After The Awakening | ONC 2023

Chapter Fourteen

Agent Dylan Denvers approached the ambulance. Her wrist was in a supportive brace and her chest ached as she breathed, but she still had a job to do and she needed to do it well to make up for letting Xavier get away.

She flashed her badge at the two paramedics. 'I need to speak with the two injured.'

She waited until they left before climbing into the back and shutting the door.

A female was strapped to a gurney with an oxygen mask over her face, but her colleague was sitting up. He had a bandage over half his face and his knuckles were busted and bruised.

'You're Thompson?' she asked.

'Who's asking?'

She flashed her badge again. 'Agent Denvers.'

The man eyed her badge with disdain. 'So what happens now?'

'Now you tell me what happened.'

Thompson scowled. 'The Bureau sent us after Xavier and the girl. We were just driving around and caught sight of him.'

'And how did you know it was him?'

The guy threw her a nasty look. 'The guy was part of the team in charge of taking me through first training. I'd know his smug walk anywhere.'

Dylan's mouth twisted, but she kept her opinions to herself.

'So then?'

'Then we followed him. Donna was reluctant to act until we had complete visual confirmation. He was wearing a hoodie,' he explained before Dylan could ask.

'And he went into the pharmacy?'

'The report the Bureau gave us said he was injured, so it made sense. We watched and then he made a run for it. Donna went in after him. I stayed outside.'

'And you didn't think to report this?'

His eyes narrowed. 'We were kind of busy.'

'Was the girl with him?'

'No. He was alone.'

Dylan stored that piece of information away for later. 'So what happened when Donna went in?'

'I watched the front just in case he got by her, when I heard something in the alley round the back. He was heading towards the park, but I tackled him before he could get there.'

'And that's when he got the better of you?'

Tompson's lips thinned. 'He got lucky.'

Dylan nodded as she took notes when really she was wondering what the Director had been thinking when he sent these two after Xavier.

'After that, he knocked you out?' she continued.

'And then he shot Donna and stole our car.'

She tabbed through her phone. 'The Bureau recovered the car a few hours ago, abandoned with a few drops of blood on the driver's side.'

'Bully for them.' He snorted.

She fixed him with a stern stare. 'And Xavier said nothing to you? There was no clue about where they were going?'

The guy flicked his tongue against his teeth. 'Nothing.'

Dylan had thought as much, but she had still hoped for better news. Xavier was in the wind, and until forensics were completed on the car, they had no way of knowing if the girl was still with him.

She withdrew two envelopes from her jacket and handed it to Thompson. He took them gingerly, and for the first time, his cocky ignorance was missing.

'Follow your orders to the letter and then disappear,' she said.