Hellfire Code. Don Pendleton

his head. “Not likely, buddy. They managed to find out about them just like they managed to track you here. That tells me he has eyes and ears in town. The score’s zero and two in the other team’s favor. He’ll find them again. You can’t protect them and still do your job.”

      “What job’s that?”

      “Helping me get inside Downing’s operation here.”

      “But I don’t even know where that is,” Neely protested.

      “No, but you can contact him and set up a meet,” Bolan said. “That’s a step closer than I am right now.”

      “Okay, so you get a step closer. Then what?”

      “Leave that to me,” Bolan replied, boring through Neely with ice-blue eyes.

      “What, are you some kind of one-man army?” Neely asked in a joking tone.

      Bolan’s smile lacked warmth, and with good reason. “Maybe Downing thinks he’s invincible and maybe he thinks he’s out of reach from the American government. But he’s not out of my reach. Let’s leave it there.”

      “Okay, I’ll set up the meet, but then I want out.”

      “Fine. So let’s get back to this deal with your wife and daughter. You’ve told me the truth?”

      “Nothing but, Cooper. On my mother’s grave. You have to believe me.”

      “Maybe I do,” Bolan said. “When did you last see Downing?”

      “Last evening,” he said without hesitation.

      That seemed to match up with what Price had told him, so Bolan decided for the moment Neely was shooting straight. He still didn’t completely trust the guy, but he could see how it might have gone down like this. The thing he had to do now was get to Downing before anything else happened. Simultaneously, he’d have to contact Stony Man to see if they could arrange safe passage out of the country for Neely and his family.

      Bolan decided to play his wild card.

      “You know a scientist by the name of Peter Hagen?”

      Neely appeared to search his memory, nodded slowly. “Yeah, I think so. If I remember right, he was some kind of big-wig with the special projects division at the Agency. In fact, now that you mention it, I think he worked under Downing’s tenure.”

      “That’s him,” Bolan said. “You know of any reason why Downing would want him dead?”

      “Not off hand, but I’m sure it has something to do with these big plans he keeps bragging about.”

      “What big plans?”

      “I didn’t get details. Downing doesn’t like to give out details. He’s the kind to hold on to what little pathetic power he has. All I know is what I’ve told you. Sounds like he has something up his sleeve, something he plans to use to spearhead his operations against the terrorists.”

      “You don’t think he’ll stop with the NCF.” It wasn’t a question.

      Neely produced something between a laugh and a snort. “Hell no! Downing’s just getting started, my friend. Whatever he’s planning, you can be sure it’ll be big and spectacular.”

      Okay, so Downing obviously felt he had what he needed to make a move, which meant he was probably going to act soon. He’d eliminated Hagen—who in all likelihood had produced the technical goods Downing needed—and he thought he probably had Neely under control. Soon, very soon, he’d receive the word that his killing team in the States was no more. That would most likely put him in a rage, and he’d lean on this Alek Stezhnya to act. When Downing broke out whatever he thought was big and spectacular, the Executioner would have something big and spectacular of his own waiting. And he’d shove it right down the enemy’s throat.