Covert One 2 - The Cassandra Compact by Robert Ludlum Read Free Book Online

none. Reed's group of scientists were in top condition. One of them would literally have to break a leg in order for her to move into the slot.
     
    “The space walk can wait,” Megan said as they walked toward the trainees' quarters. “What I need right now is a hot shower.”
     
    “I almost forgot,” Reed said. “There's someone here whom I think you know.”
     
    She frowned. “I wasn't expecting anyone.”
     
    “It's Jon Smith. He arrived a little while ago.”
     
    __________
     
    Two hours after the Gulfstream had gone wheels-up from Venice's Marco Polo Airport, the pilot came into the cabin with a message for Smith.
     
    “Any reply, sir?” he asked his passenger.
     
    Smith shook his head. “No.”
     
    “The routing change from Andrews to Houston will give us another two hours of flight time. You can get some sleep if you want.”
     
    Smith thanked the pilot, then forced himself to eat some cold cuts and fruit from the galley. The message from Klein had been succinct. Given the bloody events in Venice and the nature of the material Danko had brought out with him, Klein wanted a face-to-face briefing. He also wanted to be close to the president, who was visiting Houston as a show of support for the space program, in case Smith's information had to be brought to the chief executive's attention immediately.
     
    After finishing his snack, Smith prepared his briefing for Klein. He also mapped out what he thought had to be done next and honed his arguments. Before he knew it, the jet was winging over the Gulf of Mexico on its final approach to the NASA airfield.
     
    As he saw the vast facility come into view, Smith suddenly remembered Megan Olson. The thought of her brought a welcome smile to his lips.
     
    The pilot taxied the craft to the security area where Air Force One was parked. Smith descended the steps and was met by an armed air police sergeant who drove him to the visitors' center. In the distance Smith saw the grandstands, packed with NASA employees listening to the president's address. He very much doubted that Klein would be anywhere near the center of attention.
     
    The sergeant showed him into a small office well away from the main exhibits. The place was barren except for a government-issue desk and several chairs. Klein closed the state-of-the-art laptop he had been working on and came to Smith.
     
    “Thank God you're alive, Jon.”
     
    “Thank you, sir. Believe me, I share your sentiment.”
     
    Klein never failed to surprise him. Just when Smith thought that the head of Covert-One had ice water in his veins, Klein would demonstrate genuine concern for the mobile cipher he had sent in harm's way.
     
    “The president will be leaving in less than an hour, Jon,” Klein informed him. “Tell me what happened so that I can determine whether or not to brief him.”
     
    When he noticed Smith glancing around the room, he added, “The Secret Service swept the room for bugs. You may speak freely.”
     
    Smith detailed, minute by minute, what had happened from the moment he had spotted Danko at St. Mark's Square. He noted how Klein flinched when Smith described the shooting. When he mentioned Bioaparat, Klein was clearly shocked.
     
    “Did Danko tell you anything before he died?” Klein demanded. “He didn't get the chance. But he was carrying this.” He handed Klein the page with Danko's handwriting.
     
    Bioaparat cannot go from Stage One to Stage Two. It is not a matter of
     
    money, but of inadequate facilities. Still, rumors persist that Stage Two
     
    will be completed, though not here. A courier is to leave Bioaparat no
     
    later than 4/9 with the cargo.
     
    Klein glanced at Smith. “Who's the courier? Is it a man or a woman? Who does he work for? This is maddeningly inconclusive! And what are Stages One and Two?”
     
    “They generally refer to viruses, sir,” Smith replied, then added, “I'd also like to know what the courier is bringing out. And where he's