Black Ghosts by Victor Ostrovsky Read Free Book Online Page A

The medic placed an infusion into Larry’s vein and hung the plastic container from a nail in the wall.
    â€œWell?” Edward asked as the young man packed up his things.
    â€œI don’t know.” The young man tossed his bloodied rubber gloves into a plastic bag that was full of used bandages and the like. “I did what I could. Your friend has lost a lot of blood. He has an infection. I drained the wound and the antibiotics should take care of it now. Just make sure that he’s warm, and keep a hot compress on the wound area. That should help.” His tone was that of a bored guide in some remote museum, giving the last tour of the day. He took a small cardboard box out of his backpack and placed it on the dresser. “Make sure he keeps getting liquids. Do you know how to change one of these?” He pointed to the intravenous needle in Larry’s arm.
    â€œSure.”
    â€œI left you a second bag in that box.” He headed for the door. “That’s all I have with me. If you need more, call our friends.” Edward sensed that he didn’t want to get involved.
    Edward escorted the man down, letting him out by the back door. Then he went into the dining area, where Natalie was nursing a cup of coffee.
    â€œIt’s over,” he told her. “Now it’s up to Larry.” They went back upstairs to where Larry lay sleeping.
    â€œDid he get the bullet out?”
    â€œYes.” Edward pointed to the small tray by the bed. He felt better now that it was out. The entire time the bullet was lodged in Larry’s chest, Edward had felt something pressing down on his own.
    Natalie seemed relieved too. With a sigh she sat down, pulling off her green sweater. Edward nodded toward the bathroom. “Why don’t you go take a shower, you’ll feel better.”
    She slowly got up, picking up her duffel bag on the way. Just before closing the bathroom door, she turned to him, then hesitated for a moment.
    â€œLarry is a remarkable man, to have such friends,” she finally said.
    Edward shrugged silently.
    â€œThanks,” said Natalie.
    â€œDon’t mention it.”
    The bathroom door closed behind her. Edward cleaned up the place, tossing anything that had any blood on it into the plastic bag the medic had left. This he took downstairs and buried among the half-eaten steaks and cold vegetables of the bistro’s refuse.
    Edward sat in the bedroom, listening to the water running in the shower and Larry’s slow, rhythmic breathing. It had been a long day. Edward tried to analyze his situation, only to realize he was working in a vacuum. Bits and pieces of unrelated information were running through his mind, like frantic rats lost in a maze. There were far more questions than answers, and the questions were of the worst kind: the kind that spawn more questions.
    The medic had said there was no guarantee Larry would pull through.
    â€œGoddamn it, Larry,” Edward cursed aloud through clenched teeth. “Why didn’t you fill me in when you had the chance?”

CHAPTER 3
    UN Secretariat Building, New York City
February 19
03:00 hours
    Â 
    The motorcade slid through the neon jungle like a giant boa. Two of New York’s finest, on gleaming Harley-Davidson electric-light motorcycles, led the way, leaving the UN Secretariat Building on First at 42nd Street, heading north. Three Secret Service escort cars, a black stretch limousine between them, followed the motorcycles. Two more Harleys and two unmarked NYPD squad cars brought up the rear. It was an impressive sight, all that glittering metal and chrome moving in unison, with the arrogant confidence that comes with numbers.
    Captain McPhee of the NYPD Seventh Precinct sat in the tail squad car, chewing on a cigar stub as he barked his orders into the microphone. His thick voice with its heavy New York whine filled the cockpits of both Huey police helicopters circling above, on the lookout for