Foreign Influence Read Online Free PDF Page B

of his, Bullet Bob, who had been killed during a terrorist attack on New York City. Ovcharkas were exceedingly fast, fiercely loyal, and absolutely vicious when it came to guarding those closest to them, which was why Bullet was with Tracy up in Maine.
    The name Nicholas now registered. Harvath’s dog had been left on his doorstep as a thank-you cum peace offering from a dwarf who dealt in the purchase and sale of highly sensitive and often highly classified information. Though commonly referred to as the Troll, the little man had told Harvath he preferred his friends to call him Nicholas.
    Harvath had reached a certain détente with Nicholas, but describing it as friendship would have been stretching the definition of their relationship. In fact, if he never saw or heard from the little man again it would be fine by him.
    “What do you want?” asked Harvath.
    “Someone tried to kill Nicholas,” said the voice.
    “You reap what you sow. He probably deserved it.”
    The man pushed forward undeterred. “The bombing in Rome two days ago—”
    “Does he know something?” interrupted Harvath. He had heard about the bus explosion and the horrible loss of lives before leaving Iraq. It was all over the news.
    “He says he needs to talk to you about it.”
    “Does he know who was behind the attack?”
    There was a pause as the man seemed to gather his thoughts.
    “I want to speak with Nicholas,” Harvath said finally.
    “He’s not in a condition to talk. Not right now.”
    “Well, when he is, tell him to call me back.”
    Harvath was about to hang up when the man stated, “He needs to see you in person.”
    “I’m not comfortable with that.”
    “Mr. Harvath, you’re going to be presented with evidence, false evidence, implicating Nicholas in the attacks. In fact, two black SUVs have just pulled into your driveway.”
    Harvath looked up toward his house. “Why should I believe you?”
    “I’m just the messenger,” replied the voice. “Nicholas is the one you need to speak to. He can help you track down who did this, but he needs you to come to him, and to come alone.”
    Harvath didn’t like it. It felt wrong, and that little voice in the back of his mind that never lied and had always helped to keep him alive was telling him to be very, very careful. “The only thing this offer’s missing is a dark alley,” he said.
    “Someone wants your government to believe Nicholas was involved. Ask yourself why . Review the evidence, and if you decide you want the truth, be in the old town of Bilbao the day after tomorrow. Behind the Cathedral in the Calle de la Tendería is a tobacconist. Ask the man there for cigarettes named after Nicholas’s dogs and you’ll receive instructions on what to do next.
    “And Mr. Harvath? Please hurry. Nicolas believes there may be more attacks in the works.”
    Harvath was about to interject when the call was disconnected. From up near the house, he could just make out the sound of several car doors slamming.

CHAPTER 5
 
    C HICAGO
    Burt Taylor had just come back from the hospital cafeteria, and his wife, Angela, was next to their daughter’s hospital bed when trauma surgeon, Dr. Dennis Stern, walked into the room.
    It had been ten days since the hit-and-run. Alison Taylor had suffered severe brain damage, as well as multiple broken bones, severe lacerations, and internal bleeding.
    Her parents had driven in from Minnesota as soon as they’d received the news. For the first few days, neither of them had left the hospital. Now, they spent the days together with Alison and took turns spending the night by her bed.
    “Have the Chicago Police come up with anything?” asked Stern as he finished his examination.
    Mr. Taylor had trouble keeping his anger in check. “Not a damn thing.”
    Normally, Mrs. Taylor would have called him on his cursing, but in this case she agreed with his choice of words. The police had been less than satisfactory.
    “It’s like they aren’t even