Firebird: The Spy Thriller of the 1960s by Hynd Noel

Author:Hynd, Noel [Hynd, Noel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07BHXCWPG
Goodreads: 39301393
Published: 2018-04-18T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 41

While Frank Cooper snooped through files in Langley, Lauren was in Cooper’s office at the Eagle, working at his desk. Abruptly, she had the sense that she was being watched. She looked up. She was startled to see a man in a trench coat. He was standing at the office door. The man was unannounced, having glided past security, and he looked rough. Then she saw there was a second man behind him. Between them, they spelled trouble.

“Hey. How’s tricks?” the man said.

Recovering quickly, she asked, “May I help you?”

“I’m looking for Frank Cooper,” the first man said. “This is his office, isn’t it?”

They wandered into the office.

The first man was tall, clean-cut, square-shouldered, and in his forties. Lauren didn't like the look of him. There was an obvious air of menace. The second looked even more thuggish, like a bouncer in a Queens night club. The second man stood with arms akimbo. He was looking through the unruly maze of unrelated photographs and clippings that adorned Cooper's wall. He was unable to wrest his eyes away from a clipping about a beach volleyball tournament in California showing a tall blond woman in a one-piece bathing suit leaping high to block a shot.

“What can I do for you gentlemen?” Lauren asked. “Mr. Cooper is out of town on an assignment.”

“For how long?”

“That remains to be seen.” She eyed them back and forth. The more she saw of them, less she liked them. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No,” the man said flatly. “Just dropped by to say hello. Visiting from out of town.” The man smiled. “You know Frank?” he asked.

Lauren leaned back. “We work together.”

The visitor stepped forward. “Frankie and I go way back,” he said. “I’m his cousin Kevin. From Chicago.”

Kevin stepped forward and offered his hand.

Lauren searched her memory of Cooper’s family talk. She hit the reference fast.

“Uncle Eddie’s son?” she said.

The man smiled. “That’s me.”

He offered a handshake. Lauren eased and accepted it. He turned to the goon with him.

“Smart lady, huh, Matty?”

Matty smiled. “Yeah.”

“I’m Lauren. I work with Frank. Will you be in the city for long?”

“No, no. Just here taking care of some old business. Do me a favor. Just tell ‘Frankie Fists’ that I stopped by.”

“’Frankie Fists’?”

“Ask Frankie about that one. He’ll tell you a good story. Wanted to say a fast hello if I could. Touch base, you know.”

“I know,” Lauren said.

“You Frankie’s secretary?”

“I’m a reporter.”

“You’re a nice-looking doll. I wouldn’t be surprised if Frankie was romancing you some.”

“No comment,” Lauren answered.

“Got to blow town now, okay?” Kevin said. “We’re driving back to Chi-town. You won’t forget to tell Frankie we were asking, right?”

“I won’t forget.”

“And don’t mention that you saw me to no one else, okay?”

“Got it,” she said.

The visitors turned. They were gone as quickly as they had appeared. Lauren heaved a huge sigh of relief.

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