Deadly Straits (A Tom Dugan Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the contents. “He’s given you a lot of money.”
    “He hasn’t ‘given’ me a damn thing. He paid me for services rendered.”
    “Perhaps,” Gardner said, “but your association, and other things, put you under a cloud. Ward here speaks well of you, but until we’re sure where your loyalty lies—”
    “Where my loyalty lies?” Dugan interrupted, looking first at Ward, then refocusing on Gardner. “You know, if I were sensitive, this would hurt my feelings.”
    “Look, Dugan,” Gardner said, “lose the attitude. Your duty as an American citi—”
    “Mr. Gardner. Larry. May I call you Larry?” Dugan asked, continuing without waiting for a response. “Larry, I assure you, I will cooperate.”
    Gardner flashed Ward a smug smile.
    “However,” Dugan went on, “cooperation is about relationships. For example, the bond Agent Ward and I enjoy. But Larry, I don’t feel that same chemistry here. I’m sure it’s my fault, but I think I should continue with one of your associates.” He paused. “Is Moe or Curly Joe available?”
    Gardner’s smile faded. “You son of a bitch,” he said, rising to stalk out, then slamming the door behind him.
    Ward shook his head. “You could get me canned, Tom.”
    “Nah. Even the government needs a few competent people around. Why don’t you buy me dinner while you brief me on my duty as a loyal American?”
    Ward nodded.
    “Great. See you in the lobby of Trader’s at eight. And grab a nap. You look like shit.”
    “Thanks,” Ward said.
    “Seriously,” Dugan said. “If you drop dead, I might have to deal with that asshole.”
    ***
    Ward drained his mug. Crab shells overflowed a plate, surrounded by mostly empty dishes of fried noodles and other Singaporean delicacies. Dugan lifted a pitcher of Tiger beer and raised his eyebrows, but Ward declined. Dugan refilled his own mug and looked around. They sat alone on the roof terrace of the restaurant, above the bustle of open-air eateries that lined Boat Quay. Access via a cramped spiral staircase made service difficult, but Dugan’s status as an old customer and generous tipper allowed secluded dining.
    “Secure enough for you?” Dugan asked.
    Ward nodded.
    “So tell me, Jesse, how’d you end up with that asshole as your boss?”
    Ward shrugged. “The agency occasionally buys in to the ‘nutty management theory of the week,’ in this case, ‘leadership candidates’ rotating through supervisory positions. Ops is usually exempted, but not this time. Gardner’s our first. I got him because maritime terrorism isn’t as sexy as falling planes.”
    “Surely everyone sees through him. He’s got the personality of a dose of clap.”
    “He can be slick when he wants to, and he’s connected. He has political aspirations.” Ward grinned. “Maybe you shit on a future president.”
    Dugan shuddered. “God help us.”
    “Anyway, I’ll handle him.”
    “Handle him while we do what exactly?” Dugan asked.
    Ward looked Dugan straight in the eye. “Tom, I need you to accept Kairouz’s offer.”
    Dugan looked puzzled. “How did …”
    Then he understood. “Son of a bitch. You bugging my phone?”
    Ward didn’t blink. “Of course you’re bugged. And so am I, and so is everyone else. You might not have read it, but you signed that waiver a long, long time ago. Way back when you agreed to keep your eyes and ears open and to take some pictures for us now and again. How could it be otherwise? There’s too much at stake not to monitor ourselves.”
    After a long moment, Dugan nodded. “All right, point taken. That doesn’t mean I like it. So what’s the deal with Phoenix? Oh yeah, and what the hell did Gardner mean when he said my association with Alex ‘and other things’ put me under a cloud. What other things?”
    “You inspected a ship for MSC last week,” Ward said.
    Dugan nodded. “The Alicia , but how’s that relevant?”
    “She was hijacked en route to Thailand.”
    “Hijacked? No way,”