Free The Legacy by Stephen Frey Page B

blond, I would have said it. Blond is a generic term covering many different shades. This mans hair was yellow.
    Is everyone else accounted for? Seward asked, trying to ignore Magees arrogance.
    Magee shook his head. Agent Graham is missing. I presume he is dead as well.
    Dammit! Seward slammed his fist on the table. You really screwed this up, Magee.
    So fire me and let me go back to the CIA, Magee wanted to say. But he held back. Something told him that discretion might be the better part of valor right now.
    Do you realize what kind of trouble you might have caused us by harming Cole Egan, Seward raged, if our investigation into the Colombian affair turns up answers we dont anticipate? It was improbable that the investigation would turn up those answers, but then Jim Egan was an improbable man. Seward had learned that a long time ago. Cole Egan must stay alive.
    Look, Im sorry. It took the only ounce of humility Magee possessed to say the words. You told me it was absolutely imperative that we acquire that tape. He gestured at the cassette case sitting on the table. Cole Egan turned out to be a resourceful man, so as a precaution, in the event I couldnt catch up with him, I wired the apartment for an explosion. That way, if we couldnt get the tape, nobody else could either. Its too bad about the woman in Cole Egans apartment.
    Uh-huh. Seward was seething. He knew Magee didnt give a rats ass about the young woman. Fortunately, using our powers of persuasion, we were able to convince the New York City Fire Department that the explosion was an accident.
    Good. Magee was suddenly impressed with Sewards abilities to manipulate. Perhaps he had underestimated the man after all.
    What about the fat man on the Gilchrist trading floor? Seward asked. I believe his name is Lewis Gebauer.
    What about him?
    Is he suspicious of whats going on? Did you screw that up too?
    Magee shook his head. No, hes positive Im a private investigator working for the company holding Cole Egans mortgage. Gebauer is an idiot. Hes got no idea whats really going on. He just wants to screw up Egans life. For some reason they hate each other. Of course, Gebauer would be an easy man to hate.
    As are you, Seward thought to himself. Is Gebauer still useful?
    Magee knew what that meant. Yes, if you want to maintain close surveillance on Cole Egan. It meant that Gebauers days were numbered.
    All right, Seward said, more to himself than Magee. He was beginning to calm down. You leave for Colombia tonight, Commander, Seward reminded Magee, holding up his left hand and studying the nail of his index finger as he spoke.
    Im ready, Magee answered confidently.
    I hope you dont find anything alarming down there.
    I hope not too, sir.
    Seward heard the derisive tone again as he picked up his cane and the tape, rose stiffly from the chair and limped out of the living room. At the doorway he hesitated momentarily. Have a pleasant trip, Commander, he said, then closed the door behind him and limped down the hallway toward his study.
    Magee shook his head and rose from the chair. What a bastard Seward was. And he had to endure a five-hour round trip just to put up with that crock of shit. Magee picked up his leather briefcase and headed toward the cabin door.
    Seward watched through the studys tinted window as Magee strode to the silver government sedan, slid behind the steering wheel, gunned the motor and guided the car back down the driveway. He kept watching until the car had disappeared into the forest, then turned to face General Avery Zahn, who was sitting in a chair across the room.
    Did you get all that? Seward asked. He was still angry.
    Zahn gestured at the television in one corner of the study. He had observed the conversation between Seward and Magee via a tiny camera and microphone concealed in the stones of the living room fireplace. Yes, he said calmly. I got it.
    Commander Magee went over the line in New York. I told you he would. He could have screwed up