Dead Aim Read Online Free PDF Page B

thumb at the door to Andreas's office. "I like that stubborn son of a bitch. I'm going to make sure he stays alive."
    "How do you expect to do that if you can't even keep him from wandering all over the country?" Danley didn't wait for a reply as he headed for the door. "If there's any change in the situation, I'll let you know."
    Danley waited until he was driving down Pennsylvania Avenue before he placed the call to Betworth. "He's going to Arapahoe. Since there's no proof of sabotage, Keller couldn't talk him out of it."
    "I didn't think he'd be able to do it," Betworth said. "Naturally Andreas would be suspicious. I thought the seismograph report might allay some of it, but evidently . . ." He was silent a moment, thinking. "And this Alex Graham business is troubling. I believe we'll have to do some adjusting to our plans. I'll let you know." He hung up.
    .
    Stockton, Maine
    The muscles of Judd Morgan's spine tightened as he felt eyes watching him from outside the open window.
    Runne?
    He bent over the canvas, listening.
    No, not Runne.
    There wasn't enough purple in the shadow of the man's cloak. He added the smallest brush stroke before he called, "What the hell are you doing here, Galen?"
    "How did you know it was me?"
    He turned to face the window. "I know your footsteps."
    Galen chuckled. "And that's why you left all those fallen leaves spread on the ground in front of the window." He hoisted himself onto the windowsill and swung his legs over. "Snap, crackle, pop. Did I crunch loud enough for you?"
    "You know you did." Sean Galen could be as quiet and lethal as a panther when he made the effort. "You sounded like a hippopotamus."
    "I thought it wise to let you know I was coming. I've seen you react to the unexpected, and Elena wants me to come back in one piece."
    "How is Elena?"
    "Fine. Strong. Beautiful."
    "Lethal."
    "Only when she's betrayed. You're lucky she didn't follow you and cut your throat."
    Judd shrugged. "I did what I had to do. I tried to make sure no one was hurt."
    "And that you got away with thirty million in drug money."
    "I needed it." He set his brush down. "Is that why you're here? You want to save Elena the trouble of getting even?"
    Galen shook his head. "She wouldn't thank me for doing that. You'll be glad to know she's looking forward, not back, these days."
    "I am glad." He smiled. "And relieved. I like Elena." His smile faded. "And I like you, Galen. I'm sorry I had to disappoint you. You know why I had to have the money."
    "You needed bribe money to get the CIA's hit men to take the sanction off you. Dammit, I was trying to pull strings to get you clear. Why couldn't you wait?"
    "It was taking too long. Another three months and they would have found me. They needed a scapegoat very badly, and dead meat is absolutely required in these situations."
    "Well, evidently the money hasn't helped, or you wouldn't be hiding out here in the woods."
    "I'm getting there. The cover-up went to the top on that North Korean sanction, and politicians have to be careful with a sudden influx of cash."
    "If they don't find you before you get out from under." Galen paused. "Like I did."
    Judd smiled faintly. "But you're extraordinarily qualified in that area."
    "You didn't make it easy. You've moved four times in the last month."
    "How did you find me?"
    "Your new obsession." Galen's gaze went to the painting on the easel. "You lived at my ranch for months. I knew you'd need paints and canvas and you particularly like the quality of the paints from that dealer in Nova Scotia."
    Judd nodded approvingly. "Very good. And the next question is, why have you found me?"
    "I have a job for you."
    Judd went still. "I take it you're not hiring me to paint Elena's portrait."
    "No way."
    "Then I have to refuse. I'm out of the business."
    "The wages are very high."
    "I don't need money, Galen."
    "I don't imagine you do, after the money you took from Chavez. But you need that sanction taken off you and I know a man who can