The Big Bad Wolf

CHAPTER 5

SENIOR AGENT GORDON NOONEY was waiting in his small, cramped office in the

Administration building. He was obviously upset, which had the desired effect: I wondered

what I could have done wrong in the time since we’d talked before class.

It didn’t take him long to let me know why he was so angry. “Don’t bother to sit down. You’ll

be out of here in a minute. I just received a highly unusual call from Tony Woods in the

director’s office. There’s a situation_ going down in Baltimore. Apparently the director

wants you there. It will take precedence over your training classes.”



Nooney shrugged his broad shoulders. Out the window behind him I could see thick woods,

and also Hoover Road, where a couple of agents jogged. “What the hell, why would you need

any training here, Dr. Cross? You caught Casanova in North Carolina. You’re the man who

brought down Kyle Craig. You’re like Clarice Starling in the movies. You’re already a star.”



I took a deep breath before responding. “I had nothing to do with this. I won’t apologize for

catching Casanova or Kyle Craig.”



Nooney waved a hand my way. “Why should you apologize? You’re dismissed from the

day’s classes. There’s a helicopter waiting for you over at HRT. You do know where Hostage

Rescue Team is?”



“I know where it is.”



Class dismissed, I was thinking as I ran to the helipad. I could hear the crack, crack of

weapons being fired at the shooting range. Then I was onboard the helicopter and strapping

in. Less than twenty minutes later, the Bell helicopter touched down in Baltimore. I still

hadn’t gotten over my meeting with Nooney. Did he understand that I hadn’t asked for this

assignment? I didn’t even know why I was in Baltimore.

Two agents in a dark blue sedan were waiting for me. One of them, Jim Heekin, took charge

immediately, and also put me in my place. “You must be the FNG,” he said as we shook

hands.

I wasn’t familiar with what the letters stood for, so I asked Heekin what they meant as we got

into the car.

He smiled, and so did his partner. “The F*cking New Guy,” he said.

“What we have so far is a bad deal. And it’s hot,” Heekin said. City of Baltimore homicide

detective is involved. Probably why they wanted you here. He’s holed up in his own house.

Most of his immediate family’s in there with him. We don’t know if he’s suicidal, homicidal,

or both, but he’s apparently taken the family hostage. Seems similar to a situation created by

a police officer last year in south Jersey. This officer’s family was gathered together for his

father’s birthday party. Some birthday party.”



“Do we know how many are in the house with him?” I asked.

Heekin shook his head. Best guess, at least a dozen, including a couple of children. Detective

won’t let us talk to any of the family members, and he won’t answer our questions. Most of

the people in the neighborhood don’t want us here either.”



“What’s his name?” I asked as I jotted down a few notes to myself. I couldn’t believe I was

about to get involved in a hostage negotiation. It still didn’t make any sense to me and then

it did.

“His name is Dennis Coulter.”



I looked up in surprise. “I know Dennis Coulter. I worked a murder case with him. Shared a

bushel of crabs at Obrycki’s once upon a time.”



“We know,” said Agent Heekin. “He asked for you.”