CIA Fall Guy Read Online Free PDF Page B

his.”
    “That's nice.” She motioned to a door behind her. “Just go on back and you'll find Frederick in his office.”
    From a distance Hans could tell Frederick had changed much and had not changed much. Frederick was dressed as an American, in casual khaki pants and a checked shirt. Yet his posture and bearing as he walked towards Hans with an outstretched hand said German.
    They clasped hands and shook. “Welcome,” Frederick said. “I am delighted to see you again.”
    “It has been a long time, my old friend, has it not?”
    “Yes, a long time. Come into my office and we will talk.”
    Hans sat in the chair indicated by Frederick. The office was plain, just the one guest chair besides Frederick's desk and chair. No pictures on the wall. A hot plate on the edge of the desk.
    Hans gestured at the hot plate. “Is this where you live?”
    Frederick laughed. “Oh, no, this is just for quick meals when business is bustling. I have a house nearby.”
    “And a family? Did you marry again?”
    “No, no. My family is still in the Fatherland.”
    Hans forced himself to look Frederick in the eyes. “You did well for yourself. Your flight to the West was worth the sacrifice of leaving your family.”
    Frederick smiled. “My family understood — they knew the truth.”
    “What truth? That you couldn't resist freedom when you participated in the soccer match in West Berlin?”
    “Hans, Hans. I do not believe you are so naive after all these years. Just as you had some ‘activity’ on the side, I did too.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “Will you take an oath? Swear never to reveal what I am about to tell you?”
    “ Jawohl , I will swear.”
    Frederick leaned closer; Hans could smell beer on his breath. “I knew what you were doing back home. I knew your arrangements with the West.”
    “How could you know?” Hans asked.
    “Because I was working for the East. And that's why I'm here. My defection was part of the plan.”
    “Part of the plan?”
    “My assignment was to come out, give the Americans enough information that they would set me up in America, then use my new life to continue working for the East.”
    “What did the East want you to spy on? And surely you're not still in business?”
    “Oh, but I am. And perhaps I can convince you to join our little group.”
    Hans smiled. This was all quite interesting, quite interesting indeed.
    **
    “This looks familiar, the way we went to the park for the meet,” Beth said, watching Kathleen's face for clues as Kathleen drove.
    “Hey, good observation, you're right.”
    “What's going on?”
    “Look, I couldn't say anything at headquarters. You never know who — or what — is listening. But I just wanted to check out the scene again for myself. See what we might have missed in our … rush to leave.”
    Whose rush to leave? Kathleen had dragged Beth back down the path from the hut. Beth had wanted to check around, see if they could spot any footprints, wait until the people from headquarters arrived. Beth read enough mysteries and thrillers to know not to leave a murder site unguarded. Evidence could be ruined, clues trampled. What did the CIA teach its operatives, for heaven's sake?
    Kathleen drove into the park along the route they'd taken earlier that day. After Kathleen parked the car, Beth followed her along the path. The hut stood a few yards in front of them.
    Twigs crackled behind the women. “Who's there?” Kathleen said as both of them whirled to face their rear.
    The man was a foot away from her when Beth twisted to her right and stretched out her leg, trying to use the karate technique of break balance. It didn't work. The man sidestepped her attempt and she skidded towards him. He yanked her up a nanosecond before she nosedived into the dirt.
    “Mark Haskell!” Kathleen said.
    Beth tugged away from the man. “You know this asshole?”
    “He's from the Company.”
    What a shit! A guy — a well-built guy — supposedly from your own