Chapter 15

Chapter 15 SummaryLate into the evening, Javon Morris reviews the FBI background report on Jeffrey Kruger that Shannon Carlyle pulled together. While Kruger’s college years were marked by drunken arrests, minor fights, and clashes with faculty, his academic performance had been strong, and his later career appeared clean. Still, Javon cannot shake the feeling that Kruger isn’t as spotless as the record suggests.Adding to his unease is the looming press conference his supervisor scheduled for the following morning. Javon resents the idea of facing the media with little new information to provide, knowing the frenzy of reporters will demand answers he doesn’t yet have. He reflects on how social media has intensified the pressure of these events, making public perception nearly as important as the investigation itself.As he closes the file and stretches at his desk, Javon takes in the surrounding office, still busy with agents on late-night cases. The scene stirs memories of his own early days working night shifts, reminding him how the workload has only increased with the advancement of technology. His thoughts drift to his personal life, or rather, the lack thereof. Friendships seldom extend beyond the office, vacations are rare, and the looming reality of mandatory retirement in seven years weighs heavily on him. He has seen colleagues decline in health or purpose after leaving the Bureau, and the prospect frightens him more than he cares to admit.Recognizing that nothing more can be accomplished tonight, Javon decides to leave. Offering a brief farewell to his colleagues, he exits the building, passes through security, and heads to his car. Catching his reflection in the rear view mirror, he sees the weariness etched across his face, a silent admission of how much he dreads the coming day.