A Northern Thunder Read Online Free PDF

the Legion of Merit in the Gulf, with a “V” for valor in combat. Will’s regimental commander, he also knew, had nominated him for the Navy Cross, but a general at the Pentagon downgraded it. Odd , Krowl thought, that a general, and in this case one who had never seen combat, would downgrade the award.
    But the U.S. seemed to operate two distinct militaries—the actives and the reserves—and members of the reserves, like Will, were treated like second-class citizens. Was Will someone who would do anything to be awarded a medal? Probably not. So the admiral could only guess at how to motivate him.
    Why not simply ask me to do this for the safety of our nation? Will wondered. Or make some other patriotic pitch?
    Scott was more astonished than Will. Money was nothing new to the CIA. More warlords and allies had been bought and sold by the Agency than the public ever needed to know, and while it was clear that this particular man was absolutely needed, Scott was still not sure what Krowl was thinking.
    “And?” Will spoke the word softly. He knew that a pause and silence could sometimes be a powerful tool in getting others to talk. Krowl took the bait.
    “The reward for locating and identifying Nampo is twenty-five million. He is deemed a grave potential terrorist threat.”
    That much Scott agreed with. Nampo was more of a threat to middle America than half the terrorists on the RFJ list. The problem was that Nampo was not on the public list. It wouldn’t take long for Will Parker to figure that much out.
    “He is not a disclosed, listed person, but we warrant to you that he is on a private, approved list.” Krowl spoke the words just as Scott thought of the problem.
    “Admiral, you’re talking about a mission requiring months of preparation. I’d have to resign as district attorney. I’m an elected official, and a leave of absence is not doable,” Will said. “Also, if the mission is as secret as you suggest, I may not even be able to return to this town, or this way of life. People would say I might disappear again, at a moment’s notice, and leave their case hanging—leave them hanging. My credibility would be shot. I won’t be able to tell anyone in this town what I’m doing or why. I’m sure of that. And it will be very dangerous, even deadly.”
    Krowl sat back. He had a game plan and was sticking to it.
    “I take it this mission is of the highest national urgency and that you must have an answer immediately,” Will continued.
    “That’s correct, Colonel. In fact, we must have this mission completed by thirty-one January of next year.” Although time was critical, Krowl actually had set no specific deadline. He was simply pushing for a decision.
    “Admiral,” said Will, “I will do this, but I require absolute, total control over how the mission is accomplished. And you will supply me whatever and whomever I need.”
    The money was of no concern to Krowl. Compared to other ways of accomplishing this mission, $25 million would be a bargain. The firing of several million-dollar cruise missiles could not guarantee success. Worse, they would leave an international trail. Every satellite in the world could pick up a cruise missile strike and quickly determine who had launched it. And Will Parker was a long way from filing a claim for the reward.
    “Colonel, I will commit the U.S. Government to pay the RFJ reward upon your locating and photographing Dr. Nampo.”
    In twenty years at the Agency, Scott had often played fast and loose. Krowl was taking things to a new level. If Nampo was not on the list, and Scott did not think he was, what was Krowl thinking?
    Scott turned to Will as if on cue. “Colonel, we will have an aircraft waiting to pick you up at the Cordele airport next Friday at twenty-three hundred hours. It might cause a little less attention that way.” Cordele, another small southern town, was less than seven miles down the road, and the only nearby town with a local airfield.
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