Read Online Vital Force by Trevor Scott - Free Book Online

private sector and was now the director of The Western Institute, the conservative think tank.
    â€œWayne,” the Chief of Staff said, “glad you could make it.” He put his arm around the general and pulled him aside to one wall. “How are things?”
    Boles smiled. “I assume you mean in China.”
    The Chief of Staff raised his brows in agreement.
    â€œWe hired Jake Adams to look into the matter.”
    Oestreich thought for a moment and sipped his wine. “That name sounds familiar.”
    â€œIt should,” Boles said. “When we were at Defense, he saved our collective asses in Kurdistan and the Ukraine.”
    â€œRight. Caught them with that biological agent and killed a rogue Agency officer in Odessa.”
    â€œWell, I understand the officer killed himself, but, yeah, that’s the guy.”
    â€œWasn’t he also the guy who caught the Hungarians and that German company ripping off some computer technology from the Joint Strike Fighter?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œLooks like you got the right guy.”
    General Boles glanced around the room, acknowledging a senator from Colorado with a nod. “I’m not sure about this.”
    â€œWhat. Why not?” The Chief of Staff moved closer, his voice a mere whisper. “The Chinese stole our laser technology. Don’t forget that. And they did it while we were both at Defense. I don’t think I need to remind you of that.”
    â€œIs the President aware of this?”
    Oestreich’s expression flashed from a fake smile to anger and then back to a smirk. “Does it matter?”
    â€œIt does to me,” the general said.
    â€œWe have complete deniability on this,” Oestreich assured him. “Adams gets caught and he has no tie to the administration. He’s just a curious tourist.”
    â€œSo, we hang him out to dry?”
    â€œThis is what he does for a living. He knows the score.”
    Boles grabbed the Chief of Staff on the forearm. “He was an Air Force officer who worked for me at one time.”
    Oestreich looked down at the general’s hand, which slowly removed. “We’ll do what we can behind the scenes, but push comes to shove and we deny any knowledge. You knew that going in.” The Chief of Staff patted his old friend on the back and started to leave. “You better hope he’s as good as you say he is.” And now louder, Oestreich said, “You have a good time tonight, Wayne.” He smiled and walked away.
    The general was steaming inside, but he maintained his composure as he walked about the room with his empty glass. When a waiter came around now, the general put his glass down and picked up two in exchange.

    Redding, California
    â€œThis friend of yours,” Li said, peering sideways at Cliff Johansen from the front seat of her Isuzu Trooper. “Does he know we’re coming?”
    They had been driving from the Bay Area since dawn, picking up Interstate 5 in Sacramento, and would soon turn onto Highway 97 toward Oregon.
    â€œHe has no idea.” Cliff was reading a technical manual on internet servers. “Like I said, though, we’re old college friends.”
    â€œI think I should stay in a hotel,” she said.
    Cliff was thinking he would rather she come to his friend’s house with him. She was gorgeous, and all through college neither of them had dated anyone close to her quality. In fact, they both could have counted their total dates on one hand.
    He looked over at her. “It’s only a couple of days.”
    â€œOne night,” she said emphatically. “You get what you need and we move on.”
    â€œPart of it,” he corrected her. “We get part of it, you transfer the money, and then we go for the rest.”
    She shook her head. “We transfer part of the money.”
    â€œWell...right.”
    Cliff thought about his plan as he watched her drive down the road. He wanted