the phone with Stan. But they had already given him something to calm him. He

was so agitated, they just didn’t know why.” “Thanks for doing that.” “There’s

something else, Puller.” “What?” he said wearily. “CID has dropped their

investigation. Ted Hull—” “Has been reassigned, I know.” Puller paused.

“Shireen, I want you to just drop the whole thing.” “What? Why?” “The CID’s been

called off. So just drop it, Shireen.” “But I thought you wanted to find the

truth?” “I just…just forget I ever called you.” “Puller!” He clicked off and

tossed his phone down on the bed. He hoped that Shireen heeded his advice.

 

His phone rang. It was Shireen. He didn’t answer.

 

It was then that he noticed the piece of paper on the floor. It was over by the

door. He automatically pulled his M11 and skittered across the room, keeping

low, halfway expecting the door to be kicked in at any moment. He slowly reached

down and picked up the paper.

 

The note was handwritten.

 

Meet me outside in ten. VK This could be a trap. His first instinct was to climb

out the window, make his way down, bypass the parking lot where an armored

Humvee might be waiting, and hoof it on foot for a few miles. But then he looked

at the note again.

 

That’s when he saw there was faint writing at the bottom.