Hunter's Games by James P. Sumner

contrary.”
    “You took everything from me, you sonofabitch! I will have my vengeance.”
    “So tell me who you are, and I’ll come and apologize to you, all nice and civilized.”
    “You’ll find out soon enough, Adrian. In the meantime, I have another message for you. And I want to give you this one in person.”
    “Great—we’re at the FBI Field Office, just come on over and we can talk about it.”
    “I think not. You have one hour to come and get the message, or there will be penalties. You want to treat this like a game? Fine, let’s play a game, Adrian.”
    “Great, so, where do you want me?”
    “In the car park of the California Academy of Sciences, there is a school bus. On that bus are forty-three schoolchildren and three teachers. Underneath the bus is a brick of C4. Do the math, Adrian. Be there in sixty minutes, or there’ll be a large hole filled with small body parts.”
    The line clicks dead and there’s a split-second where everyone in the room holds their breath and looks at each other, the panic clear on their faces. But we soon get over it and Chambers strides purposefully out of the room, barking orders at everyone outside. All around there’s organized chaos, the likes of which I’ve never seen.
    The room quickly empties and everyone dashes to their respective desks, shouting to each other as they go. Chambers walks into the center of the open plan office as she takes her firearm out of her holster to check the magazine is full; the standard FBI issue Glock 22 pistol, with a clip that holds seventeen .40 caliber Smith and Wesson rounds. Everyone quickly huddles around Chambers’ desk as she outlines the plan. Josh and I stay at the back, just outside the conference room, out of the way. I figure it’s best to let them get on with it.
    I turn to Josh. “I don’t suppose...” I start, but he cuts me off.
    “…I went to your hotel and retrieved your bag and guns?” he offers. “Yes, they’re in my Winnebago.”
    I smile. “You’re so pretty,” I say.
    “Ah, shucks—you sure know how to make a gal blush!” he replies.
    We chuckle to ourselves, but a voice bellows across the room, interrupting us.
    “If you two have finished blowing each other, maybe you could join us and try to look like you give a shit about what’s going on here?”
    It’s Agent Johnson, trying to exert some authority over the two people most likely to rebel against such things. We look at each other, and Josh gestures for me to go on ahead. We approach the group of agents, who have fallen silent following Johnson’s outburst. I can’t tell whether they’re simply embarrassed on his behalf, or they’re genuinely interested to see how I’ll react, given my reputation, which everyone is now clearly aware of. I ignore Johnson completely, making a point of turning my back to him as I look directly at Agent Chambers.
    “What are your plans?” I ask.
    She seems reluctant to answer, knowing that telling me probably violates too many rules to list.
    “Hey, regardless of what you say, I’m free to go whenever I want,” I say when she doesn't reply. “I’m here because I want to help. This guy’s after me , and I’m going to sort my own shit out, alright? But believe it or not, I don’t want anyone to get caught in the crossfire that doesn’t deserve to, so if there’s anything I can do to help you guys out, tell me.”
    “Well, regardless of what you think, Adrian,” she begins. “You’re in an FBI Field Office. Which means the FBI are in charge, not you. I know you’ll help out, because I’m telling you to. But if you think you’re walking in there and doing everything the way you want, you can forget it. Around here, we focus on saving lives, not settling scores.”
    I like her.
    She’s by the book for sure, but she has a little twinkle in her eyes when she speaks that makes me think she’ll come through for you when it counts, rulebook or no rulebook.
    Still, it’s ultimately my