A Northern Thunder Read Online Free PDF Page A

would call him back. He always treated Judge Roamer, or, for that matter, any judge, with the highest priority.
    “Will, what’s the problem?” she asked. “What’s going on in there?”
    “Connie, don’t get excited. Just hold all my calls. . . and call Gary Matthews and tell him I need to talk to him about a Court of Claims case this afternoon.” For years prior to becoming a civil attorney, Gary Matthews had been Will’s fellow prosecutor. He was someone Will could trust—always.
    “What Court of Claims case?”
    “Connie, I love you because you follow my instructions so well.”
    “Okay, I can take a hint. Oh, and Clark is on her cell. She wants to talk to you now.”
    “Tell Clark to hold on. I’ll get right back to her.”
    He turned back to the Admiral as he hung up the telephone. “Admiral, we will not be disturbed again. As you were saying. . .” He leaned back in his chair and placed both hands into his coat pockets.
    “Colonel Parker, if you accept this proposal, there will be many further details given to you at a later date.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Scott knew the details of the mission, but had no idea what the Admiral was referring to when he used the term “proposal.” He turned his chair to face the Admiral.
    “Colonel,” Krowl began, “the United States Government needs you to go deep into a very hostile environment and take a photograph of Peter Nampo. He has been cooperating with a certain unnamed enemy in the development of certain ultra-dangerous technology. Despite our best efforts, we’ve not been able to identify him with absolute accuracy. And, particularly in the present environment, we must be able to clearly determine what he looks like.”
    More things made sense to Will now. Even in the brief months he knew him, Peter Nampo refused to be photographed. At the time, Will thought it an absurdity, but perhaps Nampo knew more about his possible future than Will appreciated.
    “Colonel, you are a reservist. Even as an active duty Marine, you could not be ordered to undertake such a mission. At the very least, the effort will require several months of training and preparation.”
    Will thought that, even with several years of training, this mission’s success was uncertain, if the goal was so difficult the Marines had to rely on a reservist like himself. And he was pondering the term “very hostile environment.” China had opened itself up to more and more access. Although he was sure that parts of the country remained inaccessible, surely intelligence could use the accessible areas to develop ties and sources. And, in Russia, one could buy virtually anything for the right price. So where exactly was Peter Nampo to be photographed?
    No, this had to be a “hardcore” country with limited access and limited ties. Iran? Syria? Nampo was a devout Stalinist—a hard-edged communist, not a religious fanatic.
    “Colonel, the U.S. Government is willing to train you, insert you into the country with a highly capable team, and. . .”
    Will noticed a hesitation on Krowl’s part.
    “. . . allow you to claim a reward under the RFJ.”
    Scott leaned forward, his hand over his jaw, masking his reaction. The RFJ, he thought, had no rewards for photographing a North Korean.
    “RFJ?” Will asked.
    “The State Department’s Reward for Justice Program.”
    “The one that offers rewards for terrorists like Bin Laden?” Will said. “Yes. If sent under orders, you could not claim a reward. Under our proposal, you could.” The RFJ program had existed for years, but after 9/11, the State Department had enlarged the list and added substantial funding. Several on the list had bounties of twenty-five million dollars on their heads.
    This mission must be totally off the wall , Will thought. Otherwise, what is Krowl doing? Will tried to look Krowl directly in the eyes. The admiral kept looking down and would only give him an occasional direct glance.
    Will, Krowl knew, had been awarded