Edge of Mercy (A Kate Reid Novel Book 11), Robin Mahle [freenovel24 .txt] 📗

Kate’s phone buzzed and so did Nick’s. They peered at each other before swiping open the screen.

She read the text message. “Oh no.”

Nick shot a look at her. “He’s gone.”

They returned to the office where the others had already gathered. It was after 11pm in Washington, and Mexico City was on Central Standard Time.

“As you know, Bishop wasn’t at the apartment his mother had informed us about. The agents had their team in place alongside the Mexican authorities and when they approached the door, there was no answer,” Fisher began. “Subsequently, they forced their way inside only to find his clothes gone. They also found this.” He tossed a photo onto the conference table. “He kept a scrapbook of the disaster sites he not only visited, but all natural disasters that have taken place worldwide over the past ten years.”

“What the hell is with this guy’s obsession with disasters?” Walsh asked.

“It’s where he feels he has the most power,” Kate began. “Little oversight because of the chaotic nature of the scenes. Desperate people all looking to him for aid. What more could an angel of death ask for?”

“How long do they think he’s been gone?” Duncan asked. “Any idea when he left? Surveillance video, anything like that?”

“If any exists, it’s in the hands of the Mexican authorities,” Fisher added. “That’s something the office down there will have to deal with.”

“Why are we here, then?” Nick asked. “If those guys are tasked with finding him, where do we fit in?”

“That’s a good question. Here’s what I’d like to do. Reid, get on the horn with Carol Whitman. There’s a damn good chance she alerted her son out of guilt. If so, she might know where he fled to. Scarborough, you and I are going to Mexico City to assist the office there.”

“When are we leaving?”

“As soon as we’re done here,” Fisher replied.

Walsh looked around the team with noted concern. “And the rest of us?”

“Wait!” Kate peered at her phone. “I know where he is.”

“What? How?” Fisher asked.

She walked over to him with the phone open to a news article. “Look at this. The day before yesterday, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Guadalajara.” Kate looked at him. “He’s there. I know he is. He wouldn’t be able to resist the urge, even if his mother told him he was about to be captured, or in spite of that fact.”

Fisher eyed the rest of the team. “Well? Given what we know about Bishop, do we agree he’s likely to be there?”

Nick raised his hand. Walsh raised his and finally, Duncan raised hers.

“We should go there as a team,” Kate said. “We know more about Bishop than any of those guys down there. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”

“Damn it.” Fisher sighed. “I’ll need to clear it with the Mexico City office, but I have to agree with you on this one. We can’t afford to let him slip through our fingers this time. He won’t give us a third opportunity.”

The chartered flight arrived in Mexico City at midnight, local time. The team was greeted by a handful of Mexican National Guardsmen, a civilian police force created in 2019. Dressed in military gear, their presence was intimidating.

“I thought our people were coming?” Nick asked Fisher as they stepped onto the runway beneath a pitch-black sky.

“I was informed that the secretary of Security and Civilian Protection wanted to keep his people in the loop. They insisted their people escort us.”

“And what about the Mexico City office?” Kate asked him.

“They’ll take us there.” Fisher turned to Walsh. “You might need to take point with these guys.”

“You got it, Boss.” Walsh headed the pack and met who appeared to be the officer in charge as they stood in front of the military-style vehicles and carried assault rifles across their chests. He held out his badge with one hand and raised the other as a precaution. “Hola, señor. Mi nombre es Walsh. FBI.”

“I speak English, Agent Walsh, but I appreciate the gesture.” He offered his hand. “I’m Alejandro Perez, Unit Coordinator. I’ve been instructed to escort your team to your FBI office in the city. If you and your people will step inside the car, we’ll get started.”

“Absolutely. Thank you.” Walsh turned back as the others were fixed in place still several feet behind. “They’re our escorts. It’s time to move.”

“You heard him, let’s go.” Fisher gestured for the team to move ahead toward the black Ford SUV. He stepped into the passenger seat of the large, bullet-proof vehicle.

The driver kept his eyes ahead while the rest of the team stepped into the car. It was Perez who walked over to the driver and leaned in the open window. He spoke in Spanish. “Take them to the FBI office. They’re expected. I’ll have Lopez driving the lead car and Castillo in the rear. Stick to the main roads and do not veer off course.” He pulled upright and tapped the edge of the door twice. “Move out.”

On their arrival into the large city, the U.S. Embassy that housed the Bureau’s international office appeared in the distance.

The motorcade pulled alongside the front of the building. The passenger door of the car in front of the team opened and Perez stepped out, shifting his gaze as if there was a threat of an attack.

The driver of the SUV came to a complete stop and stepped out, making his way toward Perez. Words were exchanged unknown to the team, then Perez made his approach.

He opened the passenger door and looked at Fisher. “It’s time to get your team inside, sir.”

Fisher stepped out and turned to the rear. “I think they want us inside as quickly as possible.”

Without delay, the rest of the team emerged and followed Perez through the double-doored entrance of the embassy. The 6-story building was surrounded by larger high-rises and was heavily secured.

Kate wondered why they were being rushed inside as though a mob might attack them. “What’s going on?” she asked Nick.

“There