Free Dr. O by Robert W. Walker Page A

can."
    "Is he on the run?"
    "No. He's shaken, but he doesn't know the extent of the danger he is in. Oliguerri, like the other American scientist on Ovierto's hit list, believes it has to do with the Major Government, or possibly the KGB, and that it will not cross the ocean."
    He stared, sizing her up. "But it has, hasn't it?"
    "The two others—"
    "Two others?"
    "—met with accidental deaths in the States, but they were Canadian citizens on holiday. Good friends, they were traveling together when they got botulism —or so the death certificates read."
    "What did they die of?"
    "Rare poison extracted from a mushroom. Very painful death. Seems their waiter was an imposter."
    Swisher considered this for a moment. "Maybe it is just coincidence. How do you know otherwise?"
    "They were fed poisonous mushrooms. Found on autopsy."
    Swisher paced about the room in a small circle, thinking. "So, 111 be as much a surprise to this guy, Oliguerri, as this doctor character?"
    "Not quite, but close. We've contacted Oliguerri discreetly to tell him we were talking precautions, just in case."
    "I'm to approach him as a Fed?"
    "Any way you like. It's Ovierto we're after. Any way that ensures we get Ovierto."
    "Hold on. Are you asking me to distance myself and wait for Ovierto to strike this Nigerian guy before I should step in?"
    "Your prerogative entirely, Swish."
    "Christ, and I thought I was a cold bastard."
    "I'd trade six Oliguerris for Ovierto's fuckin' head, you'd-"
    "How many Swishers would you trade?"
    She slowed down. "All I'm saying is that if you spook Ovierto, we've lost him. Simple as that. And if we lose him, his killing spree will continue."
    "Better choice of words, huh?"
    She had a look on her face that said slap, but she was too strong for that. She took a deep breath and matched his stare with her own. "Ovierto will smell you, and he will kill you along with Oliguerri if you go near Oliguerri."
    "So, bait him with the scientist, bring the bird out in the open, and after Oliguerri is dead, get Ovierto, a nice slug for his brain?"
    "However you can get Ovierto, get him."
    "Christ, lady, are you as cold as you act?"
    "I can be very warm."
    "I’ll bet you can."
    He went to her, unashamedly attracted to her despite his words, attracted to her callous exterior, wishing to scrape it down, find out what was beneath. He embraced her and she returned his passion with passion, but suddenly she put him off. "Get Ovierto for me, and then... and then I'll come to you."
    He smiled wide at this. "It's a deal... a solid deal."
    "No one but you and I know about this operation until I can make it stick as official, Joe ...
    "Sounds fine to me."
    Despite herself, she became angry with him. "Damnit, you don't get it, do you?"
    "Get what?"
    "Anything happens to you, and we never heard of you." She closed the door on him.
    "Standard operating procedure," he had said through the door.
    Now here he was, in what amounted to a sterile environment surrounded by pencil-toting, white- coated people with enough optical wear to open a booming franchise. He had learned as subtly as possible where Oliguerri operated, since the building was enormous, going up and up as far as the eye could see. He had stood in the brightly lit lobby, looking up to the pinnacle of the building, a sleek, tall, pyramid. Each floor was littered with greenery in the form of live trees and shrubs which required watering. He had been put to this task as well.
    He was looking forward to a break. He was beginning to wonder if Thorpe's information on Ovierto was accurate or not. He had been told that a Sergeant Muro had been trying to get in touch with him, but he wasn't ready to deal with Robyn just yet.
     
    A couple of cleaned floors later, Joe Swisher was beginning to wonder if it hadn't all been a wild goose chase. Thorpe had been known to be wrong in the past. Then someone's footfalls began to approach in the quiet, upper corridors here, where the serious lab work was done