Read Sullivan Saga 1: Sullivan's War for Free Online

returned to the door and looked out. “Yes?”
    “It’s Agent Takemitsu, Miss Conner. I’d like to make a check of the apartment.”
    She opened the door and let him in. He locked it behind him then went around, checking all the windows and looking out onto the patio before returning to the living room.
    “Everything’s secure,” he said. “Agent Ives or I will be right outside until three a.m. Do you want us to let you know when our replacements arrive?”
    “At three? No, that’s all right. Thank you anyway.”
    “Not a problem, Miss Conner. Let me know if you need anything.”
    “Thank you.”
    Takemitsu unlocked the door and reached for the handle. As he put his hand on it, he felt it turn in his palm. Before he could react, the door was pushed in, throwing him to the ground. He tried to look up at his assailant, but a hand caught him under the chin and pushed his head back. Another hand wrapped around his neck and began to squeeze.
    Takemitsu managed to lift his knee and make contact with his assailant’s stomach, but the blow was too weak to throw him off. Black blotches appeared at the corners of his eyes, grew in size then completely obscured his vision as the lack of oxygen forced him into unconsciousness.
    Conner ran for the door but was stopped by a hand on her arm. Rick Sullivan closed the door, locked it and stood in front of it, facing Conner.
    She dropped to her knees. “I’m sorry… please, whatever I did, I didn’t mean to hurt you or anyone.”
    “I know,” said Sullivan. “And I don’t mean to hurt you. But I can tell you already know why I’m here.”
    “The Edaline resolution?”
    “Yes. It cannot pass.”
    “It won’t pass. With Palmer and Howard dead, everyone else is too scared to vote for it.”
    “And you won’t open the resolution again?”
    “No. Please, don’t hurt me.”
    “I won’t.” He reached into his jacket pocket. Conner flinched as he removed his hand but relaxed upon seeing that it was a small data chip. “This has everything I’ve found out about your friend Palmer,” said Sullivan. “It also details the crimes the government of Edaline had perpetrated against its own people, going back over twenty years.”
    Conner took the chip as he handed it to her. “What do you want me to do with it?”
    “Give it to Agent Frank Allen. Edaline’s leaders have done a thorough job of covering up and redacting damaging information. I’ve done some terrible things to get this information, but with it, you can stop even more terrible things from happening. Promise you’ll do it.”
    “I will. I promise.”
    “Thank you.”
    Takemitsu stirred, and Sullivan turned back to the door. He paused. “I’m not a bad man, Miss Conner. I’ve only done what is necessary.”
    Conner smiled unconvincingly. “I know.”
    “You’re lying. But that’s all right. I will be vindicated once you see the documents on that chip. Goodbye.”
    Sullivan opened the door and looked down the hallway. Just as he poked his head out, he saw Agent Ives striding toward Conner’s apartment. Ives spotted him and broke into a run. Sullivan dashed out of the apartment, tossed a small capsule at Ives and ran in the opposite direction, toward the stairs. Behind him, he heard a hissing sound as the capsule released its concentrated dose of tear gas. He heard Ives cough and glanced backward. Ives was groping his way blindly down the hallway, his face red and streaming with tears.
    Sullivan reached the door to the stairs and heard the elevator at the far end of the hallway ding. He crashed through the door, slammed it shut and paused at the window in the door just long enough to see Allen and Wagner step out, spot Ives and run toward him.
    Sullivan descended the stairs, taking them two at a time. He heard the door up on Conner’s floor crash open just as he pushed open the emergency exit on the ground level, setting off the alarm. He escaped into the night and was gone before the agents