Page 64 of The Secret

“A lot of people worked at that plant. And staff turnover was sky high. They’ll be all over the world now. Some will be sick. Some will be in seniors’ homes. Is there any way to narrow the field? Give yourselves a better shot?”

“Actually, yes. Because there was this one particular research team. I’m sure you saw them around the plant. They mingled with everyone else in the normal way. But the work they did was secret. The regular team members all knew one another, but there was one extra person associated with them in some kind of a detached role. A supervisor, maybe, or a support person, or a technical specialist. And due to all that paranoid Cold War obsession with secrecy, only one team member knew who this associate was.”

“You don’t know which team member it was who had the contact?”

“We have an idea.”

“Could you ask him?”

“Tricky. He’s dead.”

“Could you try the other team members? Just in case?”

“They’re all dead, too.”

“Then how did you find out about this whole thing?”

“One of the team members told us before he died. Owen Buck. Did you know him?”

“Never heard of the guy.”

“He knew at the time that this extra associate killed our fatherbut he did nothing. Then he found out he had cancer and he had a sudden attack of conscience.”

“That sucks. It’s a shame he didn’t act earlier. Like, right away. So listen, I’ll write my list. And I’m still in touch with a few others. I could ask around, if you like? Discreetly? I wouldn’t have to fake any office emergencies or impersonate any security personnel.”

Roberta shook her head. “Thank you. But I think we’ll start with what you know. Then go from there.”

“Sounds like a plan. I do have to ask one other thing, though. Sorry if it’s insensitive. Am I right to assume your father worked at the plant?”

Roberta nodded.

“Mind if I ask his name? Maybe I knew him.”

“I’m sure you knew of him, at least. His name was Morgan Sanson.”

Kasluga didn’t say anything. She just stared.

“I’m Roberta. This is Veronica.”

Kasluga felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her chest was tight. She told herself it was just the stress. The lack of sleep. She said, “Robbie and Ronnie? I heard your names. I always assumed you were boys.”

“Most people did.”

“I remember all the things they said about your dad.” Kasluga was feeling light-headed. Maybe if that phone call had come when it was supposed to, she would be more in control. “I can see why it’s important to set the record straight.”

“The record is straight,” Veronica said. She opened her satchel and took out a dog-eared manila folder. “This is his personnel file. It confirms everything about his character. Our father’s only concern was safety. He found out that someone was stealing money. Maintenance standards were slipping as a result. That’s what causedthe leak that killed those people. Not sabotage. Dad was going to blow the whistle so someone had to shut him up.”

Kasluga took the folder and pressed it against her lap. “How the hell did you get this?”

“Owen Buck gave it to us. He took it when he left the plant. Said it was proof he always meant to help.”

“I’ll help. And I don’tmean todo things. I do them.” Kasluga’s heart was beating so hard it felt like it might break a rib. She was feeling hot. She was worried she was going to faint. “But listen. All the same, don’t get your hopes up. There’s a lot of time gone by. A lot of water under the bridge. Finding this eighth guy will be no kind of cakewalk. It might not even be possible. You should prepare yourselves for that. Now, could we get going? I really need to be back at the office.”

Chapter24

After more than an hourReacher saw the big heavy gates twitch then slowly begin to pull apart. He fired up his engine, pulled forward, stopped, and jumped out. Then he stood in the mouth of Stamoran’s driveway with his car parked directly behind him.

By any reasonable measure it was a reckless thing to do. Reckless, and stupid. The Secretary of Defense is one of the best protected people in the world. Anyone executing a hostile maneuver directed at him is likely to get shot. Or tackled to the ground at the very least. And the secretary’s official limousine could brush a lightweight rental car aside like a bug. But that morning none of those things happened. The Class A uniform did its job, just as Reacher had gambled it would.

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