Read Online Call to Treason by Tom Clancy, Steve Pieczenik, Jeff Rovin - Free Book Online Page A

to take their grievances somewhere else. Roughing them up cost less than attorneys and was quicker and more effective. It also circumvented the police, whose arrests merely delayed the protests but did not eliminate them.
        The work proved to be lucrative and something more. While Mandor was working in Punta Cardon, he learned that Noel had married the stupid jock he'd taken apart. Probably because she felt sorry for a guy who now had only one functioning eye. Each time Mandor hit someone, he was smacking that swaggering linebacker. Some people would call that sociopathic. To Mandor, it was cathartic. He felt that if everyone enjoyed their work as much as he did, the world would be a better place.
        The door opened, and a short, well-dressed man stood inside. He was in his late twenties or early thirties, with straw-colored hair and a baby face.
        "Mr. Stone?" Richmond said.
        "Yes. You are Mr. Richmond?"
        Richmond nodded. Stone looked at Mandor.
        "Mr. Mandor?"
        "Yeah," Mandor said. He could not say "Yes sir" to this kid.
        "Come in," Stone said as he stepped aside.
        Richmond entered first. "So how do you know Pete?" he asked as he stepped into the small foyer.
        Mandor walked in, and Stone shut the door behind him. The room was medium-sized, with a king-size bed, a kitchenette, and a small dining area. The drapes were drawn, and all the lights were on.
        "Before I answer, would you mind if I did a Raw scan?" Stone asked.
        "What's that?" Richmond asked.
        "A check for radio waves," Stone said. "I want to make sure you're not broadcasting to someone on the outside."
        "Fair enough," Richmond said.
        Mandor shrugged.
        Stone went to the luggage stand at the foot of the made bed. He removed a device that looked like a small flashlight with an earplug.
        He put the plug in his ear and slowly shone a cone of pale yellow light down each man in turn. He seemed satisfied with the results.
        "Would either of you care for something?" Stone asked. "A beverage?"
        "I'm okay," Richmond said.
        "Me, too," Mandor told him.
        "Tell me about Pete," Richmond went on.
        "Peter is an old friend of my employer." Stone drew a cell phone from the inside left pocket of his tailored black blazer. "You may phone Peter if you wish. He will vouch for us."
        "I already spoke to him," Richmond said. "He told me you were okay, but he did not tell me who you work for. Or what you want."
        "Or what it pays," Mandor added. That was the only thing he cared about. If the price was right, he would pretty much do anything for anyone.
        Stone sat in one of two wicker chairs beside a small dining area table.
        He invited the other men to sit. Richmond took the other chair. Mandor perched on the edge of the bed.
        "I work for a gentleman who is an intelligence officer and political activist who has a great many supporters in the international business sector," Stone said. "Peter Farmer is one of those men. When the time comes to tell you more, you will be very proud to be a part of what we are doing."
        "Will we?" Richmond said laconically.
        "That's assuming we decide to become a part of this," Mandor said. He did not know what Richmond was thinking, but Mandor did not agree to anything blindly. "You want us to trust you, but you're not trusting us."
        "An employer's prerogative," Stone said.
        "We're not employees yet," Mandor said.
        "True," Stone said. "Let's see if we can remedy that."
        Stone was smooth, probably a lawyer. Mandor did not like him. The young man smiled confidently as he slipped a slender hand into his shirt pocket. He withdrew a small manila envelope and placed it on the table. The package clanged lightly.
        "There are two keys inside," Stone said. "One of them operates a charcoal gray Dodge van on the