Part 2 (1/2)
”I do know,” Steve agreed ”All right I'll try again Each contestant that looks good to the progra on the chosen subject before being accepted That's to find out if they're really experts How are you going to handle it?”
Rick hadn't known about that He pondered for a moment ”That means we'd have to prepare a hidden trans the exaadget strapped to their legs, under their skirts or trousers”
Steve was enjoying Rick's ready responses His eyes twinkled ”You'd have to use very lih frequency Otherwise, the Federal Communications Commission would pick you up, use a direction finder, and ht locate you, anyway, even on loer and ultra-high frequency How are you going to lick that?”
Rick held up his hands in surrender ”I'overnment into the act Gosh, I'd have the FCC, the FBI, and abuck Mob is hereby dissolved”
Steve looked disappointed ”And I was hoping your plan was foolproof
I was about to buy stock in the Mob” The amusehed ”I'lad you're the one that stuck a pin in his bubble, Steve The way Barby bakes cakes, I'et the file out”
Steve chuckled ”The records are full of foolproof get-rich-quick schemes like this one And the jails are full of halfway cries of an eat-proof cake
It etaway”
The young people laughed, too, then Barby sobered suddenly ”Rick, could you really put one of those things in et in his mind, and he kneould work
”Sure, Sis Why?”
”An idea I want to talk to you about later” She turned to Steve and asked anxiously, ”You do know Rick was only fooling, don't you, Steve?
He wouldn't steal anything from anyone, honestly”
Steve nodded ”I do, Barby I won't throw hiht need him”
”Is that what you're here for?” she asked
”I need you all,” Steve said He motioned to chairs ”Let's sit down
Can Mrs Brant join us?”
Hartson Brant went to get her while the young people started to deluge Steve with questions He held up a hand in protest ”Wait until the whole family's here, please”
In a reeted Steve cordially
Then the young agent got serious
”I was only partly joking when I said I wanted to take over Spindrift
I really do, in a way Here's why We've had a teareatest importance to national defense There were four in the team, all topnotchers Hartson, I'm sure you'll know some, if not all of them, by reputation”
Steve rehted through the barrel, then let the bolt rauard the project As you know, I had to go to the Virgin Islands, but I left one of hly I'm satisfied about that No unknown person has been near the project office And no unknowns have been in close contact with any of the team Yet, two of them are in the hospital”
”Sick or wounded?” Scotty asked