Long After Midnight Read Free Page B

come up with that word?”
    “It comes to mind every time I think of Seth.”
    “You must try it on him next time you see him.”
    “I don’t want to see him. Hell, I don’t even know where to contact him.”
    “South America.”
    “Thanks for narrowing it down.”
    “Pedro Estaban’s hotel in Venga, Colombia. Leave a message with Manuel Carrerra. Tell him it’s time. Get Seth for me, Tony. Right away.”
    “I’ll try,” he said grudgingly. “You won’t let me help, but, dammit, you don’t mind putting his neck on the line.”
    “It’s his area of expertise. He has an edge.” He smiled slyly. “He’s not a lawyer.”
    “You bastard.” Tony paused at the door and glanced back at the dossier on Noah’s desk. “You’re so concerned about keeping my ass safe. What about Kate Denby’s?”
    Noah’s expression became shuttered. “I can’t allow myself to worry about her. She’ll have to take her chances.”
    “Why?”
    “I need her,” Noah said simply.
             
    After the door closed behind Tony, Noah flipped shut the Kate Denby dossier. He didn’t want her face gazing up at him. Over the last few weeks he had become too familiar with that face. He had become familiar with
her.
    And that was a mistake.
    When he finally persuaded her to join his camp, he’d have to distance himself. Not an easy task since they’d have to work closely together, but he knew himself too well. He couldn’t let her close, couldn’t let her become a friend. If he started to worry about Kate Denby, RU2 would be endangered, and that mustn’t happen. He had to be able to use her and not worry about the consequences.
    And the consequences were beginning to loom on the horizon. He could put off Ogden for a little while, but he was like a tribe of Indians circling the wagon train. Sooner or later he’d swoop in and attack.
    And Noah had to sit on his butt and watch it coming. Wait, instead of attack. Evade, instead of rushing in and grappling toe to toe.
    He stood up and moved restlessly to the window and gazed down at the factory yard. It was almost deserted this Saturday afternoon. Only a skeleton crew was working in the east wing of the plant, where most of the production took place. J. and S. Pharmaceuticals was small but very prosperous for its size, a family business started by his grandfather and built upon by his father. A good many of the employees who worked in that building had been here while he was growing up. As a kid, he’d taken his lunch bucket and eaten down there in that yard with Pauly McGregor, who now headed production. In a changing world, this plant was a bedrock.
    His bedrock. His people.
    But RU2 might change that too. It could twist and transform everything that was important to him.
    Why was he second-guessing now? he wondered impatiently. He had made the agonizing decision two years ago when he’d realized RU2’s potential.
    There was no way he could back down now.
    RU2 must survive.
    South America
Sunday, March 25
    Seth knew that smell.
    It was a smell you never forgot.
    Goddamn Namirez.
    He moved quickly through the rain forest toward the village. No need to be silent now. Not when the smell was this strong.
    The village was silent.
    Bodies lay everywhere. Men, women, children, babies.
    Death. Mud. Stinking decay.
    Christ, even the babies.
    Namirez, you lying son of a bitch.
    A yellow-brown mongrel pup crept out of a hut, wagging its tail. It came closer, sniffing at Seth’s combat boots.
    He was surprised Namirez hadn’t butchered the animals as well.
    Son of a bitch.
    Venga, Colombia
    “You have acquired a pet, senor?” Manuel shook his head as Seth came into the lobby of the hotel a day later. “Very scrawny. I can get you a much finer animal.”
    “I like this one.” He handed Manuel the rope with which he’d haltered the mongrel. “Feed him, will you? Is Namirez in town?”
    Manuel nodded. “In the back room. Sergeant Rimilon is here too. He’s in his room.” He