Fatal Read Online Free PDF Page A

Alexa.”
    Alexa breathed deeply and squeezed his hand. “That’s why we need your help.”
    “Why me?”
    “You know what they did.” Alexa held his hand in a white-knuckled grip. “You worked for them.”
    Neil studied her face for a while. “OK, Bruce wants them taken care of and then you guys get your life back? Is that the gist of it?”
    Alexa removed a manila folder from her shoulder bag. “Read this,” she said and pushed it towards Neil. “General Laiveaux has someone on the inside. They’re involved in arms deals, money laundering, you name it.”
    Neil pulled out a bulky wad of papers filled with neatly-typed text. The report was titled “The Dalerians” and marked as top secret. He scanned through the contents. It contained detailed observations on the group’s underground activities, names of those involved, safe house locations, and their daily movements. He put the report back; he would read it later. He looked up. “Why doesn’t he take care of this himself?”
    Alexa sipped her drink then licked her bottom lip. It was one of the sexiest things Neil had ever witnessed. “They’ve gotten involved in something which Bruce hates: they're slaughtering rhinos and poaching game. They’re doing it on purpose, trying to get him out in the open.” She shrugged. “He’s outnumbered.”
    “Who else is involved?”
    “We don’t know. That’s what we’re supposed to find out.”
    Neil swigged his beer. “And I guess Bryden thinks I could help—a hired hand?"  
    “Bruce has been following your career. He knows you're on the straight and narrow, and he knows why you were dishonorably discharged.” Alexa looked at him imploringly. “I think he hopes you would agree what Perreira and Callahan are doing isn't right.”
    “It isn’t,” Neil said. “I think he’s more than capable of taking them out on his own.”
    “It’s not that simple, Neil. He doesn't want to get just Perreira and Callahan; he wants the entire organization wiped out. He doesn't want a trace of them left.” She took his hand. “Please, we need your help.”  
    Her hand felt cool, but not soft and plump like any woman’s he had ever touched. Her grip was firm. “How many targets?” he asked, trying to ignore her mesmerizing eyes. He was going to help them. She didn’t leave him with much of a choice.
    “Six. Excluding the henchmen.” He flinched as Alexa leaned back in her chair, letting go of his hand. It felt like an electric current ran between them, like one of those contraptions Tesla had made. “Bruce will go after Perreira, he wants us to take care of Callahan. They have a couple of captains and lieutenants doing their dirty work. He wants them taken out as well.”
    Neil whistled. “That’s a small army. Whom do they represent?”
    She shrugged. “We don’t know. Shipments are coming in through the Mozambican border, then through South Africa and on to the United States.” She put her hand on the envelope. “Everything we know is in here.”
    Neil nodded. “How are you getting your intel?”
    Alexa smiled, and Neil took a swig from his empty beer bottle, trying to ignore those eyes. “I guess you'll have to ask Bruce about that. You aren't hired yet.”
    “Talking about hiring, what does the mission pay?”
    “We thought you would do it for free,” Alexa answered with a playful grin.
    The electricity between them fizzled out. He understood now. They were planning on using him, like Roebuck, Callahan, and Perreira had used him all those years ago. “For free?" Neil asked, grabbing his car keys from the table and standing up. “I don't think that's going to work for me.” He signaled the barman for the bill. “I didn't receive a retirement package, remember—dishonorable discharge?” He needed to get out of here.
    Neil put on his dark glasses and turned to leave. He headed up the beach towards the road. Alexa tossed a couple of dollars on the table, then jogged towards him. He smiled. At