Istanbul Read Online Free Page A

Gialellis. A Greek-Turk girl. She hates those dope pushing bastards worse than we do. The Turkish cops turned her over to Todhunter and I wangled her from him — I've got her on ice at the station! She's a beautiful kid. Smart, too! There's only one thing..." Mousy tended to squeak a little when he got excited — "she's practically a dead woman — unless we're very careful! The people we're after know she's cured — know she's a danger to them, too. They'll kill her if they can."
    "Then we'll keep her alive," Nick said grimly. "At least until the job..."
    Todhunter stopped rowing and sat in a listening attitude. The dawn was coming fast now and the mist was thinning, though still heavy in spots. Todhunter took a heavy Colt ,45 from his shoulder clip and laid it on the thwart beside him.
    Mousy said: "He's been hearing things all night. Thinks someone is dogging us."
    Nick held up a hand for silence. "What about it, Todhunter?"
    "Unless my ears have been playing tricks," Todhunter said, "we
are
being dogged. I keep hearing a motor. First I hear it, then I don't. Like they were gunning it for awhile, then turning off and coasting. It's been too dark for them to see us — until right now!"
    But Nick said, "I haven't heard anything."
    "They've been lying doggo," Todhunter said. "But I'll swear I heard an engine a minute ago!"
    Nick admitted the possibility. He and Mousy had been intent on their own conversation.
    "Could be the harbor patrol," said Mousy.
    "That would be almost as bad as the other creeps," the Narcotics man said sourly. "They'd ask a million questions."
    Nick said: "Keep rowing, Todhunter! How far are we from where we're going?"
    "Three — four hundred yards from the jetty we want. Or were. The current is taking us out again."
    "Row then! As quietly as you can. No more talking."
    Nick bent to fumble with the straps and buckles of the Gladstone bag. From it now he took a small object. It was the size and shape of a lemon. It was the new weapon, as yet untried in the field, that had been given him by Editing and Special Effects just before he left Washington. Old man Poindexter, chief of Special Effects, had advised Nick to be extremely careful with the new weapon. It was, quite literally, murder!
    Mousy Morgan stared at the little object, started to say something, then closed his mouth. Nick slipped the deadly lemon into his pocket.
    Nick closed and locked the Gladstone and waited. The Luger was taped to his leg. Pierre, the gas pellet, was in his armpit. Hugo the stiletto was snug in a sheath on Nick's arm. None of them would be much help if trouble broke now. No more than Todhunter's Colt. But the little lemon might!
    The big Owens cruiser had been hiding in a patch of mist near the jetty. Waiting like a sleek cat for the mouse to venture within pouncing range!
    It pounced now with a roar of powerful engines. The cruiser came slashing out of the drifting mist, headed straight for them.
    Todhunter swore, dropped the oars and reached for his Colt. Mousy sat for a split instant of petrified fear and inaction.
    Nick Carter analyzed the situation and reacted with the speed of a striking snake. The gunner on the flying bridge! A lone man with a submachine gun bulky in his hands, steadying it on the rail, drawing a bead on the three men in the little rowboat. This was more than just a hit and run attempt. These killers were out to make sure!
    Nick yelled. "Overboard! Go deep and stay down!"
    He kicked the suitcase at Mousy. "Take care of that! Todhunter..."
    Too late! The Narcotics man was on his feet, the Colt heavy and black in his hand. The pistol boomed hollowly in the morning air. The machine gunner, dark silhouette against gray dawn, took careful aim and loosed a burst.
    "Damn fool!" Nick lunged across the thwarts, trying to get to the Narcotics man and shove him over. Mousy slid over the side, lugging the big suitcase with him.
    Pieces of boat were flying around Nick. Todhunter went to one knee, his face