weâve got here. A valve chatters and a dozen alarms go off.â
âYour team was called in?â she asked Potok, who had so far maintained a stony silence.
âSOP,â Potok said. âWeâre dealing with nuclear energy here, Doctor. It scares a lot of people.â
âMe included,â she said.
There was an awkward silence, which Hayes finally filled by stepping forward and glancing down at the blueprints spread out on the conference table. âWe might just as well take a look at this supposed leak, then, all right?â
Rosen and Potok exchanged a look, which Lorraine caught. Again she had the impression that they were hiding something. Perhaps something important.
âYes, of course,â Dr. Avral said, and he stepped aside to let the engineer take over.
For the next fifteen minutes Rosen went over in detail exactly what had happened the night when a steam line valve had supposedly popped loose. Lorraine stood back and pretended to study the diagrams while in actuality she was watching Potok and Dr. Avral. There was more here than met the eye. Potok was concerned and Dr. Avral was frightened.
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On the way back to Tel Aviv she told Hayes that she thought the Israelis were lying.
âI donât think so,â the Britisher said smugly. âThat Rosen isnât bad, for a Jew. He knows his engineering.â
âThere was more than a simple steam leak,â Lorraine said.
Hayes looked at her with renewed interest. âAre you going to put that in your report?â
âYes.â
âOn what basis?â
âI donât know,â she said softly. She looked up at him. âBut Iâm going to find out.â
3
RAMSTEIN AIR FORCE BASE
KURSHIN SAT IN THE officers club finishing the last of his steak. It was two in the afternoon. Heâd taken a shower, changed into Allworthâs uniform, made a brief telephone call to town, and had his driver, a young airman, take him on a brief tour of the base before dropping him off at the club. Heâd dismissed the young man, but kept the car.
âColonel Allworth?â someone said at his elbow and Kurshin looked up, an automatic smile painted on his face.
âYes?â
âTom McCann. Iâm your number two.â
McCann was a youngish-looking man with a baby face and bright red hair. He was wearing a pair of tan slacks and a light blue pullover sweater. They shook hands and Kurshin motioned him to have a seat.
âIs it captain?â Kurshin asked. He knew nothing about the man.
âMajor.â McCann grinned. âThe OD heard you were on base and called me. The old man will be up in Berlin until Monday so I thought Iâd stop by and welcome you aboard.â
âI appreciate that, Tom. As a matter of fact I was going to come snooping around myself as soon as I finished lunch.â
âYou want to do some homework before you see the boss?â
âSomething like that.â Kurshin thought the younger manâs expressions were boyish.
âNo sweat, Colonel. Your clearance wonât be posted until Monday, but if you donât mind tagging along with me on a visitorâs pass, Iâll give you the ten-cent tour.â
Kurshin nodded. He pushed his plate away, finished the last of his beer, and looked McCann directly in the eye. âWhat if I was an impostor?â he asked with a straight face. âYouâd give me the keys to the bank vault just like that?â
McCannâs grin widened. âWe got your package six weeks ago,â he said. âIncluding your photograph. If youâre an impostor, Colonel, then youâre Brad Allworthâs twin. Are you ready?â
âJust have to make a quick phone call,â Kurshin said.
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Ramstein was divided into four major sections. Near the main gate were base housing, the clubs, movie theaters, dining halls, hobby shops, class six liquor stores, and the commissary. On the