There Will Be Killing Read Online Free PDF

Do you mind telling him I’m here when you see him later today?”
    â€œOf course, my pleasure, and. . .did the General mention me to you by name?”
    Gregg was wondering what shifty mental calculations were going on behind the cool shades that gave Mikel the unfair advantage of looking out without others looking in, when he removed the aviators and hung them from his shirt front, just like a regular guy. His face was an open book, pleasant as his reassurance.
    â€œOf course he did, Colonel.” Just J.D.—oh yeah, he was definitely playing that good buddy calling card now—clasped his hands on the desk, leaned forward. So earnest, no one could doubt it, especially an ambitious officer whose time to make general was running out. “In fact, Glen suggested we choose this hospital because you are in charge.”
    Kellogg’s beaming smile said he’d just had his highest hopes confirmed.
    â€œAll right, all right, very good then. Now, what is ourmission?”
    â€œIt seems, Colonel, that someone out there is killing our soldiers.”
    Gregg nearly choked on a laugh. At least the guy had an appreciation for the absurd. “Excuse me, but wouldn’t that be the enemy, the VC?”
    Mikel cut his attention to Gregg. “Not exactly.”
    â€œBoogeyman,” Izzy blurted. “The Ghost Soldier.”
    â€œVery good, Dr. Moskowitz. No wonder you were top of your class.”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” was all Gregg could say. The whole thing was just too crazy. And boy, did he know crazy. “This is not for real.”
    â€œI can assure you, Dr. Kelly, it is indeed for real. Otherwise, I would not be here. The government does not assign me to bogus missions.”
    Gregg pressed a hand over his eyes. He removed it and Mikel was still there.
    â€œIn that case. . .this is going to make a big difference in how we”—he pointed to Izzy, clearly leaving the bogus amongst them out—“and the other doctors handle our previously considered delusional patients.”
    Mikel stood. He was a little taller than Gregg but not by much, and yet he projected a Jolly Green Giant stature, only not nearly so jolly or green. “You will not be telling anyone about any of this. None of you will. We can’t risk anything getting back to the nightly news back home.”
    The sound of a second hand on a clock somewhere in the silent room measured off several ticks before Kellogg got up to speed.
    â€œActually, I think being on TV might be just the ticket, I could put out some interviews and—” Kellogg suddenly stopped as Mikel stared him down with those emerald eyes that could slice diamonds.
    â€œOf course,” Kellogg mumbled, “not a word leaves this room.” He gazed at the top secret documents as if his hopes for an exclusive with Walter Cronkite had just kissed a landmine goodbye—then pushed the papers back into the envelope.
    Kellogg wore the look of a man who had lost some of his pride and felt naked without it. “Why are you here?” he asked briskly, then quickly followed up with a disdainful sweep of his hand toward Gregg and Izzy. “And what are you doing with these people?”
    â€œThe thinking is Colonel, as you probably would have concluded yourself with the appropriate information, is that this ‘Ghost Soldier’ is either part of a successful Russian or Chinese psyops maneuver, or one of our own gone rogue. Unfortunately, there is the possibility the killer belongs to us due to a disturbingly similar pattern of violence that previously occurred.”
    â€œWhen?” Kellogg demanded. “Why didn’t I hear about it?”
    â€œBecause it never happened—just as this will never have happened. But I will tell you in strictest confidence that a man was removed from the field five years ago, placed in the Madigan General psychiatric lockdown unit, and apparently being both