Piranha Assignment Read Online Free PDF Page A

defense contracts, and kept in touch with the military higher ups. He seemed to still be attracted to the Army.”
    â€œSo far, it’s a pretty positive story,” Morgan said. “But what’s this all got to do with you?”
    Roberts stood and began to pace, as if he were at the front of a lecture hall. “Five years ago, Bastidas walked into the Pentagon with the design for a new weapons system that happened to fit in with the president’s strategic objectives. Because of the proprietary technology involved he’s been supervising the project personally. He’s indispensable to it. And because of the size and sensitive nature of the project, he feared that security could not be maintained in any American facility.”
    â€œRight.” Morgan stood also, to stretch his legs. “Whatever he’s doing couldn’t be done at the Skunk Works where they cooked up the U2 and the Blackbird. So he figures a remote site in the South American jungles would be better, and somehow he got the Pentagon to go along.”
    â€œI’ve been waiting for the tie in,” Felicity said.“Panama’s your province. That’s how you get into the story. So I’m taking it the D.C. boys see this Bastidas as a hero.”
    â€œHe is a hero,” Roberts said. “Believe me, this one man could be pivotal in maintaining the world balance of power.”
    â€œSo he’s got to be handled with kid gloves.” Felicity said. She fell silent for a few seconds. Morgan interrupted her introspection with one word: “coffee.” She smiled, stood, and headed for the galley kitchen on the upper level.
    â€œThere’s five more beers here, buddy,” Roberts said.
    â€œHelp yourself,” Morgan said, sitting back down. “I stop at two at a sitting.”
    â€œTwo beers? That’s not the Morgan Stark I used to know.”
    â€œThe Morgan Stark you used to know was a hell of a lot younger. To stay in the shape I was in then, to stay as sharp as I was, I had to make some, well let’s say some lifestyle modifications.”
    â€œYou know, you keep giving me reasons to question your retirement from the merc business.”
    Before Morgan could respond, Felicity returned with three cups, coffee, cream, sugar and a liquor bottle on another tray. Conversation lapsed while everyone fixed their own cups. Morgan drank coffee with no assistance. Roberts took cream with one sugar. The aroma from Felicity’s cup was just intriguing enough to catch Roberts’ attention.
    â€œYou’ve already doctored yours?”
    â€œWell, I like a wee drop of vanilla, and half a cinnamon stick,” she said while adding a couple of spoons of sugar and some cream to her cup. Then she added a splash of the liquor, and reaching over, did the same to Roberts’ cup. She took a sip from her cup and, seeing her contented smile,Roberts followed suit.
    â€œHey that’s good,” Roberts said, checking the bottle’s label. “Amaretto, eh? I’ll remember that.”
    â€œThe man has a serious ego problem,” Felicity said out of nowhere. “This Bastidas, I mean. He doesn’t need money, and it isn’t the challenge that keeps his scam alive. He just needs to keep proving to himself that he can win every time. I’ve got an idea. It won’t expose Bastidas as a con man, or expose him to any legal action, but I think it could embarrass him enough to make him close up shop.”
    â€œThen you’ll take the job?”
    â€œShe was hooked when you walked in here with the flowers,” Morgan said, laughing.
    â€œI’ll take it, if Morgan really trusts you,” Felicity said.
    â€œYou know I don’t make friends too easy, Red,” Morgan said. “This guy and I go back a long ways. I guess I trust him as much as any man alive.”
    â€œExcellent.” Felicity’s face lit up with a smile that filled the room.