Free Operation Barracuda (2005) by Tom - Splinter Cell 02 Clancy Page A

I’m happy to say that our prototype is complete and ready for testing.”
    There were some murmurs of congratulations but no applause.
    “So let me get this straight,” Cooper said. Kay turned his attention to the CIA man. “You’re telling us that thing can carry weapons? We could put a nuclear device on it and deliver it to a coastal city with utmost discretion?”
    “Theoretically, yes,” Kay answered.
    “Then that’s pretty sharp,” Cooper said.
    “Yes, we’re all pleased with how it turned out.” Kay returned to his seat. “We’re hoping that the test runs can commence as soon as possible.”
    Admiral Colgan regained the floor. “That said, we’ve come here to alert the Committee that tests cannot commence due to what may be a serious security breach with regard to the MRUUV program.”
    The rest of the group waited for the admiral to continue. Colgan eyed Kay again and nodded.
    Kay cleared his throat and swallowed. “The problem is that the lead physicist on the project, Professor Gregory Jeinsen, has been missing for a week. He didn’t report for work last Monday. When an investigation was made, Professor Jeinsen was nowhere to be found.”
    “I’ve never heard of this Jeinsen,” Morris Cooper said. “Who is he?”
    Colgan answered. “Professor Jeinsen is an East German scientist who defected to the U.S. in the early seventies. He’s worked for the Pentagon in various capacities but mostly in weapons development.”
    “I knew him personally,” Kay said. “And worked side by side with him, of course. He’s an honest and brilliant man. An American citizen.”
    “And what’s been done to find him?” Cooper asked.
    “The D.C. police searched his apartment. It looked completely normal. It appeared that Professor Jeinsen had simply got out of bed one morning, left the place, and never returned. His things are still there. Nothing is missing, as far as the police can tell. If there’s a suitcase or some clothes gone, it’s difficult to say. The police have a missing persons bulletin out on him but there are no clues yet.”
    Darrell Blake spoke up. “Our agency was alerted two days after the professor didn’t show up for work. The FBI is now on the case and is looking into every possibility. We can’t rule out that Professor Jeinsen met with some kind of foul play. I’m afraid it’s beginning to look like that is what indeed has happened.”
    “You mean he’s been kidnapped?” Lewis asked.
    Blake shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    Colgan continued. “What troubles us is not only the good professor’s safety but also the fact that Professor Jeinsen had complete access to the MRUUV program. He was the man in charge of it. If the professor happens to find himself in enemy hands, well, the results could compromise our work on the project. It could be a very serious blow to our defense strategies.”
    The senator spoke next. “Thank you, gentlemen. A file has been prepared on the professor. You will all receive copies before we leave here today. I’d like all of you to look into this. The FBI is already doing what they can. I want the CIA and NSA to give this situation top priority. This is an order that comes from the president himself. Find Professor Jeinsen.”

8
    HOME again.
    The day after my nocturnal visit to General and Mrs. Prokofiev’s house in Moscow, Lambert ordered me to come back to the States. My job in Russia and Ukraine was finished.
    It turned out Mrs. Prokofiev wasn’t kidding when she said she’d kill her husband. She certainly tried. As soon as he walked in the front door, she shot him with the Winchester rifle. The bullet entered his body just below the Adam’s apple and severed his spine on the way out. For good measure she shot him again in the head. The general was rushed to the hospital but it’s looking as if we can write him off. He’ll live but only as something akin to a rutabaga. Poor Mrs. Prokofiev was arrested and will no doubt go to prison or