Free The Lazarus Plot by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

more about this organization. What is it called? Where's it located?"
    Frank was about to answer when Joe cut in quickly, "There's time for that later. Right now, we have to stop our doubles."
    Frank nodded. "Joe's right. What are they up to? Why did they contact you?"
    The Gray Man nodded, too. "We do have to stop them fast, and that'll be hard. They're clever, I have to hand it to them. They contacted me through the computer hook-up and told me they had to see me personally with information they couldn't risk anybody finding out about through electronic eavesdropping.”
    "After they got here and after they passed through all the security check to be able to see me alone, they told me they'd gotten wind of a plot that concerned the life of the President him self. But when I asked them what it was, they said they couldn't tell me. And can you guess why?" "I'll take a wild guess," replied Frank.
    "Go ahead, Sherlock," said the Gray Man with a smile. "That's what your brother calls you, if I remember correctly." "Our doubles told you that they couldn't trust you because there was an organization that made doubles of key figures and you might be one of them."
    The Gray Man tried not to look surprised. "And how did you figure that out?"
    "You didn't seem as surprised as you should have when we told you about the Lazarus Group like you'd heard it all before," answered Frank.
    "So they're called Lazarus," said the Gray Man, thoughtfully.
    "But what did they want with you?" Joe interrupted impatiently.
    "Oh, right. Back to the subject at hand," said the Gray Man. "They said they could only speak to the head of the Network because they could be sure that this as one person whose identity this Lazarus group Could not know: You see, I am the only one in the network - and one of only a very few people in the highest level of government who knows who the head is." "And you revealed it to them?" said Frank.
    For a second the Gray Man's air of assurance faded. He looked ashamed, apologetic. Then he pulled himself together. "I did. It was a snap decision and I made it. They claimed the President's life hung by a thread, and only the Network head could stop that thread from being snapped very, very soon. So I told them. Or rather, I told you. You see, though I have a lot of doubts about your maturity and efficiency, I have no doubts at all about your honesty." "Thanks," said Joe. "Anyway, there's a good chance we can stop them before they do any damage," said Frank. "You can contact your boss immediately."
    "If only it were that simple," said the Gray Man. "But you see, one of the methods we've employed to keep our head's identity a total secret is not to have any mechanical lines of communication with the boss.
    "I think, especially after seeing how hostile forces succeeded in finding out the link between you and me, that you can see our wisdom in doing that. Only I have contact with our head, in ways that no one shadowing me can suspect. That's just part of the security system that our head has personally devised, and it's proved to be the most effective cover a secret official has ever had until now, anyway."
    "Then you'll have to rush some of your men to cut off the doubles," said Frank.
    "Letting our own agents in on the secret would break the system wide open," said the Gray Man.
    He went to his desk and pulled out a Browning automatic pistol and put it in a shoulder holster that he also took from the desk. He removed his jacket, fastened the holster, and put his jacket on again. "There's only one way to do it. We have to go ourselves."
    "What a good idea. Let's all go together." It was Frank's voice, but it came from the doorway.
    Silently the door had been swung open, and Frank II stood there, with a Beretta pistol leveled. As he stepped into the room, Joe II followed an identical pistol in his hand.
    "Brother Frank is right," said Joe II. "'I'm sure our twins here are simply dying to meet the Network head."
    "Well, maybe we can