Ice Woman Assignment by Austin Camacho Read Free Book Online Page A

matter of public record.”
    â€œTrue, Mister Stark,” Anaconda said with a serpentine smile. “The fact that your Irish-born partner spent years as a jewel and art thief, and is an accomplished escape artist, that is not in the public record. Nor that she has a photographic memory, and can apparently tell the time without a watch. Nor is it public knowledge that you are currently in the employ of your Central Intelligence Agency.”
    As she spoke, Anaconda played with several items on her desk. There beside Morgan’s pistol sat his two boot knives, one for throwing and one for stabbing. His larger fighting knife lay on top of its sheath. Anaconda picked it up. In her hands, its seven inch blade made it look like a short sword. “What do you call this?”
    â€œThat’s a Randall Model 1 fighting knife,” Morgan said. “It belongs under my right arm, opposite the gun’s holster. It hangs handle down in a friction sheath. You can return itnow, if you like.” That remark earned Morgan another punch in the ribs.
    â€œIs this a part of your act?” Anaconda asked, replacing the knife. She dropped to her feet and walked over to Felicity. “He talks while you sit and listen? Very good. You are all my reports said you were. You are smart, skillful, and dangerous. But not smart enough or dangerous enough to interfere with me. I wanted you to see that you can be captured, even if you can see danger coming. And you can, can’t you?”
    â€œHow is it that you’re knowing so much about us?” Felicity asked. Seated, she was almost at eye level with Anaconda.
    â€œOh I’ve been checking on you for the last two weeks, my girl,” she said, stroking Felicity’s dyed hair. “It’s really red, isn’t it?”
    â€œTwo weeks?” Felicity snapped her head back. “Bollocks! We didn’t even know you existed two weeks ago.”
    â€œAh, but I knew of you,” Anaconda said, smiling again. Her canine teeth seemed just a little too long. She reached out unexpectedly and slapped Felicity’s face, a jarring blow that whipped her head around. “Didn’t they tell you I was a priestess of the ancient religions? My slaves can see the future. Maybe if I show you, you will know not to cross my path again.”
    Anaconda raised her right hand and snapped her fingers. “Frederico,” she said. For the first time, Morgan noticed two boys crouched in the shadows in the trailer’s forward corners. One stood, the other ran to his mistress’ side. This boy was really a young man, about six feet tall with a sleek but muscular build. He had golden skin, with pure Indian features. He wore only shorts. Anaconda nodded and he knelt before her.
    Morgan saw teenage admiration in his eyes. Anacondaturned her back on her guests and guards, locking eyes with the boy. She swayed slightly, setting her hair into a smooth wave motion. The boy sat transfixed.
    â€œTell me, Frederico,” Anaconda said slowly. “Tell me, will these two bring me pain, or loss?”
    The boy stared for a moment, and then began shivering. Tremors wracked his body, as if a giant invisible fist had wrapped around his form and shook him.
    Felicity felt a chill at the bottom of her stomach. Scanning faces, she saw that ancient fears gripped every person in the room, even Morgan. Their eyes reflected folklore and legends from three continents. Witches, shamans, witch doctors, the stories are all the same. The air thickened, making the watchers strain for breath. Then, before he spoke, the boy looked at Felicity.
    She felt as if her soul were laid bare for his inspection. His captive look triggered something within her and she reached out to him, not with hatred or fear, but with pity. She saw he did not control his own destiny, and she knew how very tragic slavery could be. Then the boy’s teeth clacked. He got control of it, speaking at