The Maze Read Online Free

Agent Sherlock. We do try to match up agents’ interests and areas of expertise with their assignments. Although you might have seriously doubted that if you’d gotten sent to Los Angeles.”
    She wanted to leap over the desk and hug Mr. Petty. She couldn’t speak for a moment. She’d thought she’d doomed herself after she’d realized she simply couldn’t survive in the ISU as a Profiler. The week she’d spent there had left her so ill she’d endured the old nightmares in blazing, hideous color for well over a week, replete with all the terror, as fresh as it had been seven years before. She just knew, deep down, that she could have never gotten used to it, and the ISU people did admit that many folks just couldn’t ever deal with it, no matter how hard they tried. No, she wouldn’t have been able to survive it, not with the horror of the job combined with the horror of the nightmares.
    But now, she felt an incredible surge of excitement. She hadn’t known about Savich’s unit, which was strange because there was always gossip about everything and everyone at the Academy. And this sort of unit would provide her with an ideal vantage point. At the very least, she would be able to access all the files, all the collected data impossible for her to see otherwise. And no one would wonder at her curiosity, not if she was careful. Oh yes, and she would have free time. She closed her eyes with relief.
    She’d never felt as though anyone was looking after her before. It was frightening because she hadn’t believed in much of anything since that long ago night seven years ago. She’d had a goal, nothing more, just that goal. And now she had a real chance at realizing it.
    â€œNow, it’s two-twenty,” Mr. Petty said. “Agent Savich wants to see you in ten minutes. I hope you can deal with this work. It’s not profiling, but I don’t doubt that it will bedifficult at times, depending on the case and how intimately involved you have to become in it. At least you won’t be six floors down at Quantico working in a bomb shelter with no windows.”
    â€œThe people in the ISU deserve a big raise.”
    â€œAnd lots more help as well, which is one of the reasons Agent Savich’s unit was formed. Now, I’ll let him tell you all about it. Then you can make a decision.”
    â€œMay I ask, sir, why Agent Savich requested me?”
    There was that unholy grin again. “I think he really can’t believe that you beat him, Agent Sherlock. Actually, you will have to ask him that.”
    He rose and walked her to the door of his small office. “I’m joking, of course. The Unit is three turns down this hallway and to the right. Turn left after another four doors and two conference rooms. It’s just there on the left. Are you getting used to the Puzzle Palace?”
    â€œNo, sir. This place is a maze.”
    â€œIt’s got more than two million square feet. It boggles a normal mind. I still get lost, and my wife tells me I’m not all that normal. Give yourself another ten years, Agent Sherlock.”
    Mr. Petty shook her hand. “Welcome to the Bureau. I hope you find your work rewarding. Ah, did anyone ever refer to a tweed hat?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œSorry, Agent Sherlock.”
    It was hard not to run out the door of his office. She didn’t even stop at the women’s room.
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    Savich looked up. “You found me in ten minutes,” he said, looking down at his Mickey Mouse wristwatch. “That’s good, Sherlock. I understand from Colin Petty that you’re wondering why I had you reassigned to my unit.”
    He was wearing a white shirt rolled up to his elbows, a navy blue tie, and navy slacks. A navy blazer was hanging on a coatrack in the corner of his office. He rose slowly from behind his desk as he spoke. He was big, at least six two, dark, and very muscular. In addition