The Ragnarok Conspiracy Read Online Free PDF Page A

seemed beyond frustrated. “How do they magically appear in the span of half a year in ten or twenty different places around the world, bringing down the target—often a highly protected target, by the way—without leaving any trace? Are these ninja snipers? Who funds this? What's the unifying motive for your imaginary marksmen with the special bullets?”
    Savas was silent. He didn't know if he had the words for this intuition, the connection between his own experience and the pattern he was seeing in these murders. He wasn't even sure it made sense to him. Then the word just came to his lips.
    â€œVengeance.” As soon as he spoke, Savas felt his stomach drop—he could almost feel the disbelief in the room.
    â€œVengeance, John? Who? ” asked Kanter incredulously.
    â€œI don't know , Larry! But if I struck back for everything they've done to us, it might be something like this. Hell, it might be worse.”
    The second the words left his mouth, he knew it was over. Savas knew he had blown it, shot to hell any hope of objectivity, any chance of persuading a group of analysts that he was correct. Their expressions confirmed his fears, the downward glances, no one looking him in the eye. Kanter moved quickly to resolve the issue.
    â€œJohn, we appreciate that many of us here have had personal experience with international terrorism, and we use that every day to motivate us. But we can't let it cloud our judgment. I don't like to go over this in front of everyone, but too much has been said,” Kanter noted, glancing over the table, “by too many of us here. We've ended up in no man's land of speculation, serious accusations, too much emotion, and too few facts. There's the beginning of a coherent linkage between these murders, but only a beginning. I'm torn about how we proceed. Good detective work is often shot to hell if heads are clouded by emotion.”
    Kanter seemed to mull something over in his mind, then he stood up abruptly. “John and Manuel will continue looking into this idea of a link between these murders, at least for the time being. But we'll hear no more of international death squads and the like. I've got to fly to Washington for another one of our interagency summits this weekend, and the last thing I want on my mind is wondering if my agents are out and about trying to prove the CIA or whoever is involved in an international assassination program. Honestly, folks, I'm too young for forced retirement.”
    There were nervous smiles around the room, but Savas merely stared forward, unable to focus on Kanter's words. “Let's call this a day. I'm late for a twelve o'clock. Get back to your posts and saving the country.”
    Awkwardly, the members of Intel 1 got out of their seats and headed for the door. Lightfoote brushed past Savas and whispered in his ear.
    â€œIt's OK, John. I think you're right.” She smiled blissfully at him and danced out of the meeting room. The irony was total—his main support came from the most eccentric member of this team.
    He glanced up. The room was empty. Kanter entered and closed the door.
    â€œIs there anything we should talk about?” Kanter began.
    â€œNo, Larry. Maybe I am biased on this, but you might consider that I also have an advantage.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œIf I do happen to be right, I'm the one who would understand the motives better than anyone.”
    â€œVengeance?”
    â€œYes, and more. A removal of the threat and obsessive cleansing of the world.” Hunting the monsters. Showing no mercy.
    â€œJohn, you're essentially telling me that if you are right, you'll be very right. That sort of tautology doesn't really give me much to base things on.”
    â€œI know that, Larry.”
    â€œBesides, even if you are right, I think our hands are tied.”
    Savas looked up, his brows furrowed. “Why?”
    â€œJurisdiction. If this has the scope you think it does,