Time of the Assassins Read Online Free PDF Page B

the dossier to C.W. and Sabrina. After all, it is your dirty work.'

Bailey got to his feet and moved to the window. He puffed thoughtfully on the cigar then turned back to face Whitlock and Sabrina. 'What I'm about to tell you can never be repeated outside these four walls. It's one of the CIA's most closely guarded secrets and I intend to keep it that way. Any indiscretion on your part -'

'There will be no indiscretion on their part,' Kolchinsky cut in angrily, his eyes blazing.

Bailey shrugged, not altogether convinced by Kolchinsky's outburst. But he let it pass. 'It would never have needed to come out if Graham hadn't rushed off to Beirut to find Bernard.' He paused to draw on the cigar, still loath to reveal what he had come to say. When he spoke it was in a barely audible voice as if he feared that his words would carry beyond the four walls. 'Jean-Jacques Bernard works for me.'

'Bernard's CIA?' Whitlock said in astonishment.

Bailey nodded.

'Was he working for you when Mike's family were kidnapped?" Sabrina demanded.

'Yes,' Bailey answered then held up his hand to silence Sabrina before she could speak again. 'But the kidnapping had nothing to do with him. It was carried out on the orders of Salim Al-Makesh to give himself time to flee the terrorist base before Delta destroyed it.'

'And now Al-Makesh is dead. How convenient.'

'You can drop the sarcasm, Sabrina,' Kolchinsky said sharply, pointing a finger of warning at her.

She opened her mouth to speak, thought better of it, then slumped back angrily on the sofa and folded her arms across her chest.

'Why was Mike never told about this?' Whitlock asked, his eyes riveted on Bailey. 'He's been through hell these past two years trying to come to terms with the loss of his family. Had he known the truth it might have made his loss that bit more bearable.'

'Bernard told us what happened and as he and Al-Makesh were the only two survivors of the attack we couldn't say anything without endangering his cover.'

'You bastard,' Sabrina snarled.

Bailey inhaled sharply and glanced at Kolchinsky, fully expecting him to reprimand her again. Kolchinsky said nothing.

'What did happen to them?' Whitlock asked, breaking the tense silence.

'I don't know the details,' Bailey replied with a shrug. 'But I do know they were killed in retaliation for the attack on the base camp. That's all Bernard could find out from Al-Makesh.'

Whitlock bit his lip pensively then looked across at Kolchinsky. 'When I asked you earlier where I fitted into the assignment you said that I'd find out soon enough. There's more to this than just finding Mike before he gets to Bernard, isn't there?'

'Yes,' Kolchinsky replied bluntly then took another cigarette from the packet on the desk and lit it. He indicated towards Bailey. 'I'll let you explain.' , 'Very well,' Bailey said. 'Have either of you ever heard of Zimbala?'

'Sure,' Whitlock answered. 'It's a small country in central Africa. Borders Chad and Niger.'

'You're unusually well informed,' Bailey said with thinly veiled sarcasm.

'I am African,' Whitlock rejoined. 'Born in Kenya, but educated in England. That's where I learned about Zimbala.'

'Then you'll also know that Zimbala has been a one-party state since it was granted independence by the French forty-five years ago.'

'A dictatorship run by Alphonse Mobuto,' Sabrina said.

'Until his death last month,' Bailey said.

'That I didn't know,' Whitlock said.

'Me neither,' Sabrina added.

'It's hardly surprising. His death received very limited coverage outside Zimbala.'.

'Who's running the country now?' Whitlock asked.

'His eldest son, Jamel. He's due to arrive in New York tonight for an official three-day visit.'

'So where does Bernard fit into this?' Sabrina asked exasperatedly.

'I'm coming to that. It's Jamel Mobuto's intention to bring democracy to Zimbala. That's caused a lot of resentment within certain sections of the country, especially amongst the rich who would stand to lose a