Free The Legacy by Stephen Frey Page A

would be a benign enough question not to spark one of Magees self-promotion speeches.
    It took me two hours and twenty-two minutes to get here from downtown Washington, Magee replied. Ive obviously done this trip a number of times, but Ive never actually timed it before, so today before I left Washington I wrote down on a piece of paper how long I thought it would take. I wrote down two hours and twenty-three minutes. I was off by only one minute.
    Oh? Seward rolled his eyes. Magee was off and running on another ego trip.
    Yes. You see, I have an incredible innate ability to judge time. Christ, it works even if Im asleep. I never have to request wakeup calls when I stay in hotels, or set the alarm at home. I wake up exactly when I need to, always. Its subconscious, my mind working at several different levels simultaneously. I think thats always been a key to my incredible success at such a young age. Knowing things without even having to
    Thank you, Commander Magee, Seward interrupted. He could tell from Magees expression that the commander wasnt happy about being cut off, but the hell with him. Lets get started. Do you have the tape? Seward asked impatiently.
    Magee opened his briefcase sullenly, withdrew the videocassette case and placed it on the maple coffee table between them. Last night I acquired this tape on Thirty-ninth Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues.
    Seward let out a long slow breath as he saw the tape physically in front of him. He tried not to allow his emotion to show, but that was impossible. He had been studying and shadowing Jim Egan for too long. If Magee hadnt acquired this damning piece of evidence last night, thirty-five years of work would have washed down the drain like so much dirty bathwater.
    Suddenly Seward could no longer contain his anger. What the hell were you thinking about last night?
    Magees posture stiffened. He had never heard this tone in Sewards voice and was unprepared for the rebuke. After all, he had successfully completed the mission. What did you say?
    Seward gritted his teeth. I told you to acquire the tape as benignly as possible. Under no circumstances were you to jeopardize Cole Egans life. You completely disobeyed my orders.
    I got you the damn tape, Magee snapped. Christ, he was tired of reporting to this doddering old fool. It was time to get back to the CIA. And how would you know I jeopardized Cole Egans life?
    A Gilchrist window was shot out last night, and there was an explosion in Mr. Egans Manhattan apartment, killing an unlucky young woman named Maria Cooper. Seward gritted his teeth more tightly. I believe that explosion was meant for Cole Egan. Its quite a trail of violence, too closely timed with your Manhattan visit to be coincidence. Thats how I know you jeopardized his life.
    Magee shifted uncomfortably in his chair but said nothing.
    You had to use your power, didnt you? Seward asked disdainfully. Magee was one of those psychopathic military zealots Seward had run into before. You had to kill, now that youre insulated. Magee could commit murder and suffer no consequences. The government had bestowed that privilege upon him, and it sickened Seward that Magee would take advantage of this newly acquired carte blanche. You fired on Cole Egan as you chased him out of the Gilchrist Building last night, and you wired his apartment for the explosion, didnt you? Seward demanded.
    Still Magee said nothing. But Seward thought he noticed a tiny smile move Magees scar. What about the people under your command? he asked curtly.
    Catherine is dead, Magee answered without emotion. Some idiot came running at us immediately after I took the tape from Cole Egan.
    What? Seward caught his breath as his heart rate jumped.
    Yes. The man shot Catherine. Fortunately, I eluded him.
    This was bad news. Did you get a good look at this man? Seward asked quickly, his pulse racing.
    All I can tell you for certain is that he had curly yellow hair.
    You mean blond hair.
    If I had meant