Theo said. âWeâll still have to find them.â Left unsaid was that theyâd have no time to do so.
Theo knew he was right. He knew the agents knew he was right. And he knew Liu knew he was right.
She grabbed a helmet.
âNo oneâs to follow until I say, is that clear?â Liu buckled the chin strap. âI want it on record that I made this decision on my own and I accept full responsibility for whatever happens.â
Theo warmed with fear. It was one thing to be reckless with his life. This was someone elseâs life. Theo thought of the politician nodding his head, trusting him.
Since the explosion, excruciating pain had radiated out of his injured left arm, up and down his body, nearly nonstop. Heâd blocked it out, a well-honed mental toughness heâd developed over many years of his coaches preaching mind-over-body.
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Assassinations | Conspiracies |
Espionage | Political |
Terrorism |
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