HIGHER TECH (Complete Novel)

Chapter 7 -Knowledge of Weakness is Power

      Dean stood staring at the chain-link fence. Should he follow his instincts? The rest of the FBI Hard Force team seemed like competent individuals. A little rough, but good people nevertheless. When he finally got away after meeting them, he decided he would do some further investigation even though it was against the captain's wishes. He knew with a certainty that something here was not right. He had to find out more.

      "Dean. Tell me why we are here again. You said captain Adams wanted you to drop it."

      "Yes, he did but there is something wrong here and I am going to find out what it is. The woman with the bruises on her face, she didn't belong here. That military guy didn't seem like he belonged in a place like this either. Kyle just go along with me, on this one."

      "Hey, you know I'm with you buddy. Always."

      "Okay, let's do the same thing as before. You go around the left side and I'll go across the front in the opposite direction and we'll meet in the back."

      "Am I going to find you peeping through that window again?"

      "Probably."

      "Alright, I'll see you in a few minutes."

       Dean walked across the front, around the corner, past the first window and looked into the second window. It was dark, so he walked on. Near the far corner of the building there were three more windows. He could see that the first window had light. He crept up to it and peered inside. At first he didn't see anyone. There was a television on. It was some fashion show he didn't recognize. There were vending machines with their displays empty. It was a lunch room. He saw movement in the doorway. It was a shadow in the doorway. A woman walked in with some food from some Chinese takeout joint. She put the large bag on one of the tables. She started taking out the containers and she arranged them in three different places around the table. He wondered who the third person was. He knew the military man would probably be the second. To answer his question the military man walked into the room, sat down and began to eat.

      Without warning Dean felt something solid strike the back of his head with great force. His face hit the window and it cracked. The man beyond looked quickly at him and as he got up from his chair Dean's vision began to fade. He slumped over a small bush next to the window, unconscious.

      Darren Trent leaned over the unconscious body of Dean Roberts. He reached over and put his finger against Dean's neck. Satisfied, he began to drag this stranger toward a side door about twenty feet away. When he was halfway there, the door opened. The formidable frame of Arnold Hatcher appeared, his darting eyes took in the entire scene in less than a second.

      "Is he still alive?"

      "Yeah, but he'll have an enormous headache when he revives."

      "Well, I guess he deserves that. Here, let me help you." Arnold took a small stone and put it next to the hinge of the door and it kept the door open. He then effortlessly picked up Dean in his arms like a little toy doll. He began to walk towards the door. "Just close the door behind me Darren."

      "Sure, but why do I always have to do all the work?"

       Arnold turned to look at him. He had a stern face at first but it softened into a smile, he chuckled and said, "Darren this is serious. This guy's a cop. I better get him inside pronto." He suddenly had a shocked look on his face as he looked beyond his friend. He dropped Dean on the ground and reached for his sidearm.

      "Hey! You guys, halt! Dean! Are you okay? Dean buddy, answer me!"

      His voice was drowned out by weapons fire. Both men had weapons. He ducked down and ran as fast as he could to a hedge about twenty feet away. He dove into the darkness beyond. The shots were whizzing by. One went right through the bush and hit his left leg below the knee. Kyle did his best to stifle the scream. It came out as a howl. They heard it and more weapons fire erupted all around his general vicinity. He knew he would die if he stayed there. In great pain, he hobbled further along the hedge as quickly as he could. The two men were walking toward the spot where he had disappeared. "They probably think I'm down. Now's the time to make a run for it."