CHAPTER 1

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hello! Before you'll start reading this story, please take note that this is written through my imagination (fiction). Interrelations of the offices here may differ from what it actually is in real life. But, please do correct me so I can further improve the novel as well as my writing.

Thank you and enjoy reading!

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The wailing of the sirens could be heard all over the downtown vicinity as firefighters hurriedly put out the flames ravaging the building that has exploded while paramedics, policemen with K9 companions did the best they could to retrieve as many survivors as they could from the bomb explosion that just happened less than an hour ago.

Zachary Montgomery, an FBI agent working in the counterterrorism division surveyed the perimeter of the explosion, his eyes scanning the entire area as well as its neighboring buildings. He turned as one of his agents approached him and relayed some updates.

It was only Tuesday night, and the explosion immediately became big news all over the city. Media vans, photographers, and news anchor together with their videographer tried to get good angles of the destroyed building to feature on their primetime channel for the evening news.

“Is the bomb squad already there?”

“Yes, sir,” the agent answered immediately. “The sniffing dogs are on the ground as well for clearing the area.”

He nodded.

“I want to get all CCTV recordings within the radius of the explosion,” Zach instructed firmly. “Have them on my desk tomorrow before lunch. If there’s any problem, you let me know immediately.”

The agent nodded and took off to start on the task assigned to him.

“Got any updates for me, Johnson?”

Malcolm Johnson, a police captain looked up and gave him a hard look.

“Don’t you have your men giving you updates, Montgomery?” He said dryly as he motioned for his men to leave them alone. “Why do you have to put your nose on what I have found out? Don’t tell me your men are incompetent that you have to rely on ours.”

Zachary let out a laugh.

“You know better who’s the better team,” he returned. “The bureau has already been informed about this. I’m pretty sure you will know that we will be taking over in a few days.”

“As you always do,” Malcolm answered furiously. “But, while the case is still in our hands, then there’s nothing you can do about it.”

His phone suddenly rang, and he picked it up.

“Yes, Ash?” Malcolm answered and then remained silent for a while. He then let out a hissed. “I’ll give you a call. The moment I’ll get hold of your sister, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind as well. She just got back on her feet after that accident and she’s already giving me a headache.”

“I’m okay. Yes, I’m just finishing up here,” he continued after a few seconds. “I’ll drop by once everything is clear here. Tell Aunt Vicky I’ll be coming over.”

Zachary looked at Malcolm with a smirk.

“Your girlfriend keeping tabs on you, Malc?”

“More like babysitting for her elder sister who always love getting into trouble,” Malcolm replied begrudgingly as he pocketed his phone. “She just recovered from a motorcycle accident and now her sister just told me that she took it out for a spin already.”

“Well, you always tend to get your nose in other people’s business,” Zachary stated.

“Look who’s talking,” Malcolm returned and the two shared a laugh. He then shook Zachary’s hand firmly. “I’ll give you a call once I have the entire report, Montgomery. By end of the week, for sure the case will be on your desk already. Keeps the workload from our station lesser than what we already have.”

Zachary nodded.

“Hey, I’m done here,” he said calmly. “Let’s grab a couple of drinks before heading home.”

Malcolm shook his head.

“I’m heading over to Ash, the one who called,” he answered patiently. “If you’re okay, they owned a diner. I’m sure they have some beer there as well. It’s just right around the corner from here.”

“I don’t see any problem with that,” Zachary agreed.

The two men then walked off and turned right then crossed the pedestrian before entering a quaint diner, which is half-lit since they closed their establishment earlier due to the incident that just occurred. Malcolm tapped on the glass and the woman, who was sitting behind the counter, looked up and a look of relief crossed her face.

Zachary watched as she moved and was surprised for a few seconds, to see her in a wheelchair, as she wheeled herself towards the glass door and unlock it for them.

“Are you done with your work?” She asked Malcolm immediately.

Malcolm nodded as he turned to lock the door. He then took hold of the handles behind her chair and pushed her gently towards one dining table, where a pitcher of beer has already been prepared with mugs, as well as some chips and a pot of tea. “By the way, this is Zachary Montgomery,” he introduced firmly as he put on the brakes on her chair. “He’s in FBI and was checking on the case, too.”

“Hello, I’m Ashley Walters,” she said softly, shaking his hand.

“Where the hell did Alex go?” Malcolm then asked tightly. He looked around the diner. “I swear, that lady will hear a lot from me when she arrives here. Didn’t the doctor told her not to take the bike out for a spin? And, why the hell is that bike still with her? Didn’t your aunt had it up for sale?”

Ashley shook her head.

“You know how stubborn Alex can be,” she said gently as she poured tea on her cup. “She called up Winston from the repair shop. Before Aunt Vicky could hold it off, she already had taken it out.”

Malcolm frowned, shaking his head as he handed Zachary his beer.

“I’m giving her a piece of my mind once she gets here,” he said coldly. He took a drink from his mug and put it down the table, leaning on his seat comfortably. “She has no regards for her safety.”

Before Ashley could reply, a noise came behind them.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s just going to roll her eyes on you during your lecture.”

Zachary turned around to see who the voice belonged to.

Standing a few feet from them, stood a tall, dark-haired girl, looking at them in amusement while holding a helmet to her side. She was wearing laced-up leather boots, tight-fitting jeans, and a plain white shirt under a denim jacket.

What captured Zachary’s attention the most was the glint in her bright, emerald eyes.