The Pacific Conspiracy by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page A

have you told her about us?"
    Joe swallowed hard, desperately trying to think of an answer.

Chapter 8
    Joe opened his mouth with no idea of what was to come out.
    Just then Endang jumped up from the bunk and ran into his arms. She began babbling in Indonesian.
    "I do envy your skill with the ladies, Joseph," Nwali said. "One girlfriend dies, and you find another."
    Joe saw red but restrained himself from striking out at the terrorist leader. Nwali was talking about Gina, but Joe was thinking about Iola Morton, his first girlfriend. She had died in the very first encounter he'd had with the Assassins, a victim of a car bomb meant for him and Frank. He'd almost forgotten how much he hated the terrorists for that, how much he wanted to destroy them.
    He knew what he had to do.
    Joe twisted his face into a sneer and shoved Endang away from him. She landed on the cabin floor and immediately began sobbing.
    As Joe observed her he worked hard to keep himself from smiling. She should have been an actress.
    "This girl means nothing to me," he said.
    "But you know how we operate. You tell no one anything that might compromise our security." Anger crept into Nwali's voice. "You told this woman where to find us."
    "I don't understand what's happening!" Endang burst out, tears streaming down her face.
    "I made a mistake," Joe said, hanging his head.
    "You did," Nwali replied. He stared silently at Joe for what seemed an eternity. "A fatal one."
    Endang started crying again just as Bob entered the cabin.
    "Krinski is on the line. He needs to talk to you immediately."
    "Of course," Nwali said. "I'll be there in a moment."
    Bob nodded and left.
    "What do you suggest we do about your mistake, Joseph?" Nwali asked. "What do you suggest we do with this woman?"
    Boris stepped forward. "The boy is useless," he said. "Let me - "
    Nwali shook his head. "I asked Joseph."
    Joe took a deep breath. He knew what Nwali wanted him to say. He knew how the Assassins operated, and he couldn't blow his cover. That would mean not only Endang's life, but his and Frank's, too. He had no choice.
    "She means nothing to me," he repeated.
    "Good." Nwali smiled. He reached into his waistband and pulled out a small pistol. "Then you won't have any problem killing her."
    He handed the gun to Joe. "Will you?"
    Joe swallowed hard.
    "Of course not," he said.
     
    ***
     
    It had been a long time since Frank had spent concentrated time in front of a computer screen.
    He'd been running numbers for Krinski for close to three hours, keying in different variables for equations whose meanings only the scientist understood. The funny thing was, Frank wasn't bored. Two weeks playing solitaire were much more boring.
    "Three more simulations to run," Krinski announced. He pushed his chair back from his computer and came over to stand behind Frank.
    "I'm very impressed," Krinski said. "You certainly seem to know what you're doing."
    "Well, Professor," Frank said, turning in his chair and looking up at Krinski, "so do you."
    Krinski laughed. "You Americans. You're never afraid to say what you think."
    Frank laughed, too, even though he hadn't told Krinski what he was really thinking: You don't trust me, Professor, do you? You've left out any information that would help me figure out what the numbers I'm working with are intended to simulate.
    What little Frank could deduce had to do with the rate of descent of a heavy object in a sort of thick, viscous fluid. How long would it take such an object to fall if it started off at ten miles an hour, twenty miles an hour, etc. There were a number of other variables in the equations as well, but Frank had no idea what they represented.
    "I'm very pleased with the assistance you've provided me," Krinski said. "Very pleased. I may even ask Nwali to assign you to me for the duration of this mission." He folded his arms and stared at Frank. "What would you think about that?"
    Frank smiled. "That would be terrific." But not for the reasons you