Special agent Carter sat glued to the ritzy redwood chair on the 13th floor of the conference room in the FBI building. Carter's boss SAC (Special Agent in Charge) Max Trowell paced hastily around the dim room grasping the tops of every empty chair and squeezing it with all his might as he passed by. Carter sat motionless and steadfast like a person on death row sitting in the electric chair. His partner was dead and it was all his fault. Special Agent in Charge Max Trowell loosened up his tie when he came back around.
"The FBI doesn't make mistakes." He grumbled.
Carter took a deep breath and stared at the green vein throbbing on his boss's forehead. At the end of the long mahogany table along the wall was an elevated plasma television on a black cart with wheels. Tina's pretty face was on the television screen and slowly spinning around in 3-D motion. Carter never fully understood why his boss always preferred the lights being off but this time he was glad they were off because he was ashamed to show his face. Besides, there was already plenty of light coming through the windows to illuminate the room. Just enough light to see that throbbing green vein on Max Trowell's forehead.
"So run this by me one more time. Why did you decide to do this take down alone?" Asked Trowell.
Carter fidgeted with his wrist by wrapping his fingers tightly around them and rubbed them until they burned." It was my fault sir. I didn't have faith in our HRT guys and I thought they would get clumsy and bungle this whole operation."
Max picked up an empty chair and then slammed it back down on the floor." How much do you know about our Hostage Rescue Team?"
Carter stuttered when he tried to respond." I uh....well I....very little sir." He finally spluttered out.
Max looked him right in the eyes with a stern look on his face." So what do you think I should do about this?"
The question kind of shocked Carter and it was starting to make him not care what the boss man decided to do. Travis' death was an accident and at the time they thought they were doing the right thing. Well, at least he did anyway.
" I really don't know sir." He said really fast playing into his little game.
Max leaned over the table. His green vein was still throbbing." Well, I was going to take you off the case but since you and Travis were close friends I think this case is rather personal. Isn't that right Agent Carter?"
Carter straightened up in his chair and felt his heart rate return to normal." Yes sir that's correct." He said in a confident tone.
Max squeezed the top of an empty chair one more time and mused for a second." You'll have a new partner by tomorrow morning. Let me make one thing clear. From now on every move you make gets run by me first. Do I make myself clear?"
Carter felt a tear trickle down his cheeks. He quickly wiped it with his index finger and made a scratching motion like he had an itch." Yes sir. I fully understand."
" Good." Said Max releasing his grip from the chair," Then this meeting is adjourned." He tarried in the corner of the room to enjoy the panoramic view of the city while Carter got up from his chair.
Just as Carter placed his hand on the door knob he felt his pager vibrating on the side of his belt. He pushed the indiglo button and right away recognized the number. It was the judge.