Read Online Cut to the Chase by Ray Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Ray Scott
Tags: Fiction - Thriller
Ads: Link
to?â
There was a brief silence as Jack had not progressed to thinking about that step.
âAustralian Embassy,â Wallace said, whereupon the cab took off with a crash of gears.
There was a confused hubbub. Wallace wondered for a second whether they had all been hi-jacked as the cab driver careered around all corners on two wheels. They all fell about in a heap; the cab swung around three corners in quick succession and finally almost stood on its bonnet in front of an imposing building that Wallace had seen before.
âWhat the hellâ¦?â
âAustralian Embassy,â announced the driver.
âShit! Weâre here!â
They all piled out, feeling a sense of anti-climax, and went through the gates where they were accosted by an Australian soldier. Never had Wallace been so glad to see the familiar Australian Army headgear.
âWhere are you going? Who are you?â
âWe have to see Major Lincoln,â Wallace snapped, after having reached the haven successfully he had not anticipated being held up at the entrance. Besides, the other car with two men in it, the two shadows, had just drawn up in the space vacated by their cab which had taken off, while another car had drawn up from the opposite direction; there was another just arriving on the other side of the street. They all seemed to be in concert with each other, which was very disconcerting. The vehicles sat outside like ugly toads, waiting.
âWhat? All of you?â
âYes!â Wallace said shortly. These Americans had helped him out of a fix, Wallace wasnât going to abandon them now to those waiting outside, he didnât like the look of them.
Major Lincoln was far from pleased when Wallace finally sat before him in his office. He was impeccably dressed as usual, despite the late hour. His eyes wandered from Wallace to the wall and then to the finely polished hand grenade as he told him his story. Wallace wondered if he was contemplating throwing it at him.
âYou say you told these Americans that you had something?â
âYes!â Wallace answered shortly. He was fed up with the whole damned business and resolved to take the first flight out back to Australia.
âDidnât it strike you that in the circumstances it was most unwise to make a statement like that toâ¦!â
âNo, it fucking well didnât!â Wallace shouted angrily. âLook here! I couldnât think of any other way of enlisting their help in a hurry, those thugs were tailing me and had been for some time; they didnât look very pleasant and they clearly knew what I had and it seemed to me they wanted it. If it hadnât been for those Yanks I wouldnât be here now.â
âYou had them following you from the university building where the lecture was?â
Wallace didnât like the way he phrased that, Lincoln made it sound as though it was his entire fault. He was about to blow up again but controlled himself with an effort. The four Americans were only just down the corridor drinking some cans of Fosters that the Commercial Attaché, Alex Miller, had procured for them from the refrigerator.
âYes!â Wallace said curtly through gritted teeth.
That had been all he had intended to say, but Lincoln shook his head in exasperation and that was when Wallaceâs anger erupted and he resorted to sarcasm.
âI know what did it. It was the bright yellow jacket I was wearing with the words âSecret Agentâ on the back in luminous block capitalsâ¦or maybe it was when I shouted⦠âIâve got itâ¦Australia for ever!â after it had been slipped to me.â Wallaceâs fury reached fresh heights and he rose to even more sophisticated levels of sarcastic wit.
âAll right! That will do!â Major Lincoln snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. âYouâve made your point. Where did they lock onto you?â
âIâve already told
There was a brief silence as Jack had not progressed to thinking about that step.
âAustralian Embassy,â Wallace said, whereupon the cab took off with a crash of gears.
There was a confused hubbub. Wallace wondered for a second whether they had all been hi-jacked as the cab driver careered around all corners on two wheels. They all fell about in a heap; the cab swung around three corners in quick succession and finally almost stood on its bonnet in front of an imposing building that Wallace had seen before.
âWhat the hellâ¦?â
âAustralian Embassy,â announced the driver.
âShit! Weâre here!â
They all piled out, feeling a sense of anti-climax, and went through the gates where they were accosted by an Australian soldier. Never had Wallace been so glad to see the familiar Australian Army headgear.
âWhere are you going? Who are you?â
âWe have to see Major Lincoln,â Wallace snapped, after having reached the haven successfully he had not anticipated being held up at the entrance. Besides, the other car with two men in it, the two shadows, had just drawn up in the space vacated by their cab which had taken off, while another car had drawn up from the opposite direction; there was another just arriving on the other side of the street. They all seemed to be in concert with each other, which was very disconcerting. The vehicles sat outside like ugly toads, waiting.
âWhat? All of you?â
âYes!â Wallace said shortly. These Americans had helped him out of a fix, Wallace wasnât going to abandon them now to those waiting outside, he didnât like the look of them.
Major Lincoln was far from pleased when Wallace finally sat before him in his office. He was impeccably dressed as usual, despite the late hour. His eyes wandered from Wallace to the wall and then to the finely polished hand grenade as he told him his story. Wallace wondered if he was contemplating throwing it at him.
âYou say you told these Americans that you had something?â
âYes!â Wallace answered shortly. He was fed up with the whole damned business and resolved to take the first flight out back to Australia.
âDidnât it strike you that in the circumstances it was most unwise to make a statement like that toâ¦!â
âNo, it fucking well didnât!â Wallace shouted angrily. âLook here! I couldnât think of any other way of enlisting their help in a hurry, those thugs were tailing me and had been for some time; they didnât look very pleasant and they clearly knew what I had and it seemed to me they wanted it. If it hadnât been for those Yanks I wouldnât be here now.â
âYou had them following you from the university building where the lecture was?â
Wallace didnât like the way he phrased that, Lincoln made it sound as though it was his entire fault. He was about to blow up again but controlled himself with an effort. The four Americans were only just down the corridor drinking some cans of Fosters that the Commercial Attaché, Alex Miller, had procured for them from the refrigerator.
âYes!â Wallace said curtly through gritted teeth.
That had been all he had intended to say, but Lincoln shook his head in exasperation and that was when Wallaceâs anger erupted and he resorted to sarcasm.
âI know what did it. It was the bright yellow jacket I was wearing with the words âSecret Agentâ on the back in luminous block capitalsâ¦or maybe it was when I shouted⦠âIâve got itâ¦Australia for ever!â after it had been slipped to me.â Wallaceâs fury reached fresh heights and he rose to even more sophisticated levels of sarcastic wit.
âAll right! That will do!â Major Lincoln snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. âYouâve made your point. Where did they lock onto you?â
âIâve already told
Similar Books
