Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn Read Free Book Online Page A

of his shirt, and rubbed his flabby throat. “Task Force S, formerly known as the Spartan Section, has been in existence for eight years, ever since Will Cochrane passed the Spartan Program.” He pointed at Patrick. “Two years ago, Cochrane landed in your lap and needed your help. You and some of your Agency colleagues started working with the Section and as a result of that work a decision was made from on high to make the unit a British-American collaboration.” Jellicoe picked up his pen and started twirling it around his fingers. “I can give you a blow-by-blow account of the three joint task force missions you’ve conducted if you like. Actually, make that four missions, if you include Cochrane’s unsuccessful hunt for Cobalt.”
    The menace in Patrick’s voice was unmistakable as he asked, “How do you know that information?”
    For the first time since arriving in Langley, Alistair felt angry. “I too want to know the answer to that, before making a decision on whether to report you to my superiors for obtaining highly classified information without clearance to do so.”
    “Clearance?” Jellicoe withdrew a sheet of paper from his jacket, unfolded it, and placed it in the center of the table. “Your superiors?” He tapped the sheet. “You mean these guys?” He pushed the paper toward Alistair with one finger. “Take a moment to read that. Might put things in perspective.”
    Alistair read the brief note, recognized the two signatures at the bottom, momentarily closed his eyes while feeling utter dismay, and handed the letter to Patrick.
    “This can’t be possible.” The Task Force S co-head’s voice was trembling with rage and shock. He slammed the note onto the table and sat in stunned silence.
    As did Alistair. The president and prime minister had personally signed a letter stating that Project Ferryman had nearly been jeopardized by the actions of Will Cochrane and Task Force S, that an international warrant for Cochrane’s arrest had been issued and would remain in force until Cochrane was caught and dealt with away from public scrutiny, that Alistair and Patrick were to give full assistance to Senator Colby Jellicoe in his efforts to apprehend Cochrane, and that with immediate effect Task Force S was permanently shut down.
    Jellicoe grinned. “You’re lucky Ferryman’s still intact, or you would have been strung up rather than disbanded. Try and”—his smile broadened—“try to understand that Cochrane’s a dead man walking, and his bosses have just had their balls cut off.”

 
    FIVE
    E ven though the sun had started rising only minutes earlier, the occupants of the Norwegian coastal home were clearly awake, with smoke billowing from one of its chimneys and interior lights switched on. It had two small outbuildings and a barn, and in front of them a small trawler boat was moored alongside a jetty on a thin inlet of the sea. The place was in a flat valley, carpeted in snow and an icy early-morning mist, and was surrounded by hills. Will was on one of the hills, staring at the isolated encampment. He’d walked forty-two miles north to reach the location.
    Shivering violently, he watched the place for four hours, saw an older man and three younger men coming and going from buildings, and a woman and a teenage girl doing chores. Will’s physical situation was bad. He’d had no food for two days, and his weak state meant his body was struggling to generate heat.
    By midday the sun was up high in the cloudless sky but the temperature was still dreadfully cold, at least fifteen degrees below freezing. Will saw the men get into a pickup truck and drive off the property along its only track. When they were gone, Will rose to his feet, brushed snow and ice from his face, and shuffled painfully down an escarpment until he was in the valley. Keeping the outhouses between him and the main residence, he carefully moved forward, desperate not to be seen by the woman or the girl. He reached the