Red Alert by Alistair MacLean Read Free Book Online

the shoulder. 'I'm sorry, Jacques, I didn't mean to fly off the
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    handle at you like that. I know we wouldn't have been recalled unless the situation was critical. It's just so frustrating not being able to make Carmen understand that.'
    'I don't like it any more than you do, C.W. You know how fond I am of Carmen. I hate to see the two of you like this.'
    'I know,' Whitlock said softly, then sat on the edge of the bed. 'What's the assignment?'
    Rust told him about the breakin at the plant, the stolen vial, Ubrino's demands and the death of Zocchi. 'Mike and Sabrina will be handling that side of the case. You're going undercover. We received a report today to say that Wiseman's brother is out for revenge. He's already hired a gunman to find his brother's killer.' He took a blue folder from his attache case, opened it, and handed a photograph to Whitlock. 'That's the wheelman he wants to use. His name's Reuben Alexander, a Londoner of Jamaican extraction. You're going to take his place.'
    'But I don't look anything like him. All we've got in common is that we're black.'
    'Alexander's camera-shy. In fact, he takes it to extremes. That's why we think you'll be able to pull it off without any hitches. That's a police photograph you've got there. And it's the only one they've got, apart from his official mugshots.'
    'I take it Wiseman's never met him?'
    Rust shook his head. 'Wiseman only put the scheme together when he heard of his brother's murder. Alexander's been in custody for the past fortnight. He's due in court tomorrow. That's when they intend to spring him.'
    'I don't get it, Jacques. Why not just have Wiseman and this gunman picked up until we've recovered the vial?'
    'On what charge? All we have is the word of an in43
    former. Richard Wiseman is a three-star general. He also happens to be one of America's most decorated war heroes. If we pulled him in without any evidence we'd have the Pentagon down on us like a ton of bricks. We have to keep this whole thing as quiet as possible. Imagine the pandemonium if word ever got out about the vial. This way we can make sure that Wiseman won't get under our feet. It's imperative that Ubrino's given as wide a berth as possible if we're to have any chance of recovering the vial.'
    'Who's the gunman?'
    'His name's Vie Young. They served in Vietnam together. That's all we know about him at the moment. We're having him checked out, the information will be waiting for you by the time you reach London.'
    Whitlock handed the photograph back to Rust. 'Who's my contact in London?'
    'A Major Lonsdale of Scotland Yard's antiterrorist squad.'
    'Aren't we handling the switch ourselves?'
    'Now, the British authorities wouldn't hear of it. It was either the antiterrorist squad, or nothing. We had no choice. Lonsdale will brief you further once you get to London.'
    'What time's my flight?'
    'Ten o'clock.'
    Whitlock checked his watch. 'It's gone seven-thirty already. You'll have to excuse me, Jacques, I still have to break the news to Carmen.'
    'Go on,' Rust said softly. Til see myself out.'
    They shook hands, then Whitlock grabbed the key off the dresser and left the room. He took the lift to the foyer, handed in the key, then emerged out into the cool nig! air and strode briskly to the bistro a hundred yards away
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    on the rue de Crenelle. It was exactly as he remembered it. The whitewashed exterior walls, the green and white awning over the entrance and the umbrella-shaded tables spilling out on to the pavement. He went inside. It was ,- packed. Carmen sat at the counter, tracing her finger absently around the rim of her empty glass.
    'Can I buy madame another drink?' he asked over her shoulder.
    'That's the fourth offer I've had since I came in,' she replied.
    'What Frenchman can resist a beautiful woman?' he said, trying to catch the barman's attention. 'What time are you leaving?' 'My flight's at ten o'clock. I'm sorry -- ' 'Save it, I've heard it all before,' she interceded, snap| ping