The Gillespie Five (A Political / Conspiracy Novel) - Book 1 (42) by T.K. Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

a police officer for over thirty-five years now.  Police Commander, for nearly ten.  And today, for the first time, he was beginning to hate his job. 
    He wasn't sure how many more murders he could take, or how many more young lives he could watch shattered by rape and abuse.  Or how many more times he could bring parents into his office and offer them what his gut instinct told him was a false hope. 
    He really hoped this wasn't the case with the Moore kid.  And he hoped his men weren't missing anything.  With the budget cuts though, he was so understaffed he was surprised they were able to solve any crimes. 
    Damn politicians and their delays, he thought.  They were probably too busy giving themselves pay raises to care about shutting up and passing the damn budget so he could get the people he needed.
    With a weary sigh, Lee turned back to his desk and picked up the next case.  A homicide.

Chapter Six
     
     
    The door opened with a loud clang, echoing over the ringing in Tommy's ears.  He watched as two large, green animals stalked into the cell.  As they moved closer, their teeth and claws extended, and his heart began to race in a staccato beat.
    Pushing himself up off the bed and against the wall, he shouted, "No.  NO! Stay away!"
    He pressed his hands tightly to his ears as the ringing grew louder.  Instead of quieting though, the piercing sound increased as the animals continued moving closer.
    "Please!  Go away!"  He began to cough uncontrollably and felt a wave of heat course through his body. 
    One of the animals opened its mouth and said, "Get on your feet!"
    Confusion set in. Tommy's mind told him that animals didn't talk.
    He looked at the one that had spoken and realized it now had a man's face with a bald head and a green uniform instead of fur.  The man was screaming something.  Tommy removed his hands from his ears to hear.
    "I said .  Get. On. Your. Damn . Feet!"
    The man reached out and grabbed him with one hand, snatching him off the bed.  Tommy crashed to the floor, trying to twist away from the image of the other enraged animal lunging for him.  He screamed as the animal's claw closed around his arm and then just as suddenly, the other animal morphed into a man as well.  This one with cold, dead eyes.
    This man yanked Tommy off the floor and twisted his arms painfully behind him.  He felt the bite of something sinking into his wrists and then was shoved through the door.  When he collapsed, arms grabbed him from both sides, yanking him to his feet and shoving him down a long hall.
    "Who are you?" a voice croaked.  It was a moment before Tommy realized he had spoken.  In answer, one of the men shoved him again, sending Tommy stumbling into a wall.  A wave of nausea overtook and he began to slide to the floor, only to be pulled up and pushed forward. 
    They proceeded down the hall, making several turns.  Tommy's memory provided the image of having done this before, sometime far in his past.  Occasionally, he was overcome with coughing and stopped, only to be shoved forward once more.  Time stretched out as they walked and walked until they finally stopped in front of another door.  The bald man unlocked it and stepped aside as the other man escorted Tommy in. 
    Shoving him inside, they both turned to leave.  Without seeing the room in front of him, Tommy turned in time to see the door slammed shut.  His arms aching from the zip ties, he tried to process what was happening. 
    It was several minutes before he could think enough to turn around and look at the room, noting that it was bare except for a table and two chairs.  There were no windows, only a large mirror, and no sound except for the buzzing of the florescent lights, pitched almost perfectly to the ringing in his ears.  Tommy began to shake uncontrollably. 
    After several more minutes, the shaking stopped and Tommy made his way to one of the chairs, sinking down onto it.  He was stranded.  Lost.  He