The Bourne Betrayal by Robert Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader Read Free Book Online

Bourne’s. “He’s provided us with credible evidence that the chatter is real, that an attack against one of three major cities in the United States-D.C., New York, L.A.-is imminent. Worse still, this attack involves a nuclear bomb.”
    The DCI took a package off a nearby sideboard and handed it to Bourne.
    Bourne opened it. Inside was a small, oblong metallic object.
    “Know what that is?” Lerner spoke as if issuing a challenge.
    “It’s a triggered spark gap. It’s used in industry to switch on tremendously powerful engines.”
    Bourne looked up. “It’s also used to trigger nuclear weapons.”
    “That’s right. Especially this one.” The DCI’s face was grim as he handed Bourne a file marked DEO-Director’s Eyes Only. It contained a highly detailed spec sheet on this particular device.
    “Usually triggered spark gaps use gases-air, argon, oxygen, SF6, or a combination of these-to carry the current. This one uses a solid material.”
    “It’s designed to be used once and once only.”
    “Correct. That rules out an industrial application.”
    Bourne rolled the TSG between his fingers. “The only possible use, then, would be in a nuclear device.”
    “A nuclear device in the hands of terrorists,” Lerner said with a dark look.
    The DCI took the TSG from Bourne, tapped it with a gnarled forefinger. “Martin was following the trail of an illicit shipment of these TSGs, which led to the mountains of northwestern Ethiopia where he believed they were being transshipped by a terrorist cadre.”
    “Destination?”
    “Unknown,” the DCI said.
    Bourne was deeply disturbed, but he chose to keep the feeling to himself. “All right. Let’s hear the details.”
    “At 17:32 local time, six days ago, Martin and the five-man team of Skorpion One choppered onto the upper reaches of the northern slope of Ras Dejen.” Lerner passed over a sheet of onionskin.
    “Here are the exact coordinates.”
    The DCI said, “Ras Dejen is the highest peak in the Simien Range. You’ve been there. Better yet, you speak the language of the local tribespeople.”
    Lerner continued. “At 18:04 local time, we lost radio contact with Skorpion One. At 10:06 AM
    Eastern Standard Time, I ordered Skorpion Two to those coordinates.” He took the sheet of onionskin back from Bourne. “At 10:46 EST today, we got a signal from Ken Jeffries, the commander of Skorpion Two. The unit found the burned-out wreckage of the Chinook on a small plateau at the correct coordinates.”
    “That was the last communication we had from Skorpion Two,” the DCI said. “Since then, nothing from Lindros or anyone else in the party.”
    “Skorpion Three is stationed in Djibouti and ready to go,” Lerner said, neatly sidestepping the Old Man’s look of disgust.
    But Bourne, ignoring Lerner, was turning over possibilities in his mind, which helped him put aside his anxiety regarding his friend’s fate. “One of two things has happened,” he said firmly.
    “Either Martin is dead or he’s been captured and is undergoing articulated interrogation. Clearly, a team is not the way.”
    “The Skorpion units are made up of some of our best and brightest field agents-battle-hardened in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq,” Lerner pointed out. “You’ll need their firepower, believe me.”
    “The firepower of two Skorpion units couldn’t handle the situation on Ras Dejen. I go in alone, or not at all.”
    His point was clear, but the new DDCI wasn’t buying it. “Where you see ‘flexibility,’ Bourne, the organization sees irresponsibility, unacceptable danger to those around you.”
    “Listen, you called me in here. You’re asking a favor of me.”
    “Fine, forget Skorpion Three,” the Old Man said. “I know you work alone.”
    Lerner closed the file. “In return, you’ll get all the intel, all the transportation and support you need.”
    The DCI took a step toward Bourne. “I know you won’t pass up the chance to go after your