Shadows of the Earth (The Token Book Two) by Nathan Hystad

Author:Nathan Hystad [Hystad, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Woodbridge Press
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

PART THREE

THE DEPARTMENT

1

The Planetae compound seemed far different in the daylight, under the protection of the military. They’d disposed of the bodies from the firefight, but the bloodstains soaked into the concrete near the building’s entrance. Waylen was shocked that Leo Monroe had evaded prison and returned in the first place.

During the cleanup, they found Theodore Belleville’s corpse in the Hex, and Clark Fallow ordered him to be brought elsewhere for testing. It reminded Waylen of his own mortality. He could have just as easily died from contact with the tokens, since they didn’t fully understand the relics.

Waylen searched Leo’s former office, where he’d once hidden within the bookshelf, and found nothing of use, but the Department’s team would take a closer inspection.

Waylen sat on the swivel chair, rotating slowly. They almost killed Silas and Cody. “But they didn’t,” he assured himself, and straightened when a knock came to the door.

“Come in,” he said, as if it was his office.

Jacob B. Plemmons, the Secretary of Defense, entered. His demeanor was somber, and Waylen assumed he was about to be reprimanded. Instead, the big man offered his hand. Waylen met him halfway in a shake. “Special Agent Brooks, I have to apologize for my lack of foresight.”

Waylen had enough experience with situations like this to stay silent.

Plemmons paused for a heartbeat, but when Waylen didn’t interject, he kept talking. “I met Leo Monroe when he was twenty-seven. I hadn’t encountered a more brilliant man. He’d gone to the finest schools, and came from a reputable family. He was a fourth-generation entrepreneur, each generation growing wealthier than its predecessor. Leo was cocky, but his engineering skills were obvious. It’s why I wasn’t overly eager to throw him into prison.”

They entered the hallway. “How did he get out?”

“Monroe has a lot of contacts. He was only in holding for a day before they swapped him for a duplicate. The doppelgänger acted violently ill, and he was quarantined on doctors’ orders. No one wants an epidemic in the prison system.” Plemmons’ sigh deflated his chest. “Theodore was a government figure you always saw around but never questioned. I’d usually encounter him while visiting the White House. Hell, he was in the President’s foursome at our annual charity golf tournament. I’ve been too trusting.”

“What’ll happen to Monroe now?” Waylen asked as they toured the length of the hall to the laboratory.

“He’ll rot in a cell.”

“Good.”

“We’re going to figure out what his plan was,” Plemmons said.

“Can I be there?” Waylen asked.

Plemmons opened the door to the lab, and they watched as a group of Marines donned their spacesuits. “Let me think about it.”

Waylen was a mess after the last month, and found himself conflicted about his future. Part of him wanted to return to the FBI and continue his career in Financial Crimes. Another part was too curious to end his business with the Delta. Then there was the mysterious Department of Outer Space. Perhaps that was his next great adventure.

“I’d like to witness this for myself,” he told Dr.

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