Sullivan Saga 2: Sullivan's Wrath Read Online Free PDF

than the spaceport. Can you have Frank deliver the message?”
    “Yes, I’ll ask him. How long will you be?”
    “I’m about an hour outside of the city, up in the mountains. I’ll call you in half an hour.”
    “Okay. I love you.”
    “I love you, too. Move as fast as you can. And watch for a tail.”
    “I will. Goodbye, Rick.”
    “Goodbye.”
    Sullivan rounded a curve and spotted the vehicles. The damage appeared only superficial. He got into his car and started the engine. As he made his way back down the mountain, he waved at the agents handcuffed to the sign. Agent Williams acknowledged him, but not with a wave.
     

8
     
    A LIGHT RAIN was beginning to fall as Allen stepped out onto the tarmac. Dale Hammond was standing next to the ship, talking to his pilot. Allen had a brief moment of panic as he noticed Hammond’s expression. Was something wrong? Had Hammond spoken to Kate or Rick?
    Allen relaxed when Hammond looked up, smiled at him and waved him over. “Hi, Frank,” he said. “This is Paul Evans, your pilot. Paul, Frank Allen.”
    The men shook hands.
    “Standard freighter?” asked Allen.
    Hammond nodded. “But I was able to find a newer one for you, so it’ll be a bit faster than one of the older ships.”
    “Good. Thank you.” Allen glanced at Evans. “Dale, can I have a private word with you?”
    Evans, hearing the comment, excused himself.
    Allen set his bag on the ground. “Kate and Rick are safe. However, Rick had a run-in with some Bureau agents. They’ve gone to a safe house that they’d prepared months ago, and it doesn’t appear the Bureau knows where they are.”
    “Good.”
    “Of course, this means that they can’t come to the spaceport.” Allen took a scrap of paper from his pocket. “You’re going to take off at your scheduled time but make a slight detour.” He handed the paper to Hammond. “Here are the coordinates where you should meet them. By the time anyone realizes you’re off course, you’ll have picked them up and, hopefully, be making the jump to hyperspace. Kate says that you should be safe when you get back. She called in a couple more favors that were still owed her father.”
    Hammond nodded. “I’ll be sure to thank her for that.”
    Allen shifted his weight. “Look, Dale, we’ve been through quite a bit together. I wouldn’t have made it out of that ship on Edaline if you hadn’t been such a damned good pilot. I just want to thank you for that.”
    Hammond laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t have survived on the ground if it hadn’t been for you. We’re even in my book.”
    Allen nodded. “We haven’t spoken much the past few months. I’m sorry for that. I’ve had quite a bit on my mind.”
    “I understand. After the war, you finally had time to think… to mourn.”
    Allen smiled. “Thank you for understanding. Listen, the reason I’m going to Edaline….” An image of Liz flashed into his mind. He paused. “I guess the reason doesn’t matter. Let me just say I might not be coming back.”
    Hammond shook his head. “Of course you will, Frank. Next to Rick, you’re the toughest guy I know.”
    Allen lowered his eyes. “No. I misspoke. Whatever happens, I won’t be coming back. I have this one last thing to take care of for Rick, then I’ll be moving on.”
    “Where will you go? Back to Earth?”
    “Maybe,” Allen lied. “But this is goodbye, Dale. I won’t forget you.”
    Hammond held out his hand and Allen shook it. “I won’t forget you, either. Thank you for everything, Frank. Good luck.”
    “Good luck to you, too. When you see Kate and Rick later, tell them I’m sorry.”
    “Sorry for what?”
    “They’ll know. Goodbye, Dale.”
    Allen picked up his bag and, without turning back, stepped onto the freighter and hit the button on the panel beside him, closing the hatch.
     
    DALE HAMMOND SAW Kate and Sullivan jump out of the car and begin unloading their luggage. He ran toward them and took Kate’s bag. “All