Assassin (Assassin Series Book 1) Read online

  Rathbone cleared his throat. “Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to respond, Senator. Our response is that these allegations are unequivocally without substantive proof. Our comments and answers to all questions will be handled by our senior counsel, Mr. James Brickland.”

  Farley continued politely. “Will Counsellor Brickland please rise?”

  Brickland, a thin-featured, serious-looking man with white hair in his early 60’s, stood and acknowledged the request of Senator Farley. “I’m James Brickland, Senator.”

  Farley nodded. “Thank you, counsellor. We can now call our first witness.”

  Brickland remained standing. “As a point of order, Senator, I must bring to your attention the fact that the agency has not had the opportunity to review the list of witnesses called on behalf of the complainants!”

  Farley’s expression remained unchanged “Your comments have been noted, counsellor. We also want you to keep in mind that this panel has also not yet been given the opportunity to speak to the agent that the complainants allege orchestrated the murders of the deceased!” he continued. “So, please take a seat and we will call the first witness,” he turned to his senior assistant, Senator Bill Hodges, a democrat from Wyoming. “Senator?”

  Hodges, a young, rising star in the Democrat Senate, consulted his papers. “Will former CIA operative Mr. Jake Harrigan please take the stand!”

  The hearing was finally under way.

  EPILOGUE

  Early that same evening, Janis’s husband Bob Mercer, arrived home from work, parked the police cruiser and carried the fresh pizza up to the door of the modest detached home in the suburbs. He was looking forward to a quiet dinner with his wife and hopefully, she would still be in a more relaxed frame of mind after her meeting with the man Harrigan the night before.

  He rang the doorbell and there was no answer. He rang it again and there was still no response. He fumbled in his pocket for his keys, opened the door and went inside. The late afternoon sun was still filtering through the windows as he entered the living room. “I’m here, honey, where are....?” his words suddenly died in his throat as he surveyed the horrific scene in front of him.

  Janis was lying face down, motionless on the floor, as if she had fallen and hit her head on the corner of the glass coffee table. It appeared as if she had tripped over a corner of the rug, causing her to fall. The blood from the gash on her forehead from the impact, was already congealed.

  Bob dropped the pizza in shock and rushed over to check on her. “Oh, my God!” he whispered to himself. He reached out and touched her neck to see if she had a pulse and he recoiled in shock.

  “Nooo, Nooo!” he wailed as he took in the complete scene. On the coffee table, Janis’s pill bottle containing her tranquilizers was on its side, open and several pills had spilled out.

  Bob immediately picked up the phone and dialled 911. When an operator came on, he told her that his wife was dead, she’d had an accident and that he needed the police and an ambulance. He gave the address and slumped in the chair, a broken man. He waited for what seemed like an eternity for the emergency teams to arrive,

  After the police team of detectives, forensics and photographers had completed their investigation, they released the body to the medics to take it to the morgue.

  Steve, the senior medic, in his 30’s, looked across at Bob who was in a daze, staring aimlessly out of the window, his life in ruins. Steve spoke to him softly with a compassionate look in his eyes. He had Janis’s pill bottle in his hand. “And how long had she been taking these pills, sir?”

  Bob thought for a moment. “Three or four months, they were the only thing that calmed her nerves!”

  Steve nodded sadly. “Did your wife have any history of heart problems, sir?”

  “Definitely not!” Bob answered dejectedly.

  Steve looked sad. “Very well. I’ll submit my formal report to the Coroner. I’m so sorry, sir. “

  Bob just sat there and mumbled. “Huh, thanks.” he looked across as the medics were gently trying to cover Janis properly where her robe had slipped off her shoulders from the fall, before they zipped up the body bag and wheeled her to the waiting ambulance. He saw the cute rose tattoo on her right shoulder blade and he fondly remembered the day she had it done, all those years ago.

  Her father had died with leukemia when she was still in her mid-twenties, and her mother Helen was having a hard time coping with the loss. Janis had the tattoo done for her mother and underneath the pretty, deep red rose, was the single word ‘Mom’.

  Bob suddenly realized that somebody had to tell Helen that her daughter was dead and he would have done anything in the world, not to have to be the one to tell her. She had already had two mild strokes over the past year, and he was afraid that this kind of news could incite another major episode.

  As Janis’s body was being wheeled out of the room, not only the entire police team, but also Steve, the senior medic and Bob himself, the latter now nervously calling Helen, had all missed it!

  Disguised in the dark red artistry of the rose tattoo, almost impossible to detect with the naked eye, was the tell-tale needle mark!

  * * *

  As Jake finally drove home after a harrowing day of testimony at the Senate Inquiry, he was totally oblivious to the extent of the government’s treachery still awaiting him.