Falcon: The Quiet Professionals Book 3 by Ronie Kendig Read Free Book Online Page B

the guy, not believing him. Not buying this story. But Dean slapped a hand on his chest. Sal shot Dean a glare.
    “We’ll do it the right way.” Dean and Titanis headed down the hall together.
    Sal glowered at the Painful Query Master. Saw the gleam in the man’s eyes. Knew that if he walked out of here, there was little chance they’d come back to a live prisoner. “I’m not leaving.” Challenge set, Sal held his ground.
    Though the man betrayed nothing in his mannerisms—no flaring nostrils, no balled fists, no clenched jaw—there was something, a glint, a flicker in his eyes, that dumped cold dread down Sal’s spine. The man’s gaze struck the empty hall then bounced back to Sal. “Your captain left. I’m sure you’ll want to verify with Ramsey.”
    Right. Verifying with Ramsey meant Sal left the cell.
    Get help. Check the log
. Dean would check with Ramsey. Though it was the last thing he wanted to do, Sal turned and walked out.
    Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

26 March—1445 Hours
    Dean stalked to the Command building. They were beaten at every corner. Pushed back at each junction. Two steps closer to the truth. Five steps farther. It was time to stop playing the game with rules in place. Time to break out and end this.
    He yanked open the door and stormed in. His conscience pinged, knowing that on a day prior to this one, he would’ve been storming to Burnett’s office. But the general was gone. A great loss haunted the halls of Command now.
    Behind him he heard the steady thumps of Sal’s and Titanis’s boots. The rhythm gave him courage. He rounded the corner and aimed for Ramsey’s office.
    Lieutenant Hastings emerged from the office, closing it behind her, as Dean shoved through the glass door. “Captain.” Eyes wide, she gaped. “Can I help you?” Her gaze flicked to the door as Falcon and Titanis entered.
    “I need a word with General Ramsey.”
    “He asked not to be disturbed.”
    “How long?” Dean asked, his frustration peaking.
    Hastings once again glanced at Titanis. “I’m not sure. He said he had calls to make.”
    “Lieutenant, we need him. Someone just locked us out of talking with the prisoner.”
    “I—” She blinked. “What? Are you sure?” She lifted a paper from her desk. “I have your authorization to question him right here.”
    “Dean!” Sal jogged down the hall, his face twisted. “The guard’s gone.”
    “What guard?”
    “The gatekeeper for detention.”
    Dean drew back.
    “We need to go in there,” Sal said, pointing to the general’s office. “Something’s not right.”
    “Agreed.” Dean nodded to the door. “Let him know we need to talk—now.”
    The lieutenant shrugged reluctantly. “I—”
    Sal strode around her and went for the door. “We’re short on time and answers.” He rapped on the MDF barrier.
    Dean stepped forward. “Falcon—”
    But Falcon was already entering the office, interrupting a steady hum of phone conversation. “General, we—”
    “Get out of my office!”
    Dean reached for Sal, ready to haul him out of there. He’d gotten used to wrangling Hawk, but Sal?
    General Ramsey slid a manila folder over a stack of papers, his expression a tangle of anger and frustration. “Captain—”
    Might as well grab the bull by the horns. “Sir, with all due respect,” Dean said, finding himself strangely confident. “You gave us exclusive access to the prisoner and we were—”
    “I swear if you do not get out—”
    “I want our access restored to the prisoner.” Dean wouldn’t waver now.
    Red-faced and coming to his feet, Ramsey shouted, “I never revoked it!”
    Dean stilled.
    “So what are you doing in my office? Get in there and interrogate the crap out of that prisoner. Find out who sent him to kill Lance.” His anger pushed the boundaries of rage. “So help me if you break in here again, I will have charges brought against you.”
    Dean frowned, skidded a confused look to Sal, who returned the