Into the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

sat in a leather chair next to the
window looking out over the waves. In the distance he could see the
city of Miami glittering like so many giant candles floating on the
water. His gray hair had become a bit wavy due to the humidity. He
had long ago given up on his tie and jacket: now his collar was
unbuttoned, and the shirtsleeves on his hand-tailored dress shirt
were rolled up to the elbows. The crisp white cotton had wilted in
the steamy heat and large rings of sweat seeped from underneath his
heavy arms. In his hand he nervously clinked the dwindling ice in
his glass, pausing only to refill it from the decanter of bourbon
sitting on the small table next to him.
    Taking a swig of his drink, he jumped — startled —
as the door at the end of the room popped open. A young man peered
cautiously into the room.
    “Senator Stevens, we are nearly there,” said the
young man.
    “Thank you Martin.” He spoke with a southern drawl.
The Senator finished his drink and took one last look at the
water.
    The deckhands took no time in connecting the
Senator’s yacht to a new, larger and more brilliantly lit one. The
man and his party — consisting of Martin and a young woman by the
name of Margaret — made their way across a metal bridge. Upon
stepping onto the glossy wooden deck, they were met by two men. The
one who greeted them was rather small. His companion, however, was
quite an intimidating figure of substantial size, not to mention
the two large handguns he wore in holsters strapped across his
broad chest.
    “Ahhh, Senator Stevens, how nice to see you again.”
He smiled, revealing a toothy grin.
    “Follow us, please.” He led the man and his
companions along the glistening deck to the back of the yacht,
where they climbed a staircase towards the ship’s rooftop. Each
stair was lit with tiny, twinkling lights.
    As the first sight of the uppermost level came into
view, torches danced along the railings, throwing brilliant light
and dark shadows across the deck. A few young ladies in sparkling
evening gowns lounged along the banks of seats under the torches.
They leaned back, sipping champagne and chatting quietly.
    At the far end of the deck a man rose from a lounge
chair. He was fairly tall and wore a pair of white linen pants and
a loose-fitting white linen shirt. He was barefoot.
    “Your friends can wait here — the girls will bring
you a drink.” Their escort stopped them at the top of the stairs
and waved Senator Stevens on alone. He walked across the deck,
trying not to notice the men with machine guns standing on either
side of his host.
    “Senator Stevens,” greeted the man, sounding
relaxed. He shook his guest’s hand briefly. “Please, sit. Here,
have some champagne, you look like you could use it.”
    Senator Stevens accepted the delicate crystal
champagne flute, but just held it, as if not quite sure what he
should to do with it.
    “Mr. Lin, it’s truly my pleasure,” began the
Senator, sounding as if it wasn’t a pleasure at all. “I take it you
have the information you promised?”
    “Ahh, right to the point, aren’t you? I thought we
could at least share a drink first. But here is what you came for.”
He gracefully placed a small, USB flash drive into Senator Stevens’
plump and sweaty hand.
    “This is it? This will help me win?” He stared at
the little drive in disbelief.
    “Please let us recall, you requested some
information, something that no one else has, that could help you
win your precious election. The information you seek is on that
drive.”
    “So what is it? Dirty photos? Information exposing
bribes? What?”
    “No. What you have in your hands is a list of names.
These names will be worth more than all the money in your campaign
fund.”
    “Names? So what? Names alone won’t do me any good,”
Senator Stevens was getting angry, and losing his already strained
ability to be polite.
    Lin smiled calmly and leaned forward.
    “Your country lives in fear because of your