Black Flagged (The Black Flagged Technothriller Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

for any of his people to get comfortable with the concept of free will, which is why we parted ways long ago. I'm done with your general, Mr…?"
    "Parker. James Parker. Can we talk about this over some coffee? The mission is critically important to our work and national security. You might change your mind."
    "I'll listen, but I need you to know that I won't hesitate to add your brains to the African artwork in that place. Are you armed?"
    "No. Gun's in the glove box…but I have a small folding knife in my right front pocket."
    "I expect to hear that knife clatter on the pavement as soon as we start walking. You can pick it up later, if it's still there. And the coffee's on you. Fair?"
    "Fair," Parker said, clearly relieved.
    A few minutes later, Parker placed two coffees on the table and took a seat across from Daniel, who sat against the back wall, one hand hidden under the table. Daniel examined him for a few seconds as he reached out for his drink. Parker had deep blue eyes and thick, black hair, closely cropped for a neat, trimmed impression. Not short enough to immediately betray a military background, but clearly the preferred look for someone not completely comfortable with civilian life. His outfit matched the haircut: khakis, casual blue dress shirt with no tie, and a dark blue blazer. Business casual for the ex-military officer. Petrovich suspected that he had been a senior army captain or possibly a major. He looked lean and slightly muscular.
    "Special Forces in Afghanistan?" Daniel said and took a sip of steaming hot cappuccino.
    "Navy SEAL platoon commander. I met General Sanderson at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Anaconda in 2004. He showed a lot of interest in the spec ops guys operating out of the Korangal Valley. That was before we started sticking outposts up there. Fucking Wild West. We stayed in touch, and he offered me a job as a security consultant when I got out."
    "So what's in the bag, Mr. Navy SEAL?"
    "Mission specifics. Untraceable weapon," he responded, glancing around secretively as he spoke.
    Daniel kept control of the tension evoked by the sudden realization that Parker had lied about being armed, and only slightly tightened his grip on the pistol hidden under the table.
    "I thought I said no weapons," Petrovich said.
    "The case is locked, and I don't have the combination. I have a phone number for you to call, which is programmed to respond to your cell phone number. You get the combo from a recording. I know who the target is and all of the mission details, but Sanderson did not want me to have access to the contents of the briefcase. I don't ask questions."
    "What's the phone number?" Petrovich said, removing his cell phone from one of the inside pockets of his jacket.
    "You're going to open the case here?" Parker asked.
    Petrovich leaned across and whispered, "You're goddamn right I am. I don't need this case exploding inside my car…and if I don't like the contents, I don't want to make another trip to return it. The number, please."
    Parker recited the number as Daniel dialed. The call lasted less than thirty seconds before Daniel abruptly snapped the phone closed. He leaned over the left side of the table to look at the nylon case.
    "May I?" Daniel said.
    "The case is yours."
    Daniel lifted the case off the floor and placed it in his lap, backing his chair up flush against the wall. He still wanted some room to maneuver, just in case this elaborate set-up was a trap, though he felt comfortable enough about Parker. The guy was far from a trained agent or contract killer. Daniel suspected that he was exactly what he claimed to be.
    He dialed the four-digit combination and flipped open the top of the case. He stared at the contents, noting the presence of a Ziploc bag enclosed pistol in the padded compartment normally reserved for a laptop computer. He found two sealed documents in the other side of the case and removed them. One was a thick packet, and the other was a small