Necessary Retribution Read Free Page A

and the intelligence operation.
    “Basically, Burke and Rocky are going to split the world in half. Burke will take Europe, Africa and Canada. Rocky will take Asia, the Middle East and South America. Ernie and I will cover the U.S. and Mexico. We already have a worldwide list of potential contacts with the CIA stamp of approval. All of them are disabled military or law enforcement, but each team will run a background, and investigate the potential contact by reputation and surveillance.”
    “Are these guys going to be part of our company?” Mark Warren asked.
    “Yes, their primary job will be to find interesting products for us to import and markets for our American products. They'll also set up networks for product gathering and distribution.”
    “What about the other side of the business?” Emmett asked.
    “They'll be our in-country experts and our channels to contact reliable assets during our operations. We want to be damn sure they're reliable and have the integrity we need. Once you complete your investigation, I come in and close the deal. Any questions?” No one spoke up. “All right, Burke and Rocky get moving. We're burning daylight.”

T HREE
    ON A PLEASANT FALL EARLY AFTERNOON in Le Crotoy, France, Robin sipped coffee at an outside table of the Les Tourelles Hotel. He looked out over the sandy estuary where the River Somme met the English Channel and breathed in the moist, salty air. The bright sun warmed the cool fall air. The man he waited for limped around the corner and eased his large frame into a chair at his usual table facing the estuary. The limp came from an AK-47 round that shattered his left femur during the French Foreign Legion's campaign in Chad. Robin thought how close he had come to having a similar wound. The limp distracted a casual observer from realizing the man was in peak physical condition. He didn't acknowledge Robin's presence, but Robin knew he'd already been spotted by alert, intelligent eyes set deep into a face so black it wouldn't need camo paint on a full moon night.
    Robin rose and walked over to the other man. “Hello, I've been waiting for you.”
    “Rubbish, you people have been watching me for three days.” The deep, mellow voice carried a British accent.
    At the same time two men moved closer to them. They were intercepted in a non-threatening way by Burke Jameson and Mike Collins. The other man noticed the contact.
    “Actually, we've been watching you for three weeks.”
    The man's eyes flashed surprise.
    “Oh, it's true.” Robin smiled in a friendly manner. “We're very good at what we do. We've followed you despite the recent efforts ofyour fellow Legionnaires, but I'm happy to see the Legion's legendary emergency number still works. May I join you?”
    The Legionnaire waved Robin to a chair at his table.
    “My name is Robin Marlette. I'll get to the point. I want to offer you a job.”
    The Legionnaire's eyebrows lifted.
    “It's a legitimate job,” Robin added.
    “No danger?”
    “It can get as dangerous as you want, I suppose.”
    “Why me?”
    “My company only hires former military and law enforcement personnel who are disabled because of injuries incurred in the line of duty. So, as a disabled Legionnaire, you meet the first of our criteria. Our background investigation showed you were born in Algiers. You also have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa. The company can use your expertise and connections.
    “The company?”
    “You're also fluent in five languages.” Robin continued, leaving the question hanging in the air between them. “Most importantly, you have integrity.”
    “How did you find me?”
    “You were recommended to us.”
    “By who?”
    “Is that important?”
    “Not really. Are you CIA?”
    “No. I am the CEO of an export/import and services company.”
    The other man laughed. “You have been reading too much James Bond. What do you import and export?”
    “Anything where we can legitimately make a