Major (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 5) Read Free Page A

spy!
    The more he tried to act normally, the more awkward he felt.  Finally, he just decided to speed up his pace and get into his apartment, ignoring his meager repertoire of trade craft, such as making sure he was not being followed.  Fifteen minutes later—fifteen stress-filled minutes when he kept expecting a hand on his shoulder and a voice telling him he was under arrest—he gratefully entered his apartment.
    The residences of the foreign delegations were traditionally sacrosanct from surveillance.  Ryck didn’t trust that, however, and neither did the embassy.  Each apartment and the ambassador’s residence were scanned daily for bugs.  Despite his lack of trust, though, Ryck was not going to wait to go to the embassy and into the vault before seeing just what was in his hand.  He was dying with curiosity.
    He unfolded his hand, and there, stuck to his palm, was what looked like a fat grain of rice.  Ryck’s heart fell.  Could this simply be the remnants of the guy’s lunch that had accidently transferred to Ryck when they collided?
    He took a closer look, and he didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed when he saw a slight seam in the small item.  He went to his kitchen drawer and took out a small knife, edging its tip into the seam.  The tip slid in a millimeter, and the small object suddenly unfolded.
    Could they make the writing any smaller? he wondered as he squinted his eyes and tried to read what was written there.
    He gave up and looked for anything to magnify the writing.  He had nothing.  He could take it to the embassy, but he was burning with curiosity.  Finally, he took his PA and shot a picture of the writing, then blew the image up.  He knew he should not have recorded the image in any way, but he figured that he could give his PA to Sherlynn in security, and she could erase all trace of the image in it.
    As he read the words on his PA, his heart started pounding.
     
    O’Brien Park.  In back of the dolphin fountain.  0125, Wednesday morning.  I have some information you will want to know.

Chapter 3
     
    “I don’t like it,” Agent Volker, the station chief said.  “With all due respect, Major Lysander is not trained in this type of operation.”
    Ryck started to protest, but Volker held up a hand to stop him before continuing, “Yes, I know you had Kindergarten in DC, but two or three weeks hardly makes you an expert.  I think that for this, Assistant Secretary Adomshick is far better suited.”
    Alden Adomshick, officially the Assistant Secretary for Agriculture, but in reality Volker’s number three man, nodded his agreement, as did LTC James and Major Rychmont, the two FDC reps at the meeting.
    The chargé d'affaires looked at the gathered men from over his folded fingers, and then asked CAPT Franks, “What do you think, George.  He’s your man, after all.”
    “Major Lysander does not have the experience as a spook, that’s true.  But as you know, sir, the major has a unique reputation.  It is very likely that this contact occurred only because of that reputation.  If someone is willing to come to our side, then it makes sense that he would approach the major.  And if the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, a nobody—no insult intended, Alden—shows up instead, then he might bolt.  He approached Major Lysander for a reason, and I don’t think we can ignore that.  I think that the major should make the meeting.  Then, if this is a live resource, the handling can be turned over to someone less, shall we say, conspicuous?”
    “I still think it’s a bad idea.  It’s too dangerous,” Volker stated.
    “And you think Major Lysander is afraid of a little danger?” CAPT Franks asked dryly.
    Even the two FCDC officers had to hold back a smile as Volker stammered out “Of course not!  He’s proven himself.  It’s just that he might be a little out of his league here.”
    Frankly, Ryck was out of his league as far as being a super duper spook,