The Assassin's Case Read Online Free

steaming water into a cup, then dropped in a tea bag. After it steeped, he added a drop of honey and lemon juice.
                  The case from the mall was in his locker. He should have already taken it to the police, but he hadn’t. And he still didn’t know why. He had come to the decision to take it to the authorities the next morning, but still, the nagging feeling wouldn’t subside. The old man seemed so scared. And the glove. Why?
                  Grant delivered the tea to Mrs. Wellington, placing the cup within easy reach on her nightstand.
                  Before he could leave, she clasped his hand in both of hers. “You’re such a sweet man. Thank you.”
                  “You’re welcome.” He patted the back of her hand. “Try to get some sleep.”
                  “I will.”
                  Grant turned to give her a smile as he walked out the door.
                  She called after him. “If I were a century or so younger, you wouldn’t be on the market for long.”
                  Grant smiled and shook his head. He eased the door shut and returned to making rounds. Every night he strolled the halls, alone, thinking. Well, it was actually more like brooding.
    He had long ago come to the realization that all he had done leading to his family’s death was propelled by fear. At fourteen his quiet home in a suburban neighborhood was invaded. Two men broke into his house and robbed them, terrifying him in the process. His father, a mild, yet, strong man, tried to stop them, and took a bullet for his trouble. Grant, his sister, and his mother, were forced to watch his father bleed into the carpet at gunpoint while the intruders completed the robbery.
                  Although Grant was a typical older brother and bullied his little sister Charlotte when he had the opportunity, he was still protective of her. Like all siblings, it was okay for Grant to give his sister a hard time, but God help anyone else who bothered her. The abject terror on her face during the robbery gave Grant nightmares for weeks.
                  His father survived his injury, but Grant’s innocence and sense of security didn’t.
                  That was the key moment, the life changing instance which set him on his path.
                  After the robbery he swore never again to be a victim. He trained in the martial arts, coerced his father into buying a gun for their protection, and through hours of practice became proficient in its use. He trained his body and mind with ruthless determination.
    He majored in criminal justice at Texas A&M, graduating in three years. While there, he met his wife. After a stint in the Army, where he became a Ranger, he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. He had a future in the army but he longed to hunt down criminals. The home grown variety. After enduring an exhaustive interview process the Federal Bureau of Investigation hired him. At twenty five he was living the dream. After two years of investigating crimes under the tutelage and friendship of Steve Jenson in the backwaters of Texas, he sought a new challenge. The elite HRT.
                  Funny how events can shape people differently. His sister had made a decision after the robbery as well. She decided to become a doctor. A healer with the skill to stop her daddy’s bleeding.
    At the rear of the complex near the employee’s entrance it was desolate and lonely. Nothing back here but the locker room and the employee lounge. At least one nurse and one orderly were on duty twenty-four hours a day and they used the lounge to sleep when they weren’t needed. A glass door led to the rear parking lot. Out of habit Grant went to check the door, though designed to lock automatically when shut, sometimes it would stick without fully closing. He placed a hand on the door and it swung