Read Online The Mongol Objective by David Sakmyster - Free Book Online Page A

that suggests that the way to keep alive, to stave off death itself, is to constantly read. If you’re reading many books at once, perpetually awaiting the resolution of cliffhanger moments, you’ll be unable to rest until you know it all works out. All the mysteries, plot twists and turns, everything that keeps you guessing—and turning pages—all of that will keep you striving to live another day.”
    “That’s interesting,” Renée said, frowning. “But we really need to start a workup on who did this and what they want. We’ve got agents canvassing the vicinity, checking satellite photos, police logs, all concentrated on finding your son and his abductor.”
    Caleb looked away from her, toward the sea and the missing boat. “I’m pretty sure I know how we can find them.”
    Renée followed his line of sight. “Ah yes, the lightship. Sorry, but the Coast Guard found it deserted about thirty miles out. Seems they jumped ship. Any other ideas?”
    Caleb shook his head. “No, I just need some time.”
    “Any idea who did this?” Renée looked around. “Or who the two other bodies we’re still trying to identify are?”
    He nodded. “Robert Gregory is one of them. My wife’s brother.”
    She glanced at him suspiciously. “How do you know that?”
    “I just do.”
    “I see. So, you’re involved with parapsychology, research and remote viewing.”
    Caleb stared at her.
    “Unusual line of work, Mr. Crowe, but I understand your group has had some successes. Located sunken wrecks. Salvage, treasure—”
    “I know what you’re getting at,” he said. “Wondering if we had enemies.”
    “Or just jealous followers.”
    “Look, Agent Wagner—”
    “Renée.”
    “—I’ll help in any way I can, but please, give me and my sister some time. An hour maybe, at one of our neighbors’ homes. We need to sort things out.”
    She looked at him steadily, and Caleb had the sense that red lights were lighting up inside her skeptical brain. Facts and figures, percentages. Wasn’t the husband the perp in something like seventy percent of these cases? Right now she was probably running scenarios and creating a follow-up checklist: see how he and Lydia got along, whether he’d wanted full custody, what unsavory friends he might have contracted for arson and murder . . .
    “All right,” she said at last. “I’ll continue working the scene here, and I’ll call on you in an hour.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But Mr. Crowe.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Whatever you find out, promise you’ll share with me.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean.”
    She smiled. “Let’s just say, Caleb, that I’m open-minded about what you do here, and in what you’re about to do.”
    He considered her for a long time. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but would you like to watch?”
    #
    Phoebe and Orlando were off to the side, sitting on a bench overlooking the lake.
    “I’m sorry about Lydia,” Orlando said. His hand hovered around her shoulder uselessly, not sure whether to touch her or not. He had felt something close to a connection with Phoebe ever since interning for her class four years ago. Although only a few years older than he, she had a way of making him feel like an awkward teenager. “I know you were close.”
    She gave an attempt at a shrug, trying to appear stoic despite her tears. “Sometimes, she could be like a sister to me. When she wasn’t being all Keeperly.” Her voice cracked. “And Robert . . . Are they sure it’s him in there?”
    “Two other men with Lydia. Everyone was so burned up, though. Still have to do the dental records.”
    “You really think he teamed up with Montross?”
    “I gotta believe he never trusted Caleb, or me. Obsessed with the tablet twenty-four-seven.”
    Orlando scratched the back of his neck, then stood up. “So, the FBI. What’s Caleb going to say to her?”
    “Probably going to try to get rid of her,” Phoebe said. “So we can track Alexander without all the dead