Read Online Vision Impossible by Victoria Laurie - Free Book Online

to make it look as if Des Vries was able to steal a copy of Intuit’s code should anyone like Boklovich question its sudden appearance.”
    “Ahh,” I said. “I get it.”
    Tanner continued. “We’ll get you two into Canada tomorrow morning, and from there Agent Rivers will make contact with Kozahkov and ask for a meeting.”
    The director then hit the remote control again, clicking to a gorgeous-looking building. “This is a photo of Des Vries’s condo in downtown Toronto. We’re working to change the security code to his alarm as we speak. You’ll have no trouble getting in, but I want to warn you that even though Des Vries is fairly small-time, we know this building has been monitored by the CSIS ever since they learned that it belonged to Des Vries.”
    “CSIS?” I asked. I had no idea who or what that was.
    Tanner explained. “The Canadian Security Intelligence Service. It’s the Canadian equivalent to the CIA.”
    “Are they joining us in the effort to get the drone back?” I said.
    There was a perceptive shift in posture from several members of the staff in the room. “No,” Tanner said carefully. “We have not asked them to join in the mission because we cannot trust that someone within the CSIS won’t compromise Agent Rivers’s identity.”
    I stared at her in amazement. “If they’re monitoring Des Vries, won’t they know you guys are around?”
    Gaston answered my question. “We’ve mentioned to them that Des Vries was recently recruited to assist the CIA in a global investigation, and we’ve gained their permission to monitor Des Vries for a few weeks until he leaves the country again.”
    “They agreed to that?” I was a little shocked the CSIS agents were willing to allow the CIA to tread on their territory.
    “They have,” he said simply. “But it’s with the understanding that their surveillance will also remain in place. We already suspect the doorman at the condo may be a CSIS plant, and we also think Des Vries’s condo unit will be bugged, so use caution and stay completely in character until you’ve swept it for microphones and recording devices.”
    Tanner then looked keenly at me and issued a warning. “Ms. Cooper, there is also something you should know about Rick Des Vries.”
    Uh-oh.
    “What?” I asked.
    “He has a violent temper that extends to his women. We’ve obtained police reports from Amsterdam that suggest he put four former girlfriends in the hospital. One woman he dated for several years in the late nineties, Anna Wyngarden, went missing shortly after Des Vries scored his first big arms deal. She’s never been seen since and is presumed dead. It was Anna’s disappearance that finally forced Des Vries to flee his home in Holland when the police began closing in on him as the primary suspect in the case.”
    I felt my face drain of color. “Are you saying that you want Dutch to beat me up?”
    Tanner licked her lips and appeared uncomfortable. “No,” she said, “but it might not hurt for him to act angry and aggressive toward you and for you to appear frightened of him when you two are out in public.”
    Dutch’s brow lowered dangerously, and I could tell he didn’t like that idea one bit. “I’m not okay with that, Director.”
    “I didn’t say you should hit her, Agent Rivers,” Tanner replied coolly. “I’m merely suggesting that you—”
    Dutch cut her off. “No,” he said firmly, and the granite expression he wore brooked no argument.
    Tanner eyed Gaston, whose expression seemed to say, “I told you so.”
    With another sigh she finally said, “Very well, Agent Rivers, but Ms. Cooper, I cannot stress enough that the real Richard Des Vries would not tolerate a woman who talked back to him and it would seem quite out of character for him if he did. Do you understand?”
    “Fully,” I said woodenly. I was to keep my trap shut and look scared. I knew I could manage the latter at least.
    Tanner nodded. She then folded her hands