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."Bennettfelt sick to his stomach.He'd run extensive background checksonIbrahimSa'id , the head of the PPG, and his top staff.But there'd been noevidence of links to terrorist groups.None.Until now,Bennett had refused to talk to this guy about the details of hisoil deal.It was none of their business, and he was under strict orders by thePresident of theUnited States to brief him-and him alone-before talking toanyone else on the planet about the substance of this deal.Bennett struggledto breathe.The urge to tell these men everything he knew was overpowering.Was it the "truth serum," or just pure survival instinct?But he couldn't.He couldn't.He'd given the president his word.He'd givenIverson his word.Who were these guys? What if they were linked to the menwho'd just tried to kill the president? But how could they be? They'd justscooped him out of the Israeli airport.But did that really matter? Couldn'tthey be double agents? Couldn't they be paid off by the enemy? What enemy?Whose side were these guys on? Then again, what if he were now holding backcrucial information? What if somehow he'd made a mistake? What if somehow hisoil dealhad gotten mixed up with the very people who'd just tried toassassinate the president? What if he was actually financing such evil?Bennettwinced in fear and pain.He didn't know what to do.And hisinterrogator could tell.The man began to tighten the yoyo string.Sweatpoured downBennett 's face."Galishnikov.""What about him?"Bennetttried to swallow, but he couldn't."Do you know who he is?"Bennettwas about to throw up."He's-he's a friend."The man tightened the string."Four years ago,DmitriGalishnikov helped mastermind a terrorist explosionthat destroyed one of the largest refineries in the formerSoviet Union.Costthe Russian government half a billion dollars.Not that they needed the money,mind you.They're such a rich, wealthy country.But they did get a littleticked off by the fact that two hundred and twelve Russian citizens died inPage 69ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthe explosion.""I don't know what you're talking about.I don't.I.please.callthe White House.The agent suddenly exploded.He unwound the yo-yo string fromBennett 'sthroat, grabbed him by the shirt and his hair, and threw him against the wall.Cuffed and unable to protect himself, Bennett hit the wall headfirst, thenslumped to the floor and curled up into a fetal position, bracing himself forthe blows he knew were coming.The man was shaking with rage and seemed about to lose it completely.Hegrabbed the wooden chair and smashed it against the wall, shattering it inpieces and sending splinters flying everywhere.Bennett knew it was a show,knew it was designed to frighten him.But knowing did nothing to lessen theimpact.Bennett was terrified.He wasn't used to not being in charge.He wasn'tused to being ordered around.And now he feared for his life."You want yellow,Mr.Bennett? You want red?'There was nothing forBennett to say."No.God, no."Bennettfelt the needle go in."You've got two minutes,Bennett.Are you a terrorist?'"No.""Do you fund terrorists?' No."Is Said a terrorist?'"No-I don't know.""Is Galishnikov a terrorist?'"I don't know.""Did you help conspire against the President of theUnited States? Did you?'"No, no, no."Tell me what I want to hear.Tell me what you know.""God, please, no."The man grabbed him again and pulled him to his knees."Forget you,Bennett."He grabbedBennett by the hair and lifted his face towards his own.WhenBennett 's eyes focused, the man showed him the red needle, dropped it tothe ground and crushed it with his foot.Bennett sucked in as much oxygen as hecould.He felt the man grab his sweaty hair and jerk his face upward.Hestared into the eyes above him for a split second and he saw no mercy.Thiswasn't a pardon.It was an execution.Page 70ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe man pulled out a Beretta 9mm and pressed it hard againstBennett 'sforehead.Then he drew it back and walked behind him and drove the gun intothe back of Bennett's head while pushing his body and face to the floor.Justinches away,Bennett could see a dark brown liquid oozing from the crushed redsyringe.His body was now shaking uncontrollably."You sick little monster,"the man screamed in his ear."You think I'm going tolet you get away with this? Do you? I'm going to count to three.And you'regoing to tell me why you're paying terrorists to kill the president-or I'mgoing to splatter your worthless freaking brains all over this room.I'm goingto freaking annihilate you and no one will ever even know you're dead.Youhear me? Do you hear me?'"It's not true you're wrong please-I don't know anything please.""ONE.""No-I don't know anything-please-I beg you-please.""TWO""Oh, God, help me.Please help me.""THREE.""Oh, God.I don't want to die.PLEASE."The deafening explosion from the Beretta rocked the room, echoing up anddown the tall, dark tower.Then all was silent.The Israelis stood aghast, not believing what they'd just seen.All threenow quickly exited the room.A moment later, the man with the jagged scarholstered his weapon, picked up his yo-yo, and followed them out, locking thedoor behind him.Bennett 's body now lay on the filthy white tilefloor-crumpled and still.SIXPage 71ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlIt was the last time the four men would be in the West.And they knew it.And they didn't care [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]