Veil of Civility: A Black Shuck Thriller (Declan McIver Series) by Ian Graham Page B

reminded of his heritage whenever he opened his mouth.
    "I'd really rather that you not be watching television," the doctor continued. "It's important that you rest for the next several days. It's not uncommon for people who suffer head trauma to have spurts of vomiting and in some rare cases loss of consciousness. You really are quite lucky. If you'd suffered even a shade more trauma than you did, we'd be talking about an entirely different injury. But as it is, the stitches in your hand should be out in a week and you should be back to normal within a week or two at the most. None of the x-rays we've taken in the last twelve hours indicate any continued swelling. Save for that bit of broken skin above your eye, there's no sign you were even hit. I'm going to recommend the doctor on shift this afternoon release you. We should have you out of here in time for dinner, but I still want you to take it easy. Beware of operating any vehicles or equipment."
    Declan nodded his agreement, trying to keep his elation at finally being released to a minimum.
    "You have a visitor," the doctor said tucking the clipboard under his arm. "I'll show him in."
    "Be brief," Declan overheard the doctor saying to someone in the hallway. "He's already spoken to two of your men this morning against my recommendations. As quickly as his injuries seem to have healed, he needs rest, not to be constantly reminded of everything he's witnessed."
    Closing the door behind him, a tall, brown haired man in a perfectly pressed three piece suit entered; he was carrying a thick manila folder. His hair was heavy with product and brushed to one side; a soapy fragrance followed him as he strode to the single chair in the room and took a seat, pulling one leg up to rest across his knee.
    "Mr. McIver, I'm ASAC Seth Castellano," he said opening the folder. "I'm glad we're finally getting a chance to talk."
    An air of youthful superiority emanated from the agent and bells rang out in Declan's subconscious. Unsure of whether it was his bureaucrat BS detector or something else, Declan nodded but remained silent.
    "I understand from the staff here that you spoke with the local police earlier, is that correct?"
    Declan nodded. "Aye, that's right."
    "Let's get one thing straight right off the bat, Mr. McIver; the local police have no jurisdiction over this investigation, none, zero. This is a federal matter and as such it falls to me. It's my case, and you don't talk to anyone about it but me. Clear?"
    "Hardly a time for politics and inter-department quarrels, is it?"
    "The local police aren't inter-department. They're not inter-anything. Sheriff Andy and Deputy Fife will screw this case up six ways to Sunday and have their men out looking for turban-wearing camel jockeys at the local mosque."
    "They were Chechens and Turks. Maybe an Armenian or two, but they weren't Middle Eastern."
    "Chechens, Turks and Armenians, that's your story?"
    Declan nodded slowly, taken back by the agent's wording. What exactly did Castellano mean by the term “story”? Was he implying that he didn't believe what Declan had told the police?
    "I talked to the locals myself," the agent began, with an air of incredulity. "You're saying you witnessed a terrorist cut off Mr. Kafni's head and then hold it up in triumph, is that correct?" Castellano closed his fist and waved it through the air as if he was holding a severed head by its hair.
    "That's not what I told them. I heard the leader of the group say he was going to do that." Declan stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. "I heard him say he was going to decapitate Kafni and mail his head to his family. Then I saw the group leave and one of them, the leader, was carrying a white sack with blood pooling in the bottom. Are you watching his family? You can't let anyone deliver anything to them!"
    "Well, then, you see my point about the locals," Castellano said, ignoring the plea. "They'd have everyone believing in and searching for the Legend