War Everlasting (Superbolan) by Don Pendleton

Author:Don Pendleton [Pendleton, Don]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Worldwide Library
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Adak Island

“How does this happen?” Davis Haglemann demanded. “Can somebody tell me how the hell this happens?”

Otto Lustrum stood frozen in place and tried to keep his knees from shaking. Blast it all, but he didn’t like this rich, entitled shit, anyway! He never really had. He didn’t like the way Haglemann made him feel, and he didn’t like the guy’s business practices. When Haglemann had appointed Lustrum foreman over the entire labor force on Adak, the veteran dockworker had been indecently grateful. He’d built a thriving community of devoted workers and taken very little for himself. Oh, sure, so maybe he’d pinched a few bucks here and there in his gambling operation, but who the hell cared? Everybody got his or her entertainment, and he collected a cut of the action for providing it. He was a businessman just like Haglemann. It’s not like the two were that much different.

“You were supposed to keep an eye on this guy!” Haglemann snapped. “Now he’s probably dead, and that leaves my ass hanging out there in the wind. Well, frankly, I’m not looking to get my head blown off just because you’re an idiot!”

“Davis, try to understand,” Lustrum pleaded. “We put some guys on Blansky just like you asked. How were we supposed to know the psychopath he was supposed to be protecting you from would take him out?”

“You shoulda known!” Haglemann slammed his beefy fist on his desk. “You shoulda goddamn well known it. Now I’m up shit creek without a paddle. Well, you be sure this fuck-up isn’t going to go unnoticed, Otto. I’ve got to hire on extra security to watch my ass because you couldn’t do this one simple thing.”

“What I want to know is, what’s the story with these guys you’re doing business with? Why all the intrigue?”

“Intrigue? Jeez, Lustrum, have you lost your mind? This isn’t the 1950s, you know. The cold war is over! I can do business with whomever I like! And anyway, that’s none of your concern. You work for me.”

“I work for the people!” Lustrum said. “My people, which are obviously not anybody you care about, Davis.”

“You get the hell out of here, Otto! Get the hell out!” Haglemann pointed toward the door of his office. “You get out of here and don’t ever let me see your face again, or it will be the last time. You understand?”

Lustrum started to open his mouth and then clamped down on his words at the last second. The five men who moved off station were very large and all armed. They were top-shelf protectors hired a long time ago as Haglemann’s personal security force, and they were mean customers. Lustrum was getting on in years, and he doubted he could best even one of these men, let alone all five.

“That’s fine, Davis. But understand this—we’re through and double through. Whatever shit comes down from this, don’t come crawling to me. You’re on your own!”

“Get the fuck out of here!” Haglemann screamed with such apoplexy Lustrum thought the guy might throw a clot right there.

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