Close Up the Sky Read Online Free

said. “We know you've just finished
a pretty exhausting case, but before we begin would you please make a phone
call to your chief? It might make things a little easier if you first hear what
he has to say.” He picked up his coffee and sipped it, looking at Leahy over
the top of his glasses.
    When Leahy
hesitated, Summerhour shifted his weight uncomfortably and cleared his throat. “He’s
expecting your call," he said.
    Leahy set his cup
down and studied them for a few seconds. Suspicious, he got up and went into
the bedroom, staying where he could still see the other men. He picked up the
phone and dialed Chief Webster's private number. A few minutes later he came
back into the living room and sat down. He stared at the NSA agents for a long
moment.
    "He just
cancelled my vacation and ordered me to give you full cooperation. What’s this
all about?" He let his irritation show.
    Feldon removed his
glasses, pulled a cloth from his pocket, and began wiping them. He glanced
nervously at Summerhour, who sat staring into his coffee cup. The big man
shifted to the edge of the sofa and continued wiping the glasses, avoiding
Leahy’s eyes. “To be perfectly honest, Lieutenant, we know very little ourselves
about what's going on." He put the glasses back on and stuffed the cloth
into a coat pocket. "We're what you might call coordinators for a special
government project. Our instructions were to do three things: first, contact your
chief and arrange for an indefinite leave of absence for you; paid of course. So
as of right now, you're temporarily assigned to the NSA. Second, make airline
reservations for you to New Mexico on the first available flight. Third, give
you instructions on where and when you'll meet your next contact." He
paused, apparently organizing his thoughts.
    "I'm
listening," Leahy’s voice had a guarded tone. Feldon’s attitude of secrecy
was making him uneasy. He shifted his gaze from Feldon to Summerhour, who continued
to stare into his cup. A few raindrops still clung to his forehead.
    "Your flight
leaves Atlanta for Albuquerque at five o'clock this afternoon," Feldon
continued. He pulled an airline ticket out of his coat and laid it on the
table. "Your contact will meet you at the Albuquerque airport and give you
further instructions at that time."
    Leahy glanced at
the ticket, but resisted the urge to pick it up. "How will I recognize
this contact?" he asked.
    "You
won't," Summerhour put in, finally looking up. "The person you're to
meet will recognize you."
    Leahy's
apprehension grew. Less than fifteen minutes ago he was on vacation, looking
forward to a long overdue rest. Now, two men from the National Security Agency
were sitting in his living room involving him in a mysterious trip to New
Mexico. He half expected the alarm clock to go off again and wake him from this
ridiculous dream; or was it a nightmare?
    "And why am I
going to Albuquerque?" he asked.
    Feldon took a deep
breath and let it out slowly. He picked up the coffee and swirled the liquid
around in the cup. He put his lips to it and made a face. It had gone cold. "As
I told you before, we don't know the details of your assignment…."
    Leahy cut him off
in mid-sentence. “Cut the bull. I’m not going anywhere blindly, no matter what
Chief Webster says. You either play straight with me or this discussion is
over." There was no mistaking the anger in his tone.
    Feldon was taken
off guard. He looked at Summerhour for support, but got nothing. Finally, he
said, "Since your background has already been checked by the FBI and
you've been cleared to receive certain secret information, I can tell you as
much as I know; which is very little. The government has a top-secret research
facility at a place in New Mexico called Apache Point. That's your destination.
Whatever they have in mind for you will be explained when you arrive. I don’t
know any more than that."
    "Apache
Point," Leahy mused. "I never heard of the place. What kind of
research