Read Online The Starshine Connection by Buck Sanders - Free Book Online
Authors: Buck Sanders
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bad taste of the furnishings. And a senator’s
involvement in this sweetens the whole damned investigation more than a little bit, don’t you agree,
sir?”
Winship was torn, and he knew it. Obligated to rake Ben over the coals, thanks to the report on his desk, yet realizing that
Slayton had uncovered lead elements that made the whole Starshine business much nastier than mere narcotics violations or
moonshine running. Deaths were still tied to the stuff; now a senator, the CIA, and big business—courtesy of Pavel Drake II—were
tied to the stuff. And Winship knew Ben Slayton would endure chastisement from him longer than from any other mortal. It was
necessary, in a perverse way, but Slayton had already reached his limit.
In a more subdued tone, Winship said, almost helplessly, “But Ben—those CIA men… you wreaked quite a bit of damage there…”
He was vaguely aware that the whole sequence would be funny if the three men were not in the hospital at the present time.
Slayton sighed, as though burdened. “As far as I was concerned, I was fighting for my life in there. I had no inkling that
they were government men—although their bungling should have clued me in. Whoever assigned those idiots to investigate the
townhouse must have been the only guy who escaped prosecution for the Watergate thing. Which reminds me, Ham, those men being
in that town-house raises another question everyone would be a lot more comfortable just ignoring.”
“You suspect some kind of informational leakage as regards the Starshine investigation.” Winship steepled his hands.
“Yes, sir. Those men made the scene just minutes after I got the address from a Treasury-assigned tail on the Starshine delivery
men. Somebody—it doesn’t really matter who—tipped off the CIA. So why is the CIA interested in the Starshine case?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“They aren’t. That’s just it.”
Winship’s hands made for a large-bowled, filigreed pipe. “And the connection is—?”
“Try this, sir. Let’s assume that the Starshine operation is overlorded by someone with government connections. The senator,
the senator’s assistant—that doesn’t matter either, right now. What
does
matter is that our man has enough clout with the CIA not only to catch wind of the Starshine operation, but to feed CIA resources
toward protecting his own interests. The only people in the dark are the CIA boys. This person, or his operatives, tip the
CIA that a clandestine operation needs to be carried out in the townhouse—he even supplies them with the keys. Could be a
tax dodge, could be anything. The important thing was that armed agents were supposed to run across me there. ‘Me,’ to this
person, was whoever was mucking about with the Starshine investigation—a vested interest, to be sure. Whether I was supposed
to be arrested, implicated, or killed, I don’t know.”
“We can’t afford to compound that right now, if you’re right,” said Winship. “That’s why this is a one-way report. They have
no idea it was you. Let’s hope your identity is secure, at least for the moment.”
“Assume that if you wish, sir. It’d be dangerous for me to.” Slayton was belaboring the point unnecessarily.
“It is an advantage, Ben.”
“I know that. But the whole Starshine operation will be compromised unless I move fast.”
“That brings us to your next lead.”
“I may not be around Washington D.C. long enough for the man to make me,” Slayton said. “It looks like a trip to Los Angeles
is inevitable now, and I’d like to leave tonight.”
“It’s cleared, it’s cleared,” Winship said wearily. “But I want a briefing first. Understand this: if the people we think
are involved in the Starshine operation really
are
involved in it, the flak will start soon enough. You know what I mean.”
“I can guess,” Slayton said. “A senator can apply a great deal of pressure to
involvement in this sweetens the whole damned investigation more than a little bit, don’t you agree,
sir?”
Winship was torn, and he knew it. Obligated to rake Ben over the coals, thanks to the report on his desk, yet realizing that
Slayton had uncovered lead elements that made the whole Starshine business much nastier than mere narcotics violations or
moonshine running. Deaths were still tied to the stuff; now a senator, the CIA, and big business—courtesy of Pavel Drake II—were
tied to the stuff. And Winship knew Ben Slayton would endure chastisement from him longer than from any other mortal. It was
necessary, in a perverse way, but Slayton had already reached his limit.
In a more subdued tone, Winship said, almost helplessly, “But Ben—those CIA men… you wreaked quite a bit of damage there…”
He was vaguely aware that the whole sequence would be funny if the three men were not in the hospital at the present time.
Slayton sighed, as though burdened. “As far as I was concerned, I was fighting for my life in there. I had no inkling that
they were government men—although their bungling should have clued me in. Whoever assigned those idiots to investigate the
townhouse must have been the only guy who escaped prosecution for the Watergate thing. Which reminds me, Ham, those men being
in that town-house raises another question everyone would be a lot more comfortable just ignoring.”
“You suspect some kind of informational leakage as regards the Starshine investigation.” Winship steepled his hands.
“Yes, sir. Those men made the scene just minutes after I got the address from a Treasury-assigned tail on the Starshine delivery
men. Somebody—it doesn’t really matter who—tipped off the CIA. So why is the CIA interested in the Starshine case?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“They aren’t. That’s just it.”
Winship’s hands made for a large-bowled, filigreed pipe. “And the connection is—?”
“Try this, sir. Let’s assume that the Starshine operation is overlorded by someone with government connections. The senator,
the senator’s assistant—that doesn’t matter either, right now. What
does
matter is that our man has enough clout with the CIA not only to catch wind of the Starshine operation, but to feed CIA resources
toward protecting his own interests. The only people in the dark are the CIA boys. This person, or his operatives, tip the
CIA that a clandestine operation needs to be carried out in the townhouse—he even supplies them with the keys. Could be a
tax dodge, could be anything. The important thing was that armed agents were supposed to run across me there. ‘Me,’ to this
person, was whoever was mucking about with the Starshine investigation—a vested interest, to be sure. Whether I was supposed
to be arrested, implicated, or killed, I don’t know.”
“We can’t afford to compound that right now, if you’re right,” said Winship. “That’s why this is a one-way report. They have
no idea it was you. Let’s hope your identity is secure, at least for the moment.”
“Assume that if you wish, sir. It’d be dangerous for me to.” Slayton was belaboring the point unnecessarily.
“It is an advantage, Ben.”
“I know that. But the whole Starshine operation will be compromised unless I move fast.”
“That brings us to your next lead.”
“I may not be around Washington D.C. long enough for the man to make me,” Slayton said. “It looks like a trip to Los Angeles
is inevitable now, and I’d like to leave tonight.”
“It’s cleared, it’s cleared,” Winship said wearily. “But I want a briefing first. Understand this: if the people we think
are involved in the Starshine operation really
are
involved in it, the flak will start soon enough. You know what I mean.”
“I can guess,” Slayton said. “A senator can apply a great deal of pressure to
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