that I know everything as soon as possible................and, by the way, if you do find there is someone, find out who he is and where he lives if possible. Understood?"
" Yes Mr. Fahd, I have nothing else to do when you are gone. I am your humble servant."
After hanging up, Fahd called a number known to him in the Detroit area.
" This is Pyramid, I am in suite AA in the Airport Marriot I want two of your best girls for the night. Put it on my account."
***********************************
Bey spoke to his compatriots over strong black coffee.
" I have just spoken to the Colonel and he is very enthusiastic about the possibilities of a Cape Canaveral operation.
He has authorized us to go for a million."
Mahdi looked through quizzical eyes. " Ah but Fahd does not know this. Is it not possible for us to pocket the difference
between the million and anything we give Fahd?"
Bey smiled, " Oh you are such a glutton, my friend.After all, it is we who will plan and run the operation after the information is paid for. Just think of how much we can skim off the top....and you want more?
The other two, in unison, laughing, shouted, " Yes!'
Bey laughed in turn." This is why you are my most trusted lieutenants.....you never disappoint me."
The three men were all smiles, licking their lips with the anticipation of great riches coming their way. In addition, they would get to do what they loved and what they did best. Destroy people and property. There was a blood lust in each of them that was comparable to sex. It was something that demanded constant satisfaction.
" We must close with him tomorrow morning." Bokaar said, suddenly serious, I am getting bored with sitting around here and we have much planning to do."
Bey looked at the others, " The Colonel is against sabotaging a launch. He feels that the public would perceive it as another Challenger disaster and not even suspect terrorism. Let us remember that the prime purpose of terrorism is just that. To cause terror in the enemy camp. He thinks we should destroy the entire complex.
This would be a logistical nightmare. We will need people, material and much explosives. We will have to have weeks of training and briefing with the people we choose and afterwards, most of them would have to be eliminated."
" I was thinking of something earlier today that I wanted to bring up to you, " Mahdi said, a serious look coming upon his visage. " This astronaut, the one we were contemplating having eliminated. Wouldn't it be preferable to have him work with us.
After all, he knows everything that is in the dossier like the back of his hand."
Bey stroked his chin. " It's too bad we don't know who he is.
We could eliminate Fahd altogether. What you say is true my learned friend, his location must be part of the deal. After we use him, perhaps we will kill him and perhaps he would be useful in other matters and should be kept alive and at our disposal. You, see, Bokaar, all of your impulsive talk about killing this one and killing that one could be detrimental to our cause. We must not act rashly at any time. Everything we do must be thought out again and again before we make a move. We will make Fahd wait until tomorrow, so that he stews a little longer. I think we can get him for seven fifty and pocket two hundred fifty for ourselves."
Bokaar shifted impatiently in his chair.
" What the devil is the matter with you?" Bey asked, " Are you getting cold feet after all these years?"
" Me, cold feet? Do I have to give you examples of my courage. You have seen me in action for years. No.....I was thinking of the girl."
" You crazy bastard, is that all you have on your mind?"
Bey softened, " Look Ali, I'll attempt to make it part of the deal,
but it's not going to
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