An Evil Mind by Chris Carter Read Free Book Online Page A

perfection.’
    Hunter’s hair was still wet from his shower. He was wearing black jeans, a dark blue T-shirt under his usual thin black leather jacket, and black boots.
    Dozing on and off, he had only managed to sleep a total of two and a half hours.
    ‘Are you ready, Detective Hunter?’ Taylor asked.
    ‘Indeed,’ Hunter replied, closing the door behind him.
    ‘I trust that you got breakfast OK?’ she said, as they started walking down the corridor toward the staircase.
    At precisely 9:00 a.m., an FBI cadet carrying a healthy breakfast tray of fruit, cereal, yogurt, scrambled eggs, coffee, milk and toast had knocked on Hunter’s door.
    ‘I did,’ Hunter said with a questioning smile. ‘But I didn’t know the FBI did room service.’
    ‘We don’t, this was a one-off. You can thank Director Kennedy for that.’
    Hunter nodded once. ‘I’ll make sure I do.’
    Downstairs, another black SUV was waiting to drive them across the compound to the other side. Hunter sat in silence in the back seat, while Taylor sat in front with the driver.
    The FBI Academy was located on 547 acres of a Marine Corps base forty miles south of Washington, DC. Its nerve center was an interconnected conglomerate of buildings that looked a lot more like an overgrown corporation than a government training facility. Recruits in dark blue sweat suits, with the bureau’s insignia emblazoned on their chests and FBI in large golden letters across their backs, were just about everywhere. Marines with high-powered rifles stood at every intersection and at the entrance to every building. The sound of helicopter blades cutting the air seemed to be constant. There was no way of escaping the palpable sense of mission and secrecy that soaked the entire place.
    After a drive that seemed to have lasted forever, the SUV finally reached the other side of the complex, and stopped at the heavily guarded gates of what could only be described as a compound within a compound, completely detached from the main network of buildings. After clearing security, the SUV moved inside and parked in front of a three-story brick building fronted by dark-tinted, bulletproof-glass windows.
    Hunter and Taylor exited the car, and she escorted him past the armed Marines at the entrance and into the building. Inside they went through two sets of security doors, down a long hallway, through two more sets of security doors and into an elevator, which descended three floors down to the Behavioral Science Unit, or BSU. The elevator opened onto a long, shiny and well-lit hardwood corridor, with several portraits in gilded frames lining the walls.
    A big man with a round face and a crooked nose stepped in front of the open elevator doors.
    ‘Detective Robert Hunter,’ he said in a harsh voice that came across as a little unfriendly. ‘I’m Agent Edwin Newman. Welcome to the FBI BSU.’
    Hunter stepped out of the lift and shook Newman’s hand.
    Newman was in his early fifties, with combed-back peppery hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing a black suit with a pristine white shirt and a silky red tie. He smiled, flashing gleaming white teeth.
    ‘I thought that we could have a quick chat in the conference room before we take you to see . . .’ Newman paused and looked at Taylor. ‘. . . your old friend, as I understand.’
    Hunter simply nodded and followed Newman and Taylor to the opposite end of the hallway.
    The conference room was large and air-conditioned to a very pleasant temperature. The center of the room was taken by a long, polished mahogany table. A very large monitor showing a detailed map of the United States glowed at the far wall.
    Newman took a seat at the head of the table and nodded for Hunter to take the seat next to him.
    ‘I know you’ve been made completely aware of the delicate situation we have here,’ Newman began, once Hunter took his seat.
    Hunter agreed with a head gesture.
    Newman flipped open the folder on the table in front of him.