Read Online Double Impact: Never Say Die & No Way Back by Tess Gerritsen, Debra Webb - Free Book Online Page A

there’s a lady who looks down on her luck,” said a voice.
    She looked up to see Guy Barnard’s tanned face framedagainst the sunset. Her instant delight at seeing someone familiar—even him —only confirmed the utter depths of despair to which she’d sunk.
    He flashed her a smile that could have charmed the habit off a nun. “Welcome to Saigon, capital of fallen dreams. How’s it goin’, kid?”
    She sighed. “You need to ask?”
    â€œNope. I’ve been through it before, running around like a headless chicken, scrounging up seals of approval for every piddly scrap of paper. This country has got bureaucracy down to an art.”
    â€œI could live without the pep talk, thank you.”
    â€œCan I buy you a beer?”
    She studied that smile of his, wondering what lay behind it. Suspecting the worst.
    Seeing her weaken, he called for two beers, then dropped into a chair and regarded her with rumpled cheerfulness.
    â€œI thought you weren’t due in Saigon till Wednesday,” she said.
    â€œChange of plans.”
    â€œPretty sudden, wasn’t it?”
    â€œFlexibility happens to be one of my virtues.” He added, ruefully, “Maybe my only virtue.”
    The bartender brought over two frosty Heinekens. Guy waited until the man left before he spoke again.
    â€œThey brought in some new remains from Dak To,” he said.
    â€œMIAs?”
    â€œThat’s what I have to find out. I knew I’d need a few extra days to examine the bones. Besides—” he took a gulp of beer “—I was getting bored in Bangkok.”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œNo, I mean it. I was ready for a change of scenery.”
    â€œYou left the fleshpot of the East to come here and check out a few dead soldiers?”
    â€œBelieve it or not, I take my job seriously.” He set the bottle down on the table. “Anyway, since I happen to be in town, maybe I could help you out. Since you probably need it.”
    Something about the way he looked at her, head cocked, teeth agleam in utter self-assurance, irritated her. “I’m doing okay,” she said.
    â€œAre you, now? So when’s your first official meeting?”
    â€œThings are being arranged.”
    â€œWhat sorts of things?”
    â€œI don’t know. Mr. Ainh’s handling the details, and—”
    â€œMr. Ainh? You don’t mean your tour guide? ” He burst out laughing.
    â€œJust why is that so funny?” she demanded.
    â€œYou’re right,” Guy said, swallowing his laughter. “It’s not funny. It’s pathetic. Do you want an advance look in my crystal ball? Because I can tell you exactly what’s going to happen. First thing in the morning, your guide will show up with an apologetic look on his face.”
    â€œWhy apologetic?”
    â€œBecause he’ll tell you the ministry is closed for the day. After all, it’s the grand and glorious holiday of July 18.”
    â€œHoliday? What holiday?”
    â€œNever mind. He’ll make something up. Then he’ll ask if you wouldn’t rather see the lacquer factory, where you can buy many beautiful gifts to bring home….”
    Now she was laughing. Those were, in fact, Mr. Ainh’s exact words.
    â€œThen, the following day, he’ll come up with some other reason you can’t visit the ministry. Say, they’re allsick with the swine flu or there’s a critical shortage of pencil erasers. But —you can visit the National Palace!”
    She stopped laughing. “I think I’m beginning to get your point.”
    â€œIt’s not that the man’s deliberately sabotaging your plans. He simply knows how hopeless it is to untangle this bureaucracy. All he wants is to do his own little job, which is to be a tour guide and file innocuous reports about the nice lady tourist. Don’t expect more from him. The poor guy isn’t paid enough for what