Shock of War Read Online Free Page B

is my cover blown?” Mara asked.
    â€œNo,” he said, a little more slowly than she would have liked. “No. I don’t think so. Listen to me. This would be a good career move.”
    â€œStaying in the field would be better.”
    â€œWell, think about it. You don’t have to make a decision yet.”
    â€œIt’s already made up.”
    â€œTake your time.”
    â€œI’m ready to go back now, Peter. I should be in Saigon. Did you find out who ripped off the money that was supposed to be at the drop?”
    â€œI can’t talk about it.”
    â€œI’d like to cut his balls off.”
    â€œMara.” Lucas’s voice had an exasperated tone that Mara recognized as a warning: the next thing out of his mouth would be a long speech about how much she owed him.
    â€œI’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œTake a few days off. Three or four.”
    â€œI’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œTake one day off at least.” He hung up.
    Mara sighed and turned her attention back to the screen. Josh was getting up. The interviews were finally over.
    *   *   *
    Josh followed wearily as Jablonski and the two bodyguards from the federal marshal’s office squeezed him down the back hallway and hurried him into a stairwell.
    â€œWhere are we going now?” Josh asked as they started down.
    â€œWe’re going to get you some rest,” answered Jablonski. “At least a few hours. We’re setting up something with Sky News, and a BBC interview. But you should be able to do those by phone. The important things are the morning shows, and we want you better rested for that.”
    â€œWhere’s Mara?” asked Josh.
    â€œShe’ll be along.”
    â€œI wanted to talk to her.”
    Jablonski started to make a face. The BlackBerry in his suit jacket rang; he reached in and took it out, glanced at the face for the caller ID, then held it to his ear.
    â€œThis is William. Fred, how are you? Glad you could get back to me.…” Jablonski stopped and glanced at Josh. “We might be able to give the congressman a personal briefing. A short one.”
    Josh tensed. The earlier “personal briefing” had almost gotten him killed this morning.
    â€œHe doesn’t have a lot of time,” Jablonski said. He winked at Josh. “The congressman is? Well, maybe if they were seen walking together…? Hold on.”
    Jablonski muted the phone.
    â€œI wonder if you could do a favor,” he told Josh. “There’s a congressman from Long Island who’s going to be in a pretty hard reelection campaign. He’s a reliable vote. If we could help him…”
    â€œLike how?”
    â€œHave your picture taken talking to him.”
    â€œHow will that help?”
    â€œOne hand washes the other,” said Jablonski, slurping in the end of the sentence. “Don’t worry. It does.”
    Josh hated all this political bull. But as Jablonski had explained the other night, Congress was opposed to helping the Vietnamese. It wasn’t going to be easy to change that.
    â€œIf we can get out of here when it’s done, then okay,” said Josh.
    Jablonski put the phone back to his ear.
    â€œWe’ll be down in a few minutes.”
    Jablonski sent a text, then put the phone away.
    â€œOkay, Josh, it’s all arranged,” said Jablonski. “Let’s go.”
    â€œWhere’s Mara?”
    â€œI’ll tell her to meet us. Come on, let’s go.”
    *   *   *
    A member of the federal marshal’s detail was waiting as Mara stepped off the elevator into the garage below the UN building.
    â€œThey just changed plans,” he said. “Mr. Jablonski told the cars to meet them on the street at the back.”
    â€œOn the street? That makes no sense.”
    The marshal shrugged.
    â€œSomebody tried to kill him this morning,” said Mara. “He has to