Contagion Option. Don Pendleton

identical as possible,” Bolan stated.

      “Some corpses have been described as outsize for the missing animals, as if they’d been mutated…”

      “Or it was just an animal with similar fur patterns as the smaller missing cow. Hollowed out with its soft tissue missing, it would look like something could have deformed the animal,” Bolan explained.

      “You take all the fun out of conspiracy theories,” Kurtzman mumbled.

      “I’ve yet to run into a conspiracy that was fun,” Bolan retorted.

      “Usually because they’re out to kill you,” Kurtzman added.

      “There’s that,” Bolan replied. “Smuggling from Korea to Utah…but not the other way around?”

      “Perhaps the exports from the area are of a more subtle means,” Kurtzman mused. “Though, that explains why the bank robbers were armed with 5.45 mm ComBloc ammunition.”

      “Five point forty-five?” Bolan asked. “Usually street gangs use either stolen National Guard M-16s, in 5.56 mm, or AK-47s smuggled up from Central and South America, in 7.62 mm. That’s still cutting-edge equipment. How’d you find that out?”

      “FBI agents at the scene figured it out after they tore apart a police car,” Kurtzman explained. “I’m sending what reports we have. Unfortunately, any other forensic analysis is going to be put on hold since half the bank collapsed.”

      “The hostages?”

      “Alive and well,” Kurtzman informed him. “The FBI and police rushed the bank as soon as the robbers disappeared into the basement. They evacuated everyone before the building came down.”

      “Anyone hurt?” Bolan asked.

      “A SWAT commander suffered a broken collarbone and three broken ribs, and an FBI contract agent took a whack on the head, but they’re okay.”

      Bolan nodded. “Who was the contract agent, one of our blacksuits?”

      “No, but he’s a friend of one of our irregulars, Kirby Graham,” Kurtzman stated. “I don’t know if you met…”

      “Close Quarters Combat training in hazardous material environments, three years ago,” Bolan stated. “It was a refresher course for me as much as it was for them.”

      “Good memory,” Kurtzman complimented.

      “It helps in this business,” the Executioner replied. “And the contract agent?”

      “Old college buddy of his, Professor Stan Reader.”

      “I’ve heard of him, too,” Bolan stated. “Buck Greene and I have wanted to vet him for the blacksuit program, but he’s just a shade too high profile to fit in with the Sensitive Operations Group. Nuclear physicist and a professional biathlete, among other things.”

      “Get in touch with Graham,” Bolan stated. “If Reader’s up to it, I’d like them keeping the Farm informed of everything on Utah’s end of things.”

      “You’re not coming back here?” Kurtzman asked.

      “I’ll be taking the scenic route, Aaron,” Bolan told him. “I hear that North Korea is quite pleasant at times like this.”

      “And what time is that?” Kurtzman asked.

      The Executioner took a deep breath. “Blitz time.”

      He signed off and prepared for his infiltration of North Korea.