The Winter Man Read Online Free PDF

not completely convinced,” he told Tony, “but we’ll go by the book. It does look suspicious.”
    They had a robot with a gripping arm. They sent it into the building to retrieve the package. It took a long time, and many spectators gathered, kept back by two more units of police who arrived to help with crowd control.
    There was a camera crew from a local television station on the scene now, and people with camera phones were snapping images to send to the media as well. Some of them were laughing. One man, a grumpy library patron, said he was going to catch cold while the police wasted their time on a bomb threat that would turn out to be a package of photographs or something equally stupid.
    As he was speaking, the robot reached the containment bin in which the bomb squad collected suspicious packages. No sooner had it gone in than there was a terrific explosion which knocked the robot onto its back and had spectators screaming and running away.
    Tony glanced at the bomb squad sergeant who grimaced. He turned to Millie. She was white-faced and sick at her stomach. If Tony hadn’t come in when he did, if she’d opened that package…
    He caught her as she slumped to the pavement.
    * * *
    When she came to, she was lying in the backseat of Tony’s rented car. He was holding a cold soft drink at her lips, supporting her with one big arm.
    â€œCome on. Take a sip. It will help,” he said quietly.
    She managed to swallow some of the fizzy liquid. She coughed. “I fainted. I never faint.”
    â€œIf somebody sent me a bomb, I’d probably faint, too,” he replied with a grin. “You’re okay. So is everybody else.”
    She looked up at him quietly. “Why?”
    The grin faded. “Some men take possession to the grave with them. John couldn’t have you. He wanted to make sure that nobody else ever did. He paid somebody a lot of money to do this. And he almost pulled it off. Now we have to keep you alive while they find out who he hired.”
    She sat up, breathing heavily. “Surely they won’t try again? They’ll know that the police are watching now.”
    â€œThe police don’t have the sort of budget they’d need to give you round-the-clock protection. The bomber will know that. Of course he’ll try again.”
    â€œHe’s already got the money,” she faltered.
    â€œI wouldn’t bet on that. More than likely, John set it up so that he can’t get it until you’re dead and the bomber has proof that you’re dead,” he told her flatly. “If a gang leader is holding the money, it will be a point of honor with him. Don’t look like that, they do have honor among themselves, of a sort. Especially if the leader was John’s friend and felt an obligation to him for some reason.”
    â€œYou knew it was a bomb without touching it,” she recalled. “How?”
    â€œIt isn’t my first bomb,” he replied. “I don’t do ordinance, but I know guys who do. I learned a lot by watching, the rest by experience.”
    She frowned. “In the Army? Or working on construction gangs?” she asked.
    He hesitated. “I work for the government, in between freelance jobs,” he said. “I’m an independent contractor.”
    â€œA what?”
    â€œI’m a professional soldier,” he told her. “I specialize in counterterrorism.”
    She was very still. Her pale eyes searched his dark ones. “Did your foster mother ever know?”
    He shook his head. “She wouldn’t have approved.”
    â€œI see.”
    His eyes narrowed on her averted face. “You don’t approve, either, do you?”
    She couldn’t meet his eyes. She rubbed her cold arms. “My opinion wouldn’t mean anything to you.”
    She climbed out of the car, still a little rocky on her feet. He steadied her.
    â€œYou need to get your coat and your purse