Edge of Danger (Edge Security Series Book 3) by Trish Loye Read Free Book Online Page A

Well, she’d let him get away with this and circle back to the topic later. She’d done her fair share of interrogations. She put her folder in her desk drawer.
    Drew signaled her from across the room. She strode over to him, knowing Zach followed.
    “There’s a new message from Al Shabah on the net.”
    “Show me.”
    A paused image waited on the main monitor in the Global Intelligence room. It showed a man swathed completely in black standing in front of a stone wall. Nothing new there. And no help to the case at all.
    “Run the video,” she said.
    He spoke Arabic as he threatened America. But something caught her attention. His dark eyes flicked back and forth from the camera to something off screen.
    “He’s reading a script,” she said.
    “You’re right.” Zach stood beside her, their shoulders almost touching. It made her want to lean that inch toward him. She focused on the screen again.
    “Do you think it means something?” Drew asked.
    She sighed. “Not sure.”
    The man continued his posturing. “I merely tested you today. You have shown me how easy my job will be. I will destroy America and I will destroy you, Qatil Atfaal .”
    Beside her, Zach stiffened.
    “Who the hell is Kotily Akfell?” The booming male voice that spoke belonged to a tall man with thinning blond hair and a ruddy complexion. He looked like a retired football player: muscled but with a layer of fat, and carrying a laptop rather than a ball.
    Alyssa stepped forward. “The better question is, who are you?”
    The man huffed. Behind him, eight men and one woman, all dressed in dark suits, filed into the room. They took up positions along the walls, surrounding her and her team. Alyssa’s shoulders twitched.
    “I am Special Agent Masters from the FBI. I’m in charge of this task force now.”
    She extended her hand. “I’m Alys—”
    “I know who you are,” he said, giving her hand one quick pump. “I expect your full cooperation.”
    She put her hand down and tried to smooth out her frown, to be professional. “Of course, Agent Masters. What would—”
    Masters sidestepped her and spoke to the room. “I want to know who this Akfell guy is and I want him in interrogation now. He’s obviously connected to our terrorist.”
    No one spoke. Zach had a stony expression on his face.
    Alyssa stepped forward. “It’s Qatil Atfaal ,” she said, her Arabic flawless. “And it’s not a name.”
    He narrowed his gaze and studied her. “Sir,” he finally said.
    “Excuse me?”
    “It’s not a name, sir ,” he said. “I believe I outrank a simple detective.”
    Anger crackled though her. Was this because she’d corrected his Arabic? “I’m not a simple detective.” She crossed her arms. “Sir.”
    “Let’s get one thing straight.” He turned so he spoke to the whole room. “I am the leader of this task force. If you want to be on the team that captures Al Shabah, then you will do as I say. Am I clear?”
    There were a bunch of muttered acknowledgements, but Masters had turned back to her. “Am I clear?”
    She narrowed her eyes. Why was he after her? Because this was her task force? Did he think she wasn’t going to cooperate? “Yes.” She couldn’t help pausing for a moment too long, watching his scowl start to form. “Sir.”
    His lips twisted in a parody of a smile. “I’m glad we can get along. Now tell me why you don’t think that’s a name.”
    She grit her teeth. Her captain was going to hear about this asshole. “It means ‘killer of children.’”
    He stared at her. “It could refer to someone in particular.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Then we need to find out who that is.” He turned away as if dismissing her, and opened his laptop and typed a few keys. The wall behind him lit with a map of the Middle East, with red dots scattered over Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the region.
    “Al Shabah has been linked to bombings against coalition forces in these locations in the last three years.