An Enemy Within Read Online Free PDF Page B

stretched. Damn seats . Leaning his squat frame as far forward as he dared, their knees touched.
    ‘In or out?’
    ‘Pardon me?’ she asked, feigning innocence, but drawing back. Damn , he thought. Did I leer just then? ‘Your legs, my knees,’ he whispered.
    ‘I usually keep my legs closed,’ she clipped, those eyes flashing.
    He felt the cold shoulder with a vengeance. For the next few minutes he could tell she was pretending to be interested in a geeky White House guy sitting next to her who, he overheard saying, built model aeroplanes. Model aeroplanes, for Christ’s sake!
    The captain’s voice over the tannoy told them they would be landing at Basra in five minutes. It was a calm, matter-of-fact, drawl of a Texan. Yet it made Kowolski immediately stiffen.
    He knew the captain and his augmented crew – co-pilot, two navigators, two flight engineers and two loadsmen – would now be on full alert. The thought of it made him feel quite ill.
    Despite its high-tech missile and radar warning systems, this lumbering giant was at its most susceptible when coming in to land at a 150 knots. That was why he felt beads of sweat suddenly break out on his forehead, caught himself swallowing hard, gripping his seat until his knuckles turned white.
    He visualised the pilot pointing the big beast downwards while a flight engineer’s hands hovered over the control that would activate a chaff and flare dispenser to send a shooting-star barrage of diverting flak. Just in case anyone down there happened be pointing a SAM missile their way.
    For several minutes Kowolski’s stomach matched the gyration of the aircraft. His self-preservation sensors screamed full alert. Alex watched him, curious. The brashness had suddenly vanished. Now he wore a strange mask with darting eyes and aset jaw. Had she been a touch closer to him, she would have heard him grinding his teeth.
    Alex took pride that her profession had honed her observational skills to a fine degree. Being acutely aware of a subject’s demeanour was now almost second nature. Responding to it quickly meant the difference between a good picture and a great one. Studying Kowolski at this moment, she wished she’d had a camera in her hands.
    Eventually, they touched down to an almost perfect landing. Kowolski felt a lightness sweep over him as he unbuckled his seatbelt, giving Alex a baleful glare. He was not used to the brush-off. If not for him, she wouldn’t even be on this goddam trip, he thought.
    He told himself to remind her of that fact before long. Not too sternly because he had another job for her after this. One that would be far more important.
    Yawning, he stretched his arms in the air, an act of nonchalance so overplayed it didn’t fool Alex as she returned his gaze. What a jerk, she thought. A few seconds ago she was ready to feel sorry for him, watching him squirm in his seat. Everyone had a monkey on their back of one sort or another.
    Consulting his clipboard for the umpteenth time, Kowolski squinted at it, hesitant of taking out his new glasses. Alex peered over his shoulder.
    ‘What have we got?’ she said.
    He briskly put the clipboard under his arm. ‘A meeting with the British top brass – Seventh Brigade, First Armoured Division. They’ve got Basra under control now and our esteemed visitor wants to relay his thanks. You’re allowed into the briefings to capture the mood so you’ll have to be on your best – no getting in the way.’
    Alex offered him her camera case. ‘Maybe you’d like to do the job yourself?’
    ‘Okay, okay,’ he said impatiently, his hands up in surrender. While waiting for the plane to unload, he considered Baghdad,their next destination. If all went well, he would seize the opportunity to implement the next step of Northwood’s grand plan for Lieutenant Matt McDermott, soon to be feted as his country’s latest hero.
    It was imperative the President got a flying start to one of the most crucial periods of his