In Sheep's Clothing: An Action-Packed Political Thriller (Matthew Richter Thriller Series Book 1) by L.D. Beyer Page B

each tasked with a specific objective.  Individual teams assaulted each building, first tossing stun grenades.  In the courtyard, the hands and feet of the still unconscious prisoners were bound, while two medical corpsmen pulled the body from the pool.  They began to perform CPR.  Another medical team rushed to El Jefe and his henchman.  After ensuring that their injuries were not life-threatening, the corpsmen carried them off screen to waiting helicopters.
    A number of well-dressed women and children, their faces filled with terror, were led out of the main house.  Most were crying.  They too were escorted off screen.  
    There was an audible click from the speakers in the room.  “Tango Alpha is secure.  Package in possession.  Zero casualties.”
    The admiral smiled.  “That, ladies and gentlemen, means that the head of the Zacatecas Cartel and his key lieutenants are now in our custody.”
    “Admiral,” the colonel from the NRO interrupted, “we will be losing satellite coverage in thirty seconds.”
    “Thank you, Colonel.”
    The assault teams began to search the buildings for criminal evidence and to seize guns, weapons, computers, and anything else tied to cartel activities. 
    The screens went blank. 
    Monahan was surprised when the task force members—military and civilian alike—began to clap.  A few congratulated each other on the successful mission.  Monahan, though, was troubled.  Although the team had stayed within the parameters of the presidential directive and there had been no fatalities, there was no hiding the fact that the game had just changed.  The U.S. had drawn first blood and he wondered what the repercussions would be.
___
    “How was your vacation?” Dr. Hastings asked.
    Richter smiled.  “Good, Doctor.  It felt good to go back to work.”
    The doctor smiled back.  “You look more relaxed.  That’s a good sign.”  She waited a second or two.  “Have you given more thought to some of the questions we discussed last time?”
    “You mean, like what I want out of life?”
    The doctor nodded.
    “I have, although I don’t think I have all the answers yet.  What I do know is that I want to make this work.  For practical reasons, I can’t leave the protective detail yet.  If I want any other job in law enforcement, I need to demonstrate that I succeeded here.  If I leave now, it will look like I failed.”
    “Okay.  I can see that.  How much time are you thinking?”
    “I don’t know.  Two, maybe three years.”
    She was silent for a moment.  “We discussed your dream last time.  Can you tell me what happened that day in Maine?  I know what the press is saying, but I’d like your perspective.”
    Richter shifted in his seat, an uncomfortable silence before he spoke. 
    “I was standing behind him,” he began in a monotone.  “He had shot six, maybe seven birds and hit them all.  It was impressive; the man could shoot.”  He smiled weakly.  “I really don’t know what happened.  He spun the gun so fast.  The next thing I knew, he crumpled to the ground.”  Richter shuddered as he took a deep breath.  “I didn’t even think that was possible with a shotgun.  He was tall, and I think the investigators even measured his arms and…well…”  His voice trailed off as he shuddered again.
    “Where were you exactly?”
    “I was directly behind him, about ten feet away.  There were agents on each side, maybe fifteen feet from me, and another six agents behind us.  I was the closest.”  He sighed.  “Right before he did it, I saw his arms move, and something didn’t feel right.  I took two steps forward, thinking he was ill or something.  Suddenly, I was splattered with blood and he was falling.”  
    They sat silently. 
    “I read the review board’s report.”  Hastings said after a moment.  “Director Kroger shared it with me.  I obviously can’t give you names, but several other agents are patients of mine as