The Maze (ATCOM) Read Online Free PDF Page A

pressed against the wall the best
she could without making any noise and headed for the mouth of the tunnel.
    Sitting
just inside the entrance, she propped her back against the cold wall of the
cave and withdrew her Sig from the pocket of her parka. Outside, the wind
howled through the trees. She sighed and snuggled into her parka. She knew she
should sleep, but she didn’t want to risk it. Even though she was bone-weary.
    Unwillingly,
her eyes drifted closed.
    Hot,
humid air enveloped her as she stepped out of the car Carlos had sent for her.
She tried to fight back her anxiety and elation at being chosen for this
mission. Santiago was a big catch, and if she pulled it off she would pave the
way for women in ATCOM forever. But it was more than that, it was a personal
accomplishment and one she’d worked very hard to achieve.
    The
low slung, open-air Spanish style home sprawled in front of her was
magnificent. Brightly colored flowers lined the walkway. Someone had put time
and money into the design. She had never seen anything like it.
    She
found the heat stifling compared to the cool, crisp air of the mountains, and
struggled to adjust to its thickness. Her clothes immediately clung to her,
making the silk blouse uncomfortable, but she soon forgot her discomfort as
Carlos Santiago came strolling toward her. A handsome man with dark hair, black
eyes, and olive-colored skin that reflected his heritage. He wore a white suit
tailored to fit his lean frame. Even in the heat he looked comfortable, not a
wrinkle or hair out of place.
    “Chrystal,”
he greeted, extending his arms to grip her shoulders.
    Attie
hated the name, but it fit her persona. She smiled and turned a cheek for his
kiss.
    “So
nice of you to accept my offer.”
    His
“offer” to become his mistress.
    “Come,
you must be exhausted after your journey.”
    Attie
spent the rest of the day being pampered. After a short tour of the estate,
which she mentally mapped out, she’d been whisked away to her suite to change
into a bikini that was much to skimpy for her taste, then ushered out to the
Olympic-sized underground pool for a swim. While she swam and lounged, acting
the perfect, useless girlfriend, Carlos sat with another man who kept sending
her wary glances. Like Carlos, he had dark hair and skin, and was dressed to
perfection in an expensive suit that didn’t seem to wrinkle in the humidity.
Where Carlos was graying at the temples, this man was younger by at least ten
years. Something about him made her uneasy, although she couldn’t put her
finger on what. Then again, she got the same feeling about Carlos. It wasn’t
their profession, it was something else.
    Armed
guards were posted at various areas of the fenced-in pool area. Attie had known
coming in that Santiago took security very seriously. Rogan had pulled up
satellite photos of the surveillance cameras positioned at various points of
the estate, the security system, dogs and armed guards. ATCOM suspected Carlos
was branching out from the drug trade and purchasing military weapons from the
US, but had no proof. Part of her assignment was to find it.
    The
swim cooled her off, but she was still on edge, the nerves in her stomach not
yet settled. She didn’t want to mess this up. It was her first undercover
assignment.
    Emerging
from the water with numerous pairs of eyes following her, Attie picked up her
towel and walked over to Carlos, who had motioned to her.
    “I’d
like you to meet a friend of mine. Antonio is a master of architecture. He
designed this home for me as a gift.”
    Attie
smiled and extended a hand to the younger man.
    He
stood, brought her hand to his lips and planted a kiss on her knuckles.
“Pleased to meet you, Chrystal,” he murmured, measuring her with a cool, wary
glance.
    She
made a mental note to have Noah investigate an associate named Antonio. An
architect or a cover?
    “You
did a wonderful job,” she gushed. “It’s beautiful.”
    Antonio
nodded and helped