Read Online A Spy in the Shadows (Spy Noir Series Book 1) by Randy Grigsby - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Randy Grigsby
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briefcase, prepared to leave when a short, thick man strolled into the office, hands in his pocket. He seemed surprised to see Salinger.
“Sorry,” he said tightly, “didn’t mean to interrupt.” He glanced quickly around the room. “Has the major reported in this morning?” he asked as if expecting Fields to rise out of a chair or walk around the corner.
Salinger walked up to him. “No, he hasn’t. Who are you?”
“Lawrence . . . Larry Card.” He offered his hand.
“You’re American?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You know the major?” Salinger asked.
“We worked together over the last two months. Had the occasional drinks.” Sensing something wrong, he pulled back. “Where is the major?”
“What is you r purpose in Cairo, Mr. Card?”
“I don’t think I want to answer any more questions until you tell me what’s going on.”
“I work for the British government. Major Fields was murdered outside Tehran two nights ago.”
Card’s face slackened. “I wouldn’t have known . . . I was away on business since the middle of last week. Do you mind if I sit down?”
Salinger gave him a moment to gather himself. “Now . . . what is it that you do, Mr. Card?”
He was rubbing his forehead. “I’m an engineer.”
“With the British military?”
“International Business Machines. We set up secure lines in several rooms. Of course, we have to change out the wiring. This building used the French 12-volt systems, so we converted it to 110-volt. The army brought in some old German equipment. We wired that up.”
“Where did you do all this work?”
Card nodded. “Here in the major’s office. And a communications room down the hall.”
“Anywhere else?”
“You mean in Cairo? No.”
“Besides here in Cairo, Mr. Card?”
“Three of my men were sent to Tehran two weeks ago. They’ve since completed their job and they’ve been flown back to England.”
“Do you ever go to Tehran?”
Before he could answer, Mrs. Perkins entered suddenly. “Mr. Card, I didn’t know you had returned.”
Card told her, “Got back late last night . . . were you aware about Fields?”
“A dreadful business, yes.” She touched his arm. “Let’s not bother Mr. Salinger any longer, he’s quite busy.”
“We were just discussing—”
“I know, Mr. Card, perhaps later. Let’s get you some tea. I imagine this has been all such a shock to you.”
They started out of the room when Card turned. “You’re going to find out who did this, aren’t you?”
“I’ll do my best,” Salinger said. “I’d like to talk to you later.”
“Later,” Mrs. Perkins said leading Card by the arm toward the door. “I hope you have all the information you need, Mr. Salinger.”
“You’ve been helpful, Mrs. Perkins,” he said.
After they were gone, Salinger stood at the door studying the office. Something was askew. Or maybe it was the fact nothing was really out of line at all, that everything was too organized, as if it had all been prepared for him. Yes, that was it. As if everything had been prepared for his review, everyone rehearsed for his interviews.
Except for Larry Card. Meeting the engineer was never supposed to happen, Salinger was certain of that.
-Six-
Tehran.
“And why are you interested in Major Benjamin Fields, Mrs. Boland?” Allen Miles, chief civilian embassy officer, sat opposite Leni across his desk. He was tall, light brown hair combed perfectly, intelligent eyes and a precise analytical mind—except when he was in her presence. Then, he became a foolish schoolboy.
Leni knew Miles actually considered himself a good friend of her husband, and he sometimes carefully plotted out schemes to flirt with her at embassy gatherings. Her husband considered Miles one of those ‘undisciplined civilians’ he had to deal with during conducting
“Sorry,” he said tightly, “didn’t mean to interrupt.” He glanced quickly around the room. “Has the major reported in this morning?” he asked as if expecting Fields to rise out of a chair or walk around the corner.
Salinger walked up to him. “No, he hasn’t. Who are you?”
“Lawrence . . . Larry Card.” He offered his hand.
“You’re American?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You know the major?” Salinger asked.
“We worked together over the last two months. Had the occasional drinks.” Sensing something wrong, he pulled back. “Where is the major?”
“What is you r purpose in Cairo, Mr. Card?”
“I don’t think I want to answer any more questions until you tell me what’s going on.”
“I work for the British government. Major Fields was murdered outside Tehran two nights ago.”
Card’s face slackened. “I wouldn’t have known . . . I was away on business since the middle of last week. Do you mind if I sit down?”
Salinger gave him a moment to gather himself. “Now . . . what is it that you do, Mr. Card?”
He was rubbing his forehead. “I’m an engineer.”
“With the British military?”
“International Business Machines. We set up secure lines in several rooms. Of course, we have to change out the wiring. This building used the French 12-volt systems, so we converted it to 110-volt. The army brought in some old German equipment. We wired that up.”
“Where did you do all this work?”
Card nodded. “Here in the major’s office. And a communications room down the hall.”
“Anywhere else?”
“You mean in Cairo? No.”
“Besides here in Cairo, Mr. Card?”
“Three of my men were sent to Tehran two weeks ago. They’ve since completed their job and they’ve been flown back to England.”
“Do you ever go to Tehran?”
Before he could answer, Mrs. Perkins entered suddenly. “Mr. Card, I didn’t know you had returned.”
Card told her, “Got back late last night . . . were you aware about Fields?”
“A dreadful business, yes.” She touched his arm. “Let’s not bother Mr. Salinger any longer, he’s quite busy.”
“We were just discussing—”
“I know, Mr. Card, perhaps later. Let’s get you some tea. I imagine this has been all such a shock to you.”
They started out of the room when Card turned. “You’re going to find out who did this, aren’t you?”
“I’ll do my best,” Salinger said. “I’d like to talk to you later.”
“Later,” Mrs. Perkins said leading Card by the arm toward the door. “I hope you have all the information you need, Mr. Salinger.”
“You’ve been helpful, Mrs. Perkins,” he said.
After they were gone, Salinger stood at the door studying the office. Something was askew. Or maybe it was the fact nothing was really out of line at all, that everything was too organized, as if it had all been prepared for him. Yes, that was it. As if everything had been prepared for his review, everyone rehearsed for his interviews.
Except for Larry Card. Meeting the engineer was never supposed to happen, Salinger was certain of that.
-Six-
Tehran.
“And why are you interested in Major Benjamin Fields, Mrs. Boland?” Allen Miles, chief civilian embassy officer, sat opposite Leni across his desk. He was tall, light brown hair combed perfectly, intelligent eyes and a precise analytical mind—except when he was in her presence. Then, he became a foolish schoolboy.
Leni knew Miles actually considered himself a good friend of her husband, and he sometimes carefully plotted out schemes to flirt with her at embassy gatherings. Her husband considered Miles one of those ‘undisciplined civilians’ he had to deal with during conducting
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