Part 150 (2/2)

Teet?”

”How ,” Alex said coyly

”I assu us out of our current dile friends with potential adversaries made this part of the job all thehis head toward Martin ”I guess I could be talked into one ht”

Teht answer”

Alex was taken off guard by the sullenness in Martin's voice

”Right answer? There are no right and wrongs in our business

Only shades of gray You know that We ride a fence, and the winds blow back and forth It's not personal”

Martin straightened up and put both hands deep into the pockets of his London Fog ”Ae and his cronies, and you by default, broke the rules

Civilians are off li that you would want to help”

Alex ignored the second request ”I won't do it again I pro I can say that willat all?” Martin implored

”No,” Alex said ”Unless we can discuss an equitable arrange- ment”

Martin took his hands out of his pockets and said, ”I don't think that ork I'ht hand up to Alex's neck and touched it briefly Alex reached up and slapped his neck as terror overtook his face He grabbed Martin's arm and twisted it with his free hand to expose a ser Te clutch and tore off the ring, tossing it away from the Tower

Alex weakened further as he leaned both hands on the railing to steady hiaped wide, intense fear and utter disbelief conored his collapsing adversary and walked deliberately to the open elevator which provided escape down to street level Before the doors had closed, Tee over the crumpled body of Alexander Spiradon

Martin Templer crossed the Seine and perfor followed The cleansing process took about three hours He flagged down a taxi and the e he understood that the destination was the American Embassy on Gabriel Only when Telish im- prove

Teeant at the security desk, and told him he needed access to a secure coton

After his identity was verified, Tee It was electronically addressed to his superiors at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia

PLATO COULDN'T COME OUT AND PLAY

UNFORTUNATE STROKE INTERRUPTED THE INTERVIEW

Chapter 30

Monday, March 22 National Security Agency

He had two separate offices, each with a unique character One ultra entlee anteroom that also provided immediate access and departure by a private elevator and escape stairs He could hold two s at once as was occasionally required in his position as DIRNSA, Director, National Security Agency Each office had its own secretary and private entrance, selected for use depending upon as expected

Thedown to a close and the conversation had been reduced to friendly banter Marvin Jacobs had brought in three of his senior advisors ere coordinating thepower of the NSA with the extraordinary volume of raw data that all of the 5ESS switches downloaded daily