CIA Fall Guy Read Online Free PDF

Kathleen's. She tugged her hem over her knees, glad that Charles and Beth weren't in the room. She slowed her breathing to avoid a high pitch, then answered.
    “I'm saying I don't know. I'm saying this whole thing is too weird.”
    The door squeaked behind Kathleen. Charles strolled into the office and dropped into a chair.
    “Howdy,” he said. “I hear not everything's well on the western front.”
    George swiveled his head to Charles. “No, things aren't going well. Kathleen appears to have misplaced the subject.”
    How dare he blame this on her! He never allowed her to be involved in any operations. Then when one of his went wrong, he dumped it on her. She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. One thing she had learned from day one at the CIA — protesting only made you look more suspect. Best to keep one's mouth shut. Charles knew the score anyway. Let George vent.
    “What's the deal?” Charles asked.
    “The deal is we don't know what the deal is,” George said.
    “And where's our ace-in-the-hole, Beth Parsons?”
    Kathleen turned to Charles. “She's in the cafeteria having coffee.”
    “Not tea? A cup of tea is always so restorative,” Charles said.
    “Funny, very funny,” Kathleen said.
    “Kathleen!” George thrashed his hands at her. “Quiet. I have to think what to do.”
    “Let me go look for him,” Kathleen said. “There was no car, so we can assume the subject is driving the CIA's car. I can put out a discreet bulletin.”
    “No,” George said. “How many times do I have to tell you that you are not to be involved in operations? This is a job for professionals.”
    Kathleen dug her nails into her palms. No use in pointing out that she was a professional, trained by the CIA in numerous clandestine procedures. George only thought of men his age, who had been in the field for centuries, as capable of undertaking operations, even if these same men couldn't run a mile or do a computer search to save their lives.
    “I'll help,” Charles said.
    Of course Mr. Goody Two Shoes was always ready to help, always prepared to show up Kathleen. And for some reason George's distrust of everyone under 50 didn't extend to Charles, the golden-haired boy.
    “Good.” George studied his blotter, then looked up at Kathleen. “Take Beth to your apartment now. I want her nearby in case we find the suspect quickly.”
    “Come on, George, she's not going to be able to ID him. This is a big waste of time.”
    “Kathleen, I decide who does what. Now get her out of here.”
    George flapped his hands at Kathleen and she stood. At her side Charles grinned.
    He thought he had won again. They would just see about that.
    **
    Kathleen sniffed as she entered the cafeteria. The smells didn't exactly identify the menu, yet the tang of cooking grease was discernible.
    Beth sat at a table halfway across the room, her back to the door. You could see she hadn't had any clandestine training. Always sit where you can survey the room was practically rule number one. You didn't want anyone to get the jump on you without your knowing what was coming.
    “Beth,” Kathleen called from a few steps away. Better not to wait until she was upon Beth and perhaps make her jump and perhaps causing her to spill hot coffee on herself or create some other equally unfortunate consequence.

    “Yes?” Beth turned to face Kathleen.
    “We have to go now.”
    “Where?”
    “To my apartment. Let's go retrieve your suitcase and I'll explain in the car.”
     
    Baltimore, Maryland —
     
    “SPEEDY DELIVERY” announced the sign outside the red-brick building. Frederick's directions to Hans had been quite clear. Hans had without difficulty driven the car to Baltimore and found his friend's place of business.
    He walked inside. A woman with clown's red hair sat at a counter, speaking into a phone headset.
    She looked up at him. “You must be Frederick's friend. He told me to look out for you.”
    Hans smiled. “I am an old friend of