Part 7 (1/2)
Tom admitted that JANIG didn't know much After all, he pointed out, it was i of that size, or at least impractical Furthermore, it was a cover operation, and any kind of a careful check on people in the building would warn thereed, however, that it was better to be safe than sorry JANIG would run a check on the barber, even though Rick's evidence was no evidence at all
Rick wasn't satisfied He felt he had to talk it over with Steve Aent, as in JANIG's New York office, as soon as he got home
There was a small switch box next to the telephone in the library It had only two positions, one marked ”normal” and the other not marked at all
Steve asked, ”Who is it?”
”Rick”
”Throw your switch”
Rick did so, with no apparent results ”Nothing happened,” he said
”Nothing audible,” Steve corrected ”I threw mine at the same time
We're scrambled Go ahead, Rick, what is it?”
Rick told hih He had had experience with Rick's hunches before ”All right I've already talked with Toreed we should run a check He also reported that Weiss had persuaded Marks to coether I have Dodd planning how to get hiton”
”Tom told ,” Rick said hesitantly ”Honestly, Steve, I thought you always checked on everyone who ht have a connection with a case”
”We do,” Steve said flatly ”But we can't check on everyone in the city of Washi+ngton Consider, Rick There are several hundred people that work in the building and perhaps as itimate reasons We couldn't run a deep check on all of the
So we don't check Instead, we ularly, and we give physical protection not only to the scientists but to the floor they work on We keep a careful check to be sure our phones aren't tapped, and there's a scraht odor of fish, we run a check That's e're working on your barber right now We're also checking the elevator operator”
”All right I was off base, I guess”
”Not at all I'd be disappointed if you didn't ask for explanations”
There was one other question in Rick's mind ”How do you knoeren't followed back to Spindrift?”
Steve chuckled ”You had two cars on your tail They'd have picked up anyone who tried to follow Tom What's more, our men at the airport identified every plane that took off froton for two hours after your departure”
Rick said sheepishly, ”Sorry, Steve”
”Forget it I'll be in touch with you, Rick”
Steve was right, of course JANIG was on the job and would plug any loose holes And once Marks arrived, Spindrift would be the only base the JANIG men had to cover That would ht as well put the matter out of hisfor hiives?”
”Steve says to forget it”
Jan frowned, her pretty face worried ”Barby told et Aren't they ever wrong?”
Rick grinned ”I'll say they are Don't worry, Jan You're safe here”