Rise of The Iron Eagle (The Iron Eagle Series Book 1) by Roy A. Teel Jr.

up getting killed. “Yes, but that’s not why I killed him. You will learn in time why he’s dead. I will tell you that he and Mr. Roskowski knew each other very well, and he knew all about Mr. Roskowski’s hobbies.”
    Steve sat up, and with a whisper he said, “I don’t understand. You killed Barry, and you killed his granddaughter. Why did you do that? What had she done wrong?” The Eagle didn’t move but said, “Ms. Makin was getting too close to me. I assure you, however, that I didn’t intend her any harm initially. In the end, while her death protected my identity, what happened to Ms. Makin was a fortuitous yet tragic accident and not by my design. I didn’t know about the relationship between her and Barry until near the moment of her death.” “Is that supposed to somehow make me feel better? Is it supposed to justify your actions?” The dark figure dropped his head a little and responded apologetically, “No sir.” “Who the fuck are you? Why are you doing this?” Taking a step back from Steve, he said, “You know who I am, and you know why I’m doing what I’m doing. I just wanted to talk to you one on one and apologize to you for taking Mr. Mullin out of your life.”
    Steve was now becoming irate; however, he could tell that The Eagle recognized his anger. “You can’t just go around dispensing justice the way you see fit.” The Eagle stood looking down at him on the ground. “I do what I can to save lives. I’m in their heads faster and faster these days. I can see them now, and I’m getting better at spotting and stopping them. Soon I will be able to stop them before they kill.” “You’re not a fucking clairvoyant. You can’t read minds. You’re killing people, and it’s my job to stop you.” The Eagle bent down close to Steve’s face and whispered, “If you keep tracking me, I’m going to have to kill you. I don’t want to, Agent Hoffman. I like you. I think you’re a good man. You don’t understand why I’m doing what I’m doing yet, but you will. I can be friend or foe; you will have to decide which. I will be in contact again.”
    He turned toward the alley where he had drug Steve. There was rustling in the brush coming from the Coston corner of the street. The Eagle stood up tall and with a firm even voice said, “Detective O’Brian!” This time he was not quiet. He was intentionally louder. Jim stepped out from the bushes with his weapon trained on The Eagle. “It’s good to see you again.” Jim didn’t say a word. “Please lower your weapon.” There was a tense moment between all three. Jim complied. “Thank you…that’s really no way to greet the man who saved your life, detective. Please take Agent Hoffman back to the crime scene. I’ve promised to contact him again. Good night gentlemen.” And in a flash he disappeared into the darkness of the alley.
    Jim calmly reached his hand out to Steve. Once on his feet, he started to run into the darkness. “STOP,” yelled Jim. “The only thing that you will achieve is to end up winded. He’s gone.” “You two have met before?” Jim didn’t say anything; he just holstered his weapon and started to walk back toward the school. “Jim…what the fuck? Do you know who this guy is ? Because he sure as hell knows who you are!” Jim kept walking. They made it to the corner of First and Coston and were now in the light of the school and all of the action. Jim stopped and looked at the school but not at Steve. “I didn’t know who he was… Barry and I were working on a joint task force. He had tracked a bail jumper, and Barry, being an ex U.S. Marshal, had the heads up on serving the warrant and taking the guy into custody for the reward. Do you remember that I got shot?” Steve nodded. “We were making an arrest in San Diego. It was a routine warrant; the suspect had no history of violence. It was pre-dawn, and we approached like we would any other nonviolent offender. Barry knocked on the door and