Free Delta Factor, The by Mickey Spillane Page A

but the introduction was one of two animals sizing each other up. When he stepped back he looked at me quickly and I got his meaning. I said, “It’s a clean deal, Art. No repercussions.”
    â€œYou’re nuts, buddy. There are other ways.”
    â€œI like it this way.”
    â€œSure, you always did. But then, you always were nuts too.”
    â€œEverything ready?”
    Art said softly. “Six A.M. at Raymond’s. Travel light. I want as much fuel aboard as I can carry. How much does she know?”
    â€œThe works.”
    â€œThere’s something else. You’re expected. Vince got the word an hour ago and sent it out on shortwave. Who planted it?”
    Kim said matter-of factly, “We did.”
    Art looked at me, his eyes curious now. “That okay with you?”
    â€œThey had to expedite matters.”
    â€œYou’re going to have plenty of company, then. Right now their regime is damn rocky and with that loot they think they can extract from you they can get back on their feet. They’re going to want to expedite matters too. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”
    I glanced at Kim and laughed. “The hell you wouldn’t.” Art grinned and shrugged. “I don’t know how you always get the best end of the deal.”
    â€œPure good luck,” I said. “All the other details standard or have things changed?”
    â€œFour points up on the old wavelength and use the same Kissler code. They still haven’t broken that one. Somebody will be monitoring around the clock and if you need a contact, try the one at the Orino Bar who’ll sing our old song as a recognition gimmick.”
    â€œAny heavies in the act?”
    â€œWatch out for one called Russo Sabin. He’s a hatchet man for Carlos Ortega who’s about to take the power away from the present government. He has civilian and military personnel behind him and we know damn well he’s been buttering up to the Commies, who will jump right in and back him if he wins this political battle. All Ortega needs is a few million to grease the right palms and we’re going to have another Cuba on our hands.”
    â€œHow does it look?”
    â€œRight now, all in his favor. You’re going to be a welcome addition to his program.” Art paused and looked at the both of us a second. “Any interagency cooperation here?”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThe Navy and the Border Patrol are pretty damn tight, old buddy.”
    â€œGood. It has to look right. They haven’t been alerted, so it’s all your operation.”
    â€œAs long as I know.”
    â€œIf we get hit it will be our own fault. Nobody gets off the hook.”
    â€œThey haven’t caught me yet,” Art said. We shook hands; he nodded to Kim and stalked away with a fierce stride, disappearing around the corner of the building.
    Kim watched him go, then said, “He seems very proficient.”
    â€œHe has to be,” I told her.
    Something made her look at me sharply. “Who is he?”
    â€œOne of the men you said was dead. We were part of that team that operated behind the lines in Germany during the war.”
    â€œBut ... there was no Keefer ...” she started.
    I laughed and shook my head. “He was in the Army under a different name then.”
    Her eyes looked almost black under the frown. “Then the other three ...”
    â€œOh, two of them are dead, all right.”
    She kept studying me and I knew what she was thinking. I shook my head slowly and said. “He wasn’t any part of that forty-million-dollar haul, sugar. Forget it.”
    Overhead there was the dull rumble of thunder and the sun slid behind an ominous bank of black clouds. The two kids in the pool came out of the water and scurried into their room. I took the empty can from Kim’s hand, tossed it into the basket and waved my thumb at our door. “Go get dressed. I’ll