The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (7 page)

John hurried to what was called the rookie room.  When he looked in the doorway he saw what
were obviously new recruits for the NY office
.  Well, all John knew is they had been there less than three years, because he knew none of them.  John put his hand over his face.  There was o
nly one place his crew could be, t
he foxhole
.  John had renamed
t
he basement
the foxhole since most
agents that found themselves
there were dug in and seemingly
fighting for their lives to stay in the FBI
.

John was standing in the hall trying to decide what to do.  He looked down the hall and saw a light on in Trip
’
s office.  Well, he shouldn
’
t
have a
drink before meeting with the man in charge.   John drew in a deep breath and headed for Trip
’
s office.  Trip
’
s door was open.  John went to knock on the door, and like always, Trip waved him in without ever looking up.  It was spooky.  John had to watch himself around Trip.  Trip
was over six foot
tall
and
muscular.  He was bald on the top of his head with short hair around the sides.  He had been known wear gold wire-rim
med
glasses.  John always thought Trip looked strange in a suit and tie, but Trip seemed to thrive in his position as director in the New York offices. 
John walked in and Trip, while still reading a report, opened a drawer and pulled out an official pass with John
’
s picture on it.  John took the pass, and clipped it to his coat.

“
John, I need you to wear that at all times you
’
re here.  Not everyone
,
like Fred
,
is still here and knows you.
”
 
Trip closed the case file he had been reading and leaned back in his chair.  He ran his hand over his balding head.  He stared at John a second and a slow smile came over Trip
’
s face.  He stood up, and walked toward John.  John had expected a handshake.  He was very surprised when Trip hugged him.  Trip stepped back and put one hand on John
’
s shoulder.

“
John, I am so glad to see you.  As much as you drove me crazy, you
’
re a saint compared to Bruce.
”
 
John was so stunned by the honesty of Trip that he began to laugh, and then to his surprise, stoic, rock solid Trip, began to laugh out loud.  Trip turned and got a refill on his cup of coffee, and offered one to John, who politely declined.  Trip leaned back on the coffee counter, took a deep breath and spoke.

“
I need to say some things, and I need you not to interrupt me.
”
 
John nodded. 
“
First, no matter what happens, you will get full access to your wife
’
s file.
”
 
John swallowed and looked away his eyes moistening. 
“
I would ask you not look at it until you finish with this current case.  I know how much that file will mean to you and I know
you will put
your everything
in
to it, and right now, I have two live agents who need your help.  After this case is over, I will give you every available resource I can to help you with that file.
”
 
Trip stopped.  He wanted to let it sink in exactly what he had told John.  John shook his head as if to clear cobwebs.  He couldn
’
t believe that Trip was willing to go out on a limb for him.  Maybe John had misjudged Trip all of these years, or maybe what happened with John and Sam had changed Trip.  He didn
’
t know, but he did know he was glad of the change.

Trip continued,
“
Second,
”
Trip paused, sighed and continued. 
“
I am sorry for having to put Jessica in the box with you that night. If I hadn
’
t
,
the DOJ would have come after all of us John.  I did what I had to do, but I promise you I didn
’
t like it.
”
 
John nodded. 

“
Third, if,
after this is over, you want
back with your team, I will do everything I can to give you your spot back.  I must warn you that Bruce has all but built a house in your old office space.
”
 
John smiled.  Who knew that John was
less trouble to Trip than Bruce?
  John waited to make sure Trip was finished and then spoke.

“
First  . . . Thank you.  Second I completely understand, and third, if, and that
’
s one mighty big if,
”
Trip nodded,
“
if I come back, can my group just keep the foxhole?
”
 
Trip nearly choked on his coffee.  He stared at John incredulously.   Then Trip chuckled and smiled. 

“
You want to be down there in the basement?
”
 
Trip asked.  John nodded.  Trip continued. 
“
It would kill him to know you
’
re solving cases down there and not on the main
floor.  He thinks he took something away from you, but if you show it doesn
’
t bother you, that will just kill him.
”
 
Trip clapped his hands together. 
“
I LOVE it!!!
”
 
John had a huge grin on his face. 
“
It
’
s all yours, and it
’
s perfect!  It has everything upstairs did, and Chet actually has more computers down there than he did upstairs.
”
 
It was John
’
s turn to look stunned.

“
I didn
’
t know that was humanly possible,
”
John said.  Trip chuckled.  John continued,
“
If you don
’
t mind
,
sir, I have two agents to help, and possibly a third to get reinstated, but most importantly there
’
s a certain someone here I need to make his life
as
miserable
as possible
.
”
 
Trip laughed and gestured toward the door.  John tipped his hat and headed outside.  Trip chuckled and drank from his coffee cup.  He then spoke out loud.

“
I think things may get a little interesting around here over the next few weeks.
”

John started downstairs when he heard a mocking voice call out to him.

“
So how is the view from the bottom?
”
 
John stopped and smiled.  He was going to enjoy this one.  John turned and walked toward Bruce.

“
Bruce,
”
said John, offering out his hand,
“
so good to see you.
”

Bruce took John
’
s hand hesitantly. 
“
John, glad to see you.
 
I
’
m sad to say we have heard some bad rumors around here about you.  I
’
m glad to see they were just rumors.
”

John smiled and put his hands in his pockets.  He rocked back on his heels and nodded his head toward the offices that Bruce now occupied. 
“
I
’
ve noticed you
’
ve moved up in the world.
”

Bruce smiled. 
“
I must have impressed several people.  I mean they did give me a section of the office that used to hold three people.
”
 
Bruce was looking very proud of himself.  John slapped Bruce on the back and started to walk off.  Trip walked out of his office and leaned against the doorframe.  John was counting down in his head and as he reached one, Bruce called out.  John smiled and turned.

“
John!!  If there
’
s anything I can do to help, you be sure and let me know.
”

John walked back toward Bruce. 
“
You mean like sitting on a week old case for three days to make sure that my crew, excuse me, I
’
m not an employee here anymore, my FRIENDS, have almost no chance to solve.
”
 
Bruce
’
s smile fell. 
“
I don
’
t think I need that type of help at any point in my life.
”

Bruce drew himself up and stepped right up into John
’
s face.  Trip smiled, if John was 70% of what he used to be, this was going to be all sorts of fun. 
             
“
You better watch your step
, B
oy,
”
Bruce said. 
There was a veiled threat in the sound of his voice.  John looked amused.  Bruce continued,
“
There
’
s a new top dog around here.  Take a good look around.
”
 
Bruce nodded his head toward his office.

John gave Bruce his second in the sun, and then decided to bring him back down to Earth. 
“
Hey
,
Bruce, where
’
s your picture with your Dad?
”
 
Bruce looked confused. 
“
You know like the THREE he shot
with me for the cases I solved?
  You know the ones that he won his campaign with?
”
 
Bruce looked ready to spit nails. 
“
I mean you had three years by yourself to rack up some photo ops and I don
’
t see anything.
”
 
John started to walk away
, but stopped and turned back to Bruce, his voice very soft.

“
I don
’
t care if you hate my guts, but understand this, if I was the raging alcoholic agent that you painted me out to be, I would still be five times the investigator that you would ever hope to be.  Now if you don
’
t mind, I have a case to help my friends solve.  Why don
’
t you go ahead and call Daddy and see if he
wants another photo op with me?
  It
’
s sad, you
’
ve yet to realize, that if he didn
’
t take all these pictures with me, he might not get reelected.  If he didn
’
t get reelected, you might not have a job.
”
 
John held his hand up before Bruce could speak. 
“
You see, I know the truth.  You father never asked for you to have a single job in his life.  Washington has always thought that having you as an agent keeps him happy.
”
 
John dropped his voice down to a whisper. 
“
Wouldn
’
t they be shocked if they found out how much your father would enjoy it if you lost your cushy FBI gig?
”

John turned and walked down the hall, nodding at Trip as he walked by.  Bruce had turned a shade of red that was off the color chart.  He marched into his office and slammed the door.  Bruce
’
s nameplate fell off the door.  Trip laughed.  It was good to have John back. 

John rounded the corner and there stood Jessica, smiling.

“
Making friends again, John?
”
Jessica asked.

“
I know I should be the bigger man, but I enjoyed that.
”

Jessica laughed. 
“
We all did
,
John.  We all did.  Now let me lead you to our offices.
”

John smiled,
“
I know the way to the foxhole, but I will follow you anywhere.
”
 
Jessica looked surprised by his deduction of the foxhole, but punched his arm for the last comment.  John laughed and started down the stairwell.  Jessica sighed.  She knew one way or another, things were about to change in the agency.