The Bourne ultimatum Read Online Free PDF Page B

passed in silence as the men of the Central Intelligence Agency exchanged glances. It was as though a consensus had been reached among them without a word being said; three pairs of eyes fell on Casset. He nodded, accepting his selection as the one closest to Conklin, and spoke.
    “Alex, I agree that everything points to Carlos, but before we start spinning our wheels in Europe, we have to be sure. We can’t afford a false alarm because we’d be handing the Jackal a grail he’d have to go after, showing him how vulnerable we were where Jason Bourne is concerned. From what you’ve told us, Carlos would pick up on a long-dormant operation known as Treadstone Seventy-one if only because none of our agents or subagents has been in his personal neighborhood for over a decade.”
    The retired Conklin studied Charles Casset’s pensive sharp-featured face. “What you’re saying is that if I’m wrong and it isn’t the Jackal, we’re ripping open a thirteen-year-old wound and presenting him with an irresistible kill.”
    “I guess that’s what I’m saying.”
    “And I guess that’s pretty good thinking, Charlie. ... I’m operating on externals, aren’t I? They’re triggering instincts, but they’re still externals.”
    “I’d trust those instincts of yours far more than I would any polygraph—”
    “So would I,” interrupted Valentino. “You saved our personnel in five or six sector crises when all the indicators said you were wrong. However, Charlie’s got a legitimate query. Suppose it isn’t Carlos? We not only send the wrong message to Europe, but, more important, we’ve wasted time.”
    “So stay out of Europe,” mused Alex softly, again as if to himself. “At least for now. ... Go after the bastards here . Draw them out. Pull them in and break them. I’m the target, so let them come after me.”
    “That would entail far looser protection than I envisage for you and Dr. Panov, Mr. Conklin,” said the director firmly.
    “Then disenvisage, sir.” Alex looked back and forth at Casset and Valentino, suddenly raising his voice. “We can do it if you two will listen to me and let me mount it!”
    “We’re in a gray area,” stated Casset. “This thing may be foreign-oriented, but it’s domestic turf. The Bureau should be brought in—”
    “No way ,” exclaimed Conklin. “ Nobody’s brought in outside of this room!”
    “Come on, Alex,” said Valentino kindly, slowly shaking his head. “You’re retired. You can’t give orders here.”
    “Good, fine !” shouted Conklin, awkwardly getting out of the chair and supporting himself on his cane. “ Next stop the White House, to a certain chairman of the NSA named McAllister!”
    “Sit down ,” said the DCI firmly.
    “I’m retired! You can’t give orders to me.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it, I’m simply concerned for your life. As I read the scenario, what you’re suggesting is based on the questionable supposition that whoever fired at you last night in tended to miss, not caring whom he hit, only determined to take you alive during the subsequent chaos.”
    “That’s a couple of leaps—”
    “Based on a couple of dozen operations I’ve been involved with both here and at the Department of the Navy and in places you couldn’t pronounce or know anything about.” The director’s elbows were planted on the arms of his chair, his voice suddenly harsh, commanding. “For your information, Conklin , I didn’t suddenly bloom as a gold-braided admiral running naval intelligence. I was in the SEALs for a few years and made runs off submarines into Kaesong and later into Haiphong harbor. I knew a number of those Medusa pricks, and I can’t think of one that I didn’t want to put a bullet in his head! Now you tell me there was one, and he became your Jason Bourne’ and you’ll break your balls or bust open your heart to see that he stays alive and well and out of the Jackal’s gun sights. ... So let’s cut the crap, Alex . Do