Twisted Path by Don Pendleton Read Free Book Online Page B

paperwork required by any large bureaucracy.
    One folder held a manual on "The Guardian Model II The Latest in AntiIntruder Technology." Very little of the data was even remotely connected to case work.
    However, there was one grain of gold among the slag. A slim file held a list of all long-distance calls for the past six months, obtained from the telephone companies. The agents hadn't bothered to identify the people or corporations that had received the calls.
    The numbers ranged through several dozen area codes on almost every continent. Three pages into the file, two of the calls leaped off the page.
    The numbers rang a phone somewhere in Lima, Peru. Bolan copied them and left the office.
    Back at the hotel, he made an information call to Washington concerning the Peruvian number.
    A ring back a short while later informed him that the number belonged to the Lima Farm Import Company. There was no data whatsoever available on the company, its operations or its personnel.
    Bolan smelled a front, a dummy company set up for one purpose only to smuggle arms into Peru. He had to decide now how best to proceed so that he wouldn't spook the game before the hunt was truly in progress. One false move and the connection would be buried. Then it would be back to square one.
    Lima was three hours ahead of San Francisco. A quick check of his watch told Bolan it would be 9:15 in Lima. He dialed the number and the phone rang once. A pause. And again.
    A soft-spoken woman answered the phone.
    "Hello."
    "Let me speak to Senor Estevan." Bolan planned to brazen it out. A little boldness sometimes worked wonders.
    The woman at the other end was clearly puzzled.
    "There is no Senor Estevan here. You must have the wrong number."
    Quickly, before she could hang up, Bolan took back the initiative. "This is the Lima Farm Import Company, is it not?"
    "Why, yes, but..."
    "Then I must have the right number but the wrong name. I'm really not very good at all with names. What is your boss's name, anyway?"
    "Why, his name is Jorge Carrillo. But he is not in yet."
    Bolan smiled to himself. He had been counting on it being a bit too early in the morning for the boss to show up. He could have handled Carrillo, but it simplified matters this way. "Never mind. I'll call back, Senorita..."
    "Antonia de Vincenzo."
    Bolan dialed again, this time to the McIntyre Arms Corporation. He asked for the shipping department. A bored male voice answered.
    "Shipping."
    "I'm calling from the Lima Farm Import Company. My last order is overdue. Could you please verify the shipping details?"
    "All right, hang on." The voice sounded dubious, and the line went dead as Bolan was placed on hold. "There's no order here for anywhere in Peru."
    "Are you sure?"
    "I checked twice, mister. That's why I took so long. Did you think I was having a coffee break or something?" Then the shipping clerk hung up.
    Bolan would now have to try the front door. He sighed and called the arms company again. "May I please speak to Senor McIntyre? I'm calling long distance."
    "Cameron McIntyre." The strong voice was brusque and clipped.
    "Senor McIntyre, I'm calling from the Lima Farm Import Company in Peru. Senor Carrillo regrets that he is unable to call you himself but sends his greetings. I'm his assistant."
    "Senor Carrillo is not well?"
    "No, sir. He is fine, but unfortunately finds himself out of the country for several weeks. He has left me to attend to matters in his absence."
    "You speak excellent English."
    "I was fortunate enough to spend many years in your delightful country."
    McIntyre didn't seem happy to talk to the supposed Peruvian. Things were balanced on a knife's edge. Any slip, and Bolan would have to go fishing again with stronger bait.
    After a pause that indicated an inner struggle, McIntyre finally asked how he could be of help.
    "We have had a small problem here and many of our records were destroyed. We no longer have the specifics of your next shipment to us. It would be most