King of Crime ✔️

Home, At Last

Like Samuel had said, the medical team and the men put in custody readied themselves to fly home within a few minutes. 

The shot man had been handcuffed and put in the seat next to mine, his shoulder wrapped in thick bandages. The bullet was already extracted, he told me, sitting on a blood-transfusion. So, he was going to be okay.

 As the pilot seated himself in his chair, I glanced at the house, where Agents were still busy.

"Aren't they going to come with?" I asked the FBI medic in front of me, who turned around to look me in the eyes.

"Oh, no." He waved with his hand. "They're going to be busy all night, investigating the place. Forensic specialists are on their way, and the crime scene analysts too. But we'd just get in their way if we stayed for longer."

"Ah," I let out, trying to find Samuel in the smoke, that still hadn't lifted fully. Large construction lamps were set up, lighting up the cottage that rose above the fog, like some kind of ghost ship. 

I reeled, the feeling of drowning still very much present in my throat.

The exhaustion was beating me down, and even though I wanted nothing more than sleep and food, I somehow felt an odd resistance against the idea of going somewhere Samuel wasn't. 

Maybe it was because he swooped in right when I needed him the most. Maybe it was because he kissed me like I was the most precious thing in the world. Maybe it was because I wasn't in my right mind, but I want him so bad.

The flight took way too long, and even though the storm had long subsided to somewhat more decent weather, it was still quite scary. 

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened and questioning what the hell happened to Johann. Someone was shooting The Aliens when they came from the woods, and it wasn't Ava.

I wish I could ask Samuel. I should've asked Samuel, but I was so afraid for bad news. 

Even when we were reaching DC, I still couldn't control the tremble in my fingers. I knew I had to eat, but I felt like I would throw up if I tried, the tension still coiling inside of me. Feeling just damn sick, I wanted nothing more than my bed.

~

"So, you're Samantha Davies?" A large man in suit came up to me, reaching for my hand to shake it firmly. I just nodded, glancing around me. 

Of course I had to stay the whole night at the FBI, unable to sleep. I should've known there wasn't going to be any rest for me any time soon.

"I think your questions will have to wait," Agent Saunders stepped in, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Look at the girl. At least let her change, will you?"

"Yes, yes. Of course. Take your time. I'll be here." The blonde man whirled around and sat down on a sofa, as Agent Saunders released my shoulder and took me to her office. 

She handed me a working shirt of hers and pants, which hardly fit me, but could be held up by a belt. The medics had already washed all the blood off me and tended to my knees, having taken out all the glass splinters. 

Yet I still felt dirty enough to take a shower. Sadly, there wasn't any available in The Bureau at four in the morning.

As Saunders folded the arms of the shirt up so my hands were visible again, she stared at me like I was a homeless orphan.

"Did they treat you well?" she asked, as I tried to dry my hair.

"Yeah, it was fine. I worried a lot, though. But it's okay now." 

She smiled sweetly and squeezed in my hand at my answer. "The explosion must've scared you."

"A bit. Do you know if any people died?" I queried, giving up on my hair.

"Oh, no. Samuel, uh, Agent Thomson did send some reports already, but I haven't taken a look yet." I caught her glancing away as she used his first name. 

Maybe, secretly, she did like him. Like me.

She combed through my hair with her fingers as she continued, "But I do know it was a simple missile: only if you stand way to close to the point of impact, it can hurt you. Chances are, that didn't happen to nobody." 

I heard in her tone that she was simply trying to comfort me.

"Okay, thank you."

"Oh, that man you met just now, he's a new representative for the CIA, Agent Thomson and Laghari's new partner. Do you remember Jacob Houghton, the Agent you spoke with?" Most definitely I did, yes. I nodded. "Ah, yes. Well, he's in custody and will be convicted for something a little difficult. He was siding with the men who attacked Hannig and you. This man is replacing him," she explained, ushering me out of her office again, as I blinked at her. 

So Johann was right, all this time? Had Samuel known?

"Oh. What is he going to ask of me?"

"Just a simple explanation about what happened. You don't need to go into all the details yet, that can be saved for another day when you've rested. But they have to go after those men, as soon as possible. That's why they need you for a bit. But I'm going to make sure he'll keep it quick, alright? So you can sleep." 

She held open the door for me and as soon as the new CIA-agent saw us approaching, he rose again, smiling warmly at us. I exhaled and got myself to smile back.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't even introduce myself. Tommy Lloyd. CIA."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too. Well, where do you want to sit?" He gestured at the sofa and chairs, suggesting that he already decided that for me. 

I yawned and brought my fingers to my mouth to conceal it, as Saunders sat down on a chair and let me take the sofa. Agent Lloyd pulled out some papers from his bag and shifted through them, occasionally making eye-contact with me. 

He sure was a strange man, but comfortable.

"Alright, let's start with the thing that puzzles me the most." He leaned back in his chair and I felt eminently nostalgic, my first ever interrogation coming to mind. If only this would be the last. "I understand that Hannig abducted you and made us think someone else did it, but why do you think would he take such a risk? And what for?"

"He suspected that Agent, uh, Mr. Houghton was a criminal who worked for his concurrent, and that I was in possible danger. He'd hoped that the FBI would catch them."

The Special Agent let out a merry laugh. "So that's how it is nowadays, huh? Criminals who use the FBI for their own gain."

"Can you please get on with it, Lloyd? I too have things to do," Agent Saunders stated, tapping with her fingers on her forearm. Did she have a thing against men in general?

"Of course. Please elaborate as much as you can, about how they handled it."

As I told him all I could manage to remember, even though my mind wanted to block out everything that happened just a few hours ago, Agent Saunders got me tea. 

When she finally shut the man up after at least one hour, like she did Samuel when we met, he was fairly satisfied with what I could give him. He rose from his seat as did I, and shook my hand once again.

"Thank you lots. We'll be sure to meet again. Get some sleep, alright?" 

I nodded back and slipped my hand from his, feeling uncomfortable touching someone. He met my gaze and send me another warm smile, before Saunders took me away from him.