Read Online The Agent's Daughter by Ron Corriveau - Free Book Online

in too.
    “ The next thing is called
the French Kiss,” Lindsey said. “It involves the-”
    Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
    Just then, the end of lunch bell rang, and
students in the lunchroom started to get up to leave.
    “ It involves the what?”
Denise said, excited.
    Lindsey smiled and stood up to leave. “To be
continued at lunch tomorrow.”

Chapter 4

     
    After spending a couple of hours at his desk
brushing up on the particular dialect of Russian spoken in
Malazistan, Evan left his office and headed back down to the
basement of the building to visit the one of the agency workout
facilities. Since missions often involved extreme physical demands,
agents were encouraged to spend as much time as they wanted at the
gym keeping in shape.
    As he entered the workout area, Evan could
see that there was only one other person in the gym. Over at the
free weights was Karl Becker. Karl was an agent in the same group
as Evan and had started at the agency a few years before him.
Although he was a little older than Evan was, Karl had not been on
any missions in quite a while. He had not officially retired, but
he would still come in to the agency to use the gym and complain to
anyone that would listen. Most often about how things were not as
they used to be. Evan steered clear of him.
    When Karl saw Evan, he dropped the free
weights that he was holding. They fell to the floor with a loud
crash.
    “ Hello, Evan,” Karl said.
He made sure that he said Evan’s name with an inflection like it
was painful to say.
    “ Nice to see you, Karl,”
Evan responded with appropriate sarcasm.
    Karl selected a different set of weights
from the rack and continued to lift. “I hear that you are going to
try that hang glider stunt again. Always trying to show off.”
    Evan scoffed. “I wouldn’t exactly classify
it as a stunt. I just suggested that a hang glider would be an
excellent way to get in close to that base and get out again. I
never suggested who would do it. If you would like to take my
place, the mission briefing is at three o’ clock.”
    Karl dropped his weights again, walked over
to Evan, and stood right in front of him. “This mission is an
example of the crap that would not be happening if I were in charge
of the agents.”
    “ You? In charge of the
agents?” Evan said as he laughed out loud. “What makes you think
that you ever would be put in charge of this place?”
    “ It’s no secret that
Arthur is nearing retirement age,” Karl said. “It’s time that they
put an experienced agent in charge. Not one of those tools guys and
certainly not someone from outside the agency.”
    Evan thought for a moment. He had not heard
that Arthur was retiring, but it made sense as he had seemed rather
aloof in the last few months.
    Karl put his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “When
he retires, and they look for a replacement, I’m betting on
me.”
    Evan lifted Karl’s hand off his shoulder and
turned to head for the locker room. “I wouldn’t bet all my chips on
that.”

    ………………………… .

    Evan entered the waiting area of Arthur’s
office and walked up to the desk of the administrative
assistant.
    “ Hello, Mildred,” Evan
said as he approached. “Is Arthur available?”
    Mildred had worked for Arthur since he
became head of the agency and she was a fixture outside his office.
She had a Midwestern charm and a ready smile for everyone.
    “ Why, it is so nice to see
you, Evan,” Mildred said, “but you and I both know that he doesn’t
like to have people just show up at his office. And he’s not in a
particularly happy mood today.”
    Evan gave her a serious look. “This is
important. Could you ask him if he has a few minutes?”
    “ All right,” she said as
she winked at Evan. “Just you have a seat. I’ll be right
back”
    Mildred got up and disappeared into Arthur’s
office. Evan sat down on one of the couches in what had to be the
largest office waiting area in town. As the head of