Scorpion Deception by Andrew Kaplan Read Free Book Online Page A

trusted?”
    â€œYou still don’t get it, asshole,” Soames said, a nasty smile playing on his lips. “That’s not why I’m here. We’re doing you a favor, courtesy of Bob Harris and Dave Rabinowich. They think you deserve it because of past service and because maybe, just maybe, you’ll be of use again. But just between us girls, there’s some of us who would be happy to leave a prima donna like you hanging out in the cold.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    â€œThey got your name too, Scorpion. You’re on the list.”
    Christ, he thought, looking out the window at people at outside tables, talking and eating, everything smelling of Tandoori and curry, as though the world was a rational place.
    â€œHow bad?” he asked finally.
    â€œRemember the Kilbane cover?” On the Ukraine operation, the Company had supplied Scorpion with cover ID as a journalist named Michael Kilbane working for Reuters out of London. He had jettisoned the cover during the mission, but now, because of an entry on a computer in Bern, it was coming back to haunt him.
    â€œThey got my picture? They know what I look like?” He felt a shiver go up his spine. When he was a child, the Bedouin said it meant someone was weeping over your grave.
    Soames nodded. “Just the cover and the code name, ‘Scorpion.’ Nothing else, except . . . ” He hesitated. “Langley checked the backup server. They got the Kilbane photo.”
    Scorpion stared coldly at him. Somebody who was good enough to take out a fortified U.S. embassy guarded by Marines and all the high tech in the world now had him on an enemies list, and they knew his code name and what he looked like. It was bad enough.
    â€œJust answer me one question,” he said through clenched teeth. “What the hell was it doing in an embassy file— in Switzerland! ”
    â€œThe latest re-org. We’re all supposed to share information. Hold hands and play nice. No more 9/11s. All very Kumbaya. Total crapola. Welcome to the new improved, better-than-ever Washington,” raising his Tusker in a mock toast and taking a long swig. “Where the hell’s that waiter? I want another of these—or . . .” He squinted suspiciously at the bottle. “ . . . is it going to give me the Nairobi runs?”
    Scorpion got ready to go. Soames looked at him.
    â€œWhat do I tell Bob Harris?” he asked.
    â€œTell him to kiss off.”
    â€œThe administration’s going to take it to the U.N. Security Council, as if it matters what those jerk-offs do,” Soames murmured, not looking at him. “There’s gonna be a war.”
    â€œWith whom?”
    â€œWe’ll find out who did it. Trust me. And when we do . . .” Soames said, balling his fist.
    â€œGo ahead. Knock yourselves out. It’s got nothing to do with me.”
    â€œThey’re talking about going to Congress for a declaration of war. Nobody’s done that since Roosevelt. Pentagon’s gearing up, but it isn’t just about finding out who did it. We need proof for the whole world. No more screw-ups. Bob really needs you on this one,” Soames said, putting on his best win one for the Gipper expression.
    â€œTell Harris he’s a big boy. He needs to learn how to cross the street by himself for a change,” Scorpion said, getting up.
    â€œWhat will you do?” Soames said, staring blankly at the floor as though he wasn’t relishing reporting a wasted trip to Harris. “About Kilbane and all?”
    â€œI’ll take care of it.”
    â€œHow?” Looking like a kid who had lost his lunch money. “They’ll ask.”
    â€œYeah,” Scorpion said over his shoulder. “But I don’t have to answer.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    Hamburg,
    Germany
    T he ferry left the Finkenwender dock precisely at 9:00 P.M. , heading upriver to the next stop on the Elbe River. The