Angels Don't Die (Madeleine Toche Series Book 2) Read Free

conviction.
                  “He's only supposed to be training, not on a mission, if that's what they do.  Why do all you Trunce men have to find yourselves in some kind of uniform?”  Karen said, breaking eye contact, looking away, fighting her urge to cry, as she toyed with a cookie sitting on a plate in front of her.  John reached over and squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her when he was unsure himself.
                  “That was Tracy's choice.  You know you can't talk him out of anything.  He didn't just jump in without looking.  When they recruited him out of college, I gave him all the information I had.  I even got some old friends to fill him in on the real scoop before he made his decision.  He was never going to stay in Patience Missouri and hide from the world, Karen.  At least it kept him out of the draft.  If he'd even thought about volunteering for ‘Nam, Joseph and I would have tried to stop him.”
                  “I'm glad you're out,” Karen said.
                  “Three tours is enough for anyone.  I’ve had enough of war, and I’m afraid I've used up most of my nine lives.”
                  “What do we do now?  Isn’t there anyone we can contact?”  Karen said.
                  “We've both tried calling his apartment. He was training with the Mossad the last I heard.  They aren't even going to admit he exists, much less take a message for him to call his parents,” John said running one hand through his hair.
                  “Can you call someone?”
                  “I'll try a couple of old buddies who went over to the spooks.”
                  “I hate that word,” Karen shuddered.
                  “Sorry, it’s just an old army nickname for the intelligence community.  I know a few men who are still active.  It won’t be easy.  I might have to twist an arm or two.”
                  “Could Jack or Madeleine help?”
                  “If Madeleine finds out that her godson might be in trouble, you might as well unleash the hounds of hell,” John said his voice thick with warning.
                  “Oh John, it's been years since the war and her work with the Resistance.”
                  “Karen, you know I’ve never told you everything about Madeleine’s work in France in those years because it’s not mine to tell.  But she’s a professional of the highest caliber, despite her retirement these last years, and if I call her, you know she’ll come.  But not yet. Not till we know more.”
                  “Please find out as soon as you can.  This whole thing is starting to scare me. Let's at least tell Joseph.”
                  “You're right. He’d expect me to tell him as soon as I was concerned.  Joseph and I trained Tracy out in those woods,” John said gesturing out the window.  “He won’t be happy if I don't let him know.  He's smart and levelheaded and that’s what we need right now.  I’m sure he has a few contacts of his own.  We'll find a lead one way or another.”  John walked over to the wall phone, placing his hand on Karen’s shoulder as he walked behind her.
                  Joseph Harper picked up the phone on the second ring.
                  “Joseph, it's John.  Do you think you could come over, I need your advice?  Tracy's call is overdue and I'm not sure who might be able to help us with this.  It may be nothing at all, but we need to find out,” John said.
                  “I understand. I’m on my way Colonel,” Joseph said.
                  Nothing in Patience County is very far from anything else and Joseph was there within five minutes. He stepped in the door with a question, “How long since you heard from him?”
                  “It’s been