Arctic Fire Read Online Free PDF

cane on the sofa.
    There was no way to know for certain if the president had really sent along his heartfelt congratulations, if indeed the president was even aware of what could have happened in Boston Harbor. He’d never met any of the presidents. That was Carlson’s area.
    But that was all right. Maddux didn’t care about accolades, and he didn’t need much money—just enough to survive.
    All he really needed was loyalty, because without loyalty the psychological infrastructure of trust disintegrated. When trust disintegrated, conditions turned to chaos and an every-man-for-himself situation developed—which never turned out well for anyone, including the country. And in Maddux’s mind the country was as much of a living, breathing entity as any human being living within its borders.
    That was why he’d taken the ultimate step against two of his Falcons. There simply had to be trust, there simply had to be loyalty, even if the orders coming from above seemed at odds with the best interests of the country. Even if those orders seemed insane.
    Maddux’s eyes narrowed. There had been a loyalty issue with two of his subordinates, and he had recently learned there was a loyalty issue with the president of the United States. And that was a problem for Red Cell Seven, a massive problem. A subordinate disobeying an order was one thing, but the president of the United States being disloyal was so much another. Maddux had felt comfortable addressing the first issue without seeking Carlson’s approval. But he wasn’t nearly as comfortable going after this second issue that way.
    He would if he had to, though. He was committed to the path he’d already started down in the event Carlson didn’t get on board quickly—as incredible as that was.
    “It would have been more than hell for him,” Maddux added. “It could have destroyed him. Then you both would have been sorry.”
    “I don’t work at the pleasure of the president,” Carlson responded evenly as his expression turned to stone. “I don’t care who the president is. I’m indifferent about the man and his politics. You know that, Shane, and I don’t appreciate the insinuation.”
    “Did you look into that situation we discussed the last time we met?” Maddux asked, boldly ignoring Carlson’s rebuke.
    “Of course I did.”
    “I can find out if you didn’t.”
    Once in a while Maddux reminded Carlson that, despite the extreme secrecy involved, there were opportunities for checks and balances. And that he could take advantage of them if he chose to. He and Carlson trusted each other as much as two people inthis situation could. But the remote possibility of distrust had to exist too.
    It was an odd but essential paradox to their relationship. It was like God needing the devil for His warnings of fire and brimstone to be their most convincing. The possibility for personal disaster had to exist in any relationship for everyone involved to truly stay in line. Nothing in this life was pure, and anyone who believed in that fairy tale was stupid or naïve.
    “I know you can, but that’s not why I did,” Carlson answered. “I looked into it because you asked me to and for that reason alone.”
    Maddux gazed at Carlson. The old man had formed Red Cell Seven forty years ago and run it ever since. He knew as much about what was happening in the world on a minute-by-minute basis as any person on the planet. He dealt constantly with every intel agency the United States operated, and his name was spoken with reverence at the Pentagon and the CIA. The few times it was actually spoken. Only a handful of senior officials knew who Carlson really was, and even fewer were aware of the immense power he wielded.
    Carlson seemed like a calm, unassuming man who could blend into any background. But that was his cover and far from reality, Maddux knew. Despite his advancing age, Carlson could still act like a lion in its prime. He could still make a Brooklyn Mafia boss look