Tripoli's Target (Justin Hall # 2) Read Online Free PDF

a motherly tone. “Cairo is deadly. Sudan is deadly. All of North Africa is a death trap. The whole world is a dangerous place, George, especially for secret agents.” Johnson sighed. Her left hand jerked in a dismissive gesture. “I appreciate your concern, though.” Her voice returned to her normal tone. “Your objection to this mission is duly noted. And overruled.” Johnson’s past as a judge often returned in the form of legal jargon whenever she whipped her subordinates like she used to lash at contemptuous counselors in her courtroom.
    “Justin and Carrie,” she continued, “our contacts in the Egyptian Air Force should be able to provide you a safe passage across the border and a safe insertion into Sudan. I’ll get in touch with them.”
    Justin nodded.
    “The sheikh’s message indicates the drop-off area is about sixty miles south of the Egyptian border. We need to find a neutral intermediary escort to take you to the meeting place.”
    Justin pondered the possibilities. The escort would have to be a local warlord with great authority in the area. But his authority could not be too strong, or the sheikh might consider it a threat to his own safety.
    Justin nodded. “I know a few people, gunrunners in the area. The name of Ali Abd Alraheem comes to mind. If he’s still alive.”
    “I don’t recall him.” Johnson rubbed her temples.
    “I last worked with him three years ago.”
    “OK, see if he can serve as the go-between and let me know. The sheikh expects an answer in the next hour.”
    “He will get one.”
    “How do we know we can trust this man, Ali?” George asked.
    Justin said, “We don’t know and we can’t trust. Unless a man has taken a bullet for you, never put your trust in them. You’ll be disappointed and you could end up dead. I have worked with Ali but we’re still going down there with eyes wide open.”
    A moment later, a stern frown covered his face.
    “What is it, Justin?” Johnson asked.
    “The change of plans and this detour.”
    “Take care of this matter and then you’re off to your sailboat,” Johnson said, faking a smile.
    “Yeah, my deposit is nonrefundable,” Justin replied with a grin.
    He could not care less about the three-thousand dollar deposit for the forty-two-foot cutter. Justin was worried about disappointing Anna, his fiancée, whom he had promised a ten-day sail in the Caribbean on the eve of her thirtieth birthday. Anna used to work for CIS Legal Services in Ottawa, and their bond was forged during the eventful Arctic Wargame operation. To avoid any conflicts of interest, Anna had moved on to become an in-house counsel for the Canadian bivision of Vigorsoul Pharmaceuticals. Two weeks away from her desk almost never happened.
    “If you’re quick, you can wrap this up by tomorrow at noon,” Johnson said.
    “I’m planning to,” Justin said.
    “When’s your flight out of Cairo?”
    “6:00 p.m.”
    “Yeah, you can make it.”
    Justin nodded. “Anything else?”
    “No, I don’t think so. Let me know when you’ve heard from Ali, or if not from him, your other contacts on the ground.”
    “By all means,” Justin replied.
    “Perfect.”
    Johnson turned off the satellite feed and the screen went black.
    George signed them out of the connection with a big sigh. “What was that? You have a death wish?”
    “Relax, George,” Carrie said. “Nobody’s going to die. Well, at least we’re not.”
    “You’re crazy, going all alone into the lion’s den.”
    “Listen, the sheikh could have killed us today, if that’s what he wanted,” Justin said calmly. “I don’t think we’ll be of much use to him dead. He wants to talk. We want to listen.”
    “We’ll fly down there and learn about this assassination plot,” Carrie said.
    George threw his arms up in the air. “Do as you wish,” he said. Then he added with a sigh, “The two of you always do.”
    Justin stood up. “Thanks, boss. We’ll bring back the intel. Now I’ve got