This United State by Colin Forbes Read Free Book Online Page B

Newman leaned forward, grasped both feet by the crossed ankles, dropped them on the floor.
    'We don't do that sort of thing over here,' he explained. 'We like good manners.'
    'Get you nowhere. World's movin' on. Move with it or get left behind.'
    'Britain has been around for quite a time. Your lot has been on the planet only two hundred years.'
    'You're Bob Newman, the foreign correspondent. Hoped we'd get on together. Any time you want to interview me, I'm available. Might give you something to write about. They've set up an outfit at the Embassy called the Executive Action Department. Don't know what it does - if anything. You might enquire about it - just for laughs. EAD, they call it. I'm the new Deputy Director of the CIA. They handed me the job on a plate when Cord Dillon went. Don't forget. EAD.'
    'You Americans love initials,' Newman commented. 'Saves time. We like to move fast. I'm at the Embassy.' 'Maybe, Mr Osborne, you could enlighten us as to why you have come here?' Tweed suggested.
    'Sure. Why not? And who's the thin streak of a guy holding up the wall?'
    'He just called in for a cup of coffee,' said Newman. 'That I could do with myself.'
    Monica rose slowly from her chair. Tweed had nodded, his agreement. Osborne swung round in his chair, stared at her.
    'Black, honey. Don't ruin it with milk or sugar.'
    Her lips pursed, Monica left the room. I hope she doesn't put poison in it, Marler thought. Although it might not be a bad idea.
    'Why am I here?' Osborne rumbled on in his deep, aggressive voice. 'We have this special relationship with you Brits. We think it ought to be strengthened. A lot more close cooperation. A lot more exchange of information about what's really goin' on in the world. The way I see it we're natural partners. We have to sit on the same bench. Be buddies.'
    'Why?' asked Tweed.
    'We have the same problems. A lot of dangerous characters have been flooding in to your country...'
    'We have noticed,' Newman informed him.
    'Mafia men from Eastern Europe. Saboteurs from fanatic Muslim outfits. Same in the States. Sneaking in over the Canadian and Mexican borders. Take the bomb at the World Trade Center in New York. We need tough controls before both our countries go down in chaos.'
    Osborne took a gulp of the coffee Monica had put down on the desk close to him. His face screwed up and he choked briefly.
    'This is like tar.'
    'It's the strong coffee you asked for,' Monica said and sat down behind her computer.
    'Fell a friggin' ox.'
    'Watch the language,' Tweed said. 'Ladies present.' 'And they probably use worse language than I do.' 'I doubt that's possible,' Newman interjected. 'Screw yourself.'
    'If you can't control your language I suggest you get up and go,' Newman snapped.
    `Mr Osborne—' Tweed began.
    'Ed.'
    'If there are issues we should discuss I suggest we set up a proper meeting in advance.'
    'At the Embassy,' Osborne growled. 'When?'
    'When an opportunity comes up I will get in touch. Thank you for calling in to see me.'
    'Guess it's time to leave you folks.' Osborne, wearing a loose windcheater, the zip half open, exposing a wild sweater of many colours, and corduroy slacks, stood up. He was calm, stared all round, looking longest at Marler. 'I'll know you when we meet again.'
    'I'll know you,' Marler responded offhandedly.
    'At least we've got to know each other,' Osborne said, looking at Tweed. 'We'll get to know each other much better, I'm sure.'
    'Thank you again for calling in,' Tweed replied.
    'I can let myself out.' Osborne paused as he opened the door, his gaze again sweeping the room. 'Have a nice day.'

    'My God, what a bloody boor,' Paula exclaimed.
    'American,' Marler drawled. 'All brawn, no brain.'
    'I'd say,' Tweed disagreed, 'that he's highly dangerous and it would be a great mistake to underestimate him.'
    'In that case,' Newman said after a pause, 'maybe he's the man in charge of all the thugs flooding into London. He could handle that job.'
    'You may be right. That