Free Fall of Hades by Richard Paul Evans Page B

the main house to the water tower. He climbed the ladder to the top to make the call. The ringing had a far away, tinny sound.
    â€œVey Electric.”
    The voice answering was low and coarse. Gervaso thought it was a strange thing to hear the voice of his enemy.
    â€œI found your message,” Gervaso said.
    â€œWhom am I speaking with?”
    â€œA friend of Michael’s. I presume you are Welch.”
    There was a brief pause; then the voice said, “We cannot speak long. I need your help getting out of Taiwan.”
    â€œWhy would we help you?” Gervaso asked.
    â€œDon’t play this game. We both know I have information you need to bring down Hatch.”
    â€œHow do we know we can trust you?”
    â€œJust go online. You can see for yourself that Hatch has put a million-dollar bounty on my head. That’s not something he can fake.”
    â€œWe’ll send a team to get you out of the country. Where are you?”
    â€œObviously I can’t say that over the phone. Create an e-mail address, and I will send you information. I’ll give you more information after you arrive on the island. I need to be careful for both of us.”
    â€œUnderstood.”
    â€œI’m going to give you another phone number. Do not lose it. It’s the only number where you will be able to reach me. Do you have something to write with?”
    â€œYes. Go ahead.”
    Welch gave him the number, then asked, “Is this number one I can reach you at later?”
    â€œYes. This is my personal number.”
    â€œI’ll be in touch tomorrow.”
    â€œI’ll wait to hear from you. Good-bye.”
    Welch hung up. Gervaso put the phone back into his pocket, then looked out over the sprawling ranch. The wind blew softly, and the tapping sound of a woodpecker echoed in the distance like a telegraph. Everything was so peaceful. Not for long , he thought. Not for long.



Nike, Tuvalu
    â€œA dmiral-General, sir, I have something to report.”
    â€œCome in, Roick,” Hatch said. Dawid Roick was the first Polish recruit to the Elgen force and had risen quickly to the rank of Zone Captain. He was loyal, smart, and a fanatic for the Elgen cause, all qualities Hatch admired.
    â€œOur spiders picked this up,” Roick said.
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    Hatch’s eyes slowly panned over the ad. “Mr. Vey, what are you up to?”
    â€œWe don’t believe it’s Vey,” Roick said.
    Hatch looked up. “No?”
    â€œWe believe it’s from someone trying to reach Vey. It’s a code.” Roick ran his finger along the bulleted line. “ELGEN SOS,” he said. “The phone number listed isn’t an Idaho number. It’s the country code for Taiwan.”
    â€œWelch!” Hatch said. “It’s Welch.”
    â€œThat’s what we’re thinking.”
    â€œThat means he has a phone. And if he has a phone, we can track him.”
    â€œExactly. We wait until he uses it, triangulate it, and capture him. We’ve already begun. He’s in central Taiwan near the city of Changhua.”
    â€œDoes EGG Daines know about this?”
    â€œYes, sir. He’s already assembled a team to capture him. We’re just waiting for Welch to use the phone again to pinpoint his exact location.”
    Hatch sat back. “Tell Daines I want to be briefed in real time about his mission.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œWell done, Roick. After Welch is captured, I’ll see that you are amply rewarded. We do have a vacancy among the EGGs.”
    â€œThank you, sir.