There Will Be Killing Read Online Free PDF Page A

office.
    First Lieutenant Terry Carver, fresh out of West Point, had the bad luck to be assigned desk duty for the 8th but it hadn’t dampened the enthusiasm with which he greeted them.
    â€œHi Gregg, what’s up?”
    â€œGot some new guys to meet the CO. Is he available?”
    â€œYes, but only briefly. He’s flying up to Cam Rahn.”
    â€œGlad to be brief,” Gregg assured Terry, then made the intros all over again.
    â€œThis is a really great place,” Terry told them. “You are lucky to be here.”
    Izzy gave Gregg a look that said, how can anyone be enthusiastic about anything here except leaving?
    Gregg gave Izzy an encouraging smile. One that grew broader at the sight of Colonel Alistair Kellogg. Posing beside a bookcase, dressed in full combat regalia and wearing a double holstered gun belt, he looked more like Hopalong Cassidy in the jungle than General George Patton.
    Gregg rapped sharply on the open door. “Excuse us, sir, do you have a minute?”
    â€œHello. . .” The Colonel paused to artificially deepen his voice. “Well, hello there soldiers, of course I do. You shrinks saving the war for us?”
    â€œSir, we are trying, and the good news is that we have reinforcements.” Gregg nodded to his companions. “I’d like you to meet the good news that arrived this morning.”
    Kellogg threw his arms open wide. “Welcome, welcome gentlemen. Do a good job, as I expect you will and no less. You both are new to the military, I presume?”
    Izzy found his voice again, stronger now. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œGood, good. There is no greater service for the country than being men in arms.” Kellogg adjusted his gun belt. “I’m heading up to Cam Rahn, inspecting the troops, keeping the morale up, you know. The men need to see me there.”
    Casually Gregg asked, “Are you golfing, sir?”
    â€œWell. . .” Kellogg gave a little shrug. “I may be taking the clubs in case the General is there, of course. But this is essentially a combat mission.” Acknowledging Mikel for the first time he asked, “Do you golf?”
    Mikel closed the door. He then deposited himself in the closest chair facing Kellogg’s desk and extended an invitational hand to the other side of the polished oak.
    â€œSit down, Colonel.” When the ranking officer didn’t immediately respond to his directive, Mikel reiterated, “Please, have a seat. You have golf, I have work. Time is short.”
    â€œHave you gone nuts?” Gregg wasn’t too high on ranking systems in or out of the military, but you could get in a lot of trouble for insubordination, especially in uniform. “I’m sorry Colonel, he just got here and must be a little disoriented. You know the heat and all. I’m sure no disrespect is intended.”
    â€œI should say so,” blustered the Colonel, his voice rising to its higher pitch. “Get out of my chair. You are in my army now, soldier!”
    Mikel tossed an envelope marked TOP SECRET onto the clear, flat surface of his desk.
    â€œNo, not really, Colonel,” he said evenly. “These documents are for your eyes only. It’s an official introduction, but I believe that General Glen Claiborne at MACV headquarters has contacted you already—and you in turn must have prepared Col. Kohn given his appropriate response to my arrival.”
    â€œThen you’re CIA? The spook?”
    â€œBoo.”
    Kellogg made tracks in the direction Mikel had indicated and eagerly tore open the envelope. Mumbling as we went, he devoured more than read the contents. Eyes alight, Kellogg possessively gripped the official documents, flashed a gleeful smile that was at odds with his suitable chagrin.
    â€œMy apologies Agent Mikel, I wasn’t expecting you just yet.”
    â€œGiven the severity of the situation, I expedited my arrival prior to speaking with the General again.