Nic had suggested a bug on the tray, arguing that they wouldn’t risk forcing a breach by killing a hostage. But Deputy Chief Edgar had decided to err on the side of caution.

When Carter was ten feet from the entrance, the same man he had spoken with before exited the building, an M4A1 assault rifle at the ready.

“That’s far enough,” the man said.

“I could carry them in for you. You can’t keep that white knuckle grip on your weapon and handle these trays at the same time.”

“Don’t move and keep your mouth shut.”

Carter nodded, and the gunman walked out to meet him. The man’s eyes never stopped scanning for threats or some kind of trap. The kid was fighting hard to maintain control and seem like a professional, but to Carter’s trained eyes, he could tell the young man was about one loud noise away from a total breakdown.

“No tricks, kid,” Carter said. “Just some greasy-ass burgers.”

When the scared kid reached him, Carter locked gazes with him and said, “This doesn’t have to end bloody, son. Why are you doing this? What do you want?”

“You’re not in charge here, old man.”

“And neither are you. You think that crazy bastard has your best interest at heart? Why is he sending you out here to do his dirty work?”

“Shut up.”

“He’s using you, kid. You’re expendable to him, and you know it.”

“You don’t know anything,” the kid said. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. We ain’t playin’. And just to make that clear.”

The gunman reached to his waist and pulled up his shirt to reveal a vest covered in packs of C-4 explosive and various wires of different sizes and colors. Carter had seen pictures of plenty of vests like this before, but he’d never encountered one in the field, up close and personal. It was the type of vest commonly worn by suicide bombers.

“Your goon squad so much as sneezes too close to the building, and I’ll blow the roof off this place,” the kid said. “You feel me, old man?”

“Yes, son, I ‘feel’ you,” Carter replied, frowning. “You’re the boss. You keep your cool, and we’ll do the same. Nobody dies today.”

Without another word, the young man took the trays, and walking backward with his eyes constantly scanning, he retreated into the building.

Chapter 39

The paramedics had set up a makeshift trauma ward inside the Walmart located in the strip mall neighboring the GoBox facility. Currently, there were only two patients. The gray-haired woman who delivered the first message and the blonde who delivered the second. The police had already talked with the older woman, who could provide little intel that they didn’t already know, since she hadn’t been a hostage for very long before her release. The blonde woman had potentially seen and heard a lot more.

Deciding to question her himself, with Dr. Burke in tow, Carter had her moved to the store manager’s office, where they could speak privately.