Delta Factor, The Read Online Free PDF Page A

flush of red crept into his face from his neckline. “There is one question ... why you returned.”
    I saw Kim’s head turn my way a fraction of a second and knew she was smiling. “I was bored,” I told him.
    â€œNo other reason?”
    â€œWhat one could there be?”
    â€œWe were hoping it was more an act of patriotism.”
    â€œBalls,” I said.
    Somebody coughed. Carter, from the Treasury Department, said, “You are at your best when you’re bored, I assume?”
    â€œI’ve never tried it any other way.”
    â€œThen I hope we’re not making a mistake.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    For some reason they all turned and gave each other the briefest of glances. “We’ll get to that later,” he told me. “Now, Mr. Gavin ... ?”
    Gavin Woolart nodded and cleared his throat. “Your return, I take it, means you’ll accept the terms of our ... ah, proposal.”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    â€œThen let us proceed directly to the heart of the matter. Time is an important element. We can’t afford to waste any of it. Every day, every hour impairs our national security that much more. We have a lot of briefing for you.”
    â€œI’m a quick study, kid. Don’t you waste time with non-essentials.”
    The red came back in his face again and he nodded. “Tell me, Morgan, have you ever heard of the Rose Castle?”
    Tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up and prickled my skin.
    Yes, I knew the Rose Castle. At least I knew of it from a few who had been there and gotten out, a granite fortress built by the Spaniards in 1620, dedicated to death and destruction and used as a prison for political prisoners with a reputation of being absolutely impregnable and to tally escape-proof. The Spaniards hadn’t fooled around with modern conceptions of humane treatment for its inhabitants.
    â€œSo that’s where he is,” I said. “Yes, I know of it.”
    Woolart studied my face and said pleasantly, “Yes, I can see that you have.” He paused, then, “Does the name Victor Sable mean anything to you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIt shouldn’t. He is the one we want.” From the pile of papers he took three photographs and passed them down the line to me. They were front and profile shots of a man apparently in his sixties. He was partially bald, graying, his expression a curious mixture of seriousness and studiousness, and one I’d label as harmless. But for some reason he was pretty damn important.
    â€œBackground?”
    â€œNothing you need concern yourself with, Morgan.” From the papers he took several more and let me have them. “Detailed sketches of the Rose Castle as complete as we were able to get them. The top one is the original construction design we got from the archives in Madrid; the others contain modifications supplied by certain former inmates and a few bribed ex-guards. However, there has been some construction on modification of the interior which we can’t supply at this time.”
    I took the diagrams and glanced at them. It took only a second to realize that an expert had laid out this crib. They were asking the impossible when they wanted a multiple break out of the joint. I handed them back but Woolart waved me off. “Keep them to study, Morgan.”
    I grinned at him. “I already did, Woolart. I could duplicate them from memory right now.”
    For the first time Mr. Rice spoke: “I hope you aren’t being facetious, Mr. Morgan.”
    â€œIt’s my life, friend; I hope not.”
    â€œThis isn’t a conventional operation. We don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
    â€œNeither do I. Want me to show you my little memory trick?”
    I was annoyed and they knew it. Treasury’s Carter said, “All right, Morgan. We’ll have to accept it.”
    â€œThen get on with