Operation Read Online Free

actually felt emotional for a nanosecond.”
    “Glad you approve,” Morris said sarcastically. “It’s something you wouldn’t understand unless you’ve worn the uniform. I’m willing to bet that you haven’t—have you?”
    “That’s not important right now,” the voice said, ignoring the comment. “I was calling to inform you that we have decided to speed things up a little and move up the test date by six months.”
    “What?” Morris exclaimed. “They just arrived. How the hell—”
    “Don’t whine, General. It’s so unbecoming of a man of your presumed stature and in the uniform, as you mentioned earlier. Have them prepared to move within a week’s time.”
    “To where?” Morris asked.
    “The compound on the amphibious base in Virginia where the original Team were staged—they have a vacancy at the moment. No point in not using the complex. It’s already designed as a holding area. Our guests should be quite comfortable there and even you and your men can’t fuck it up—or can you?”
    “How dare—”
    “Tsk, tsk, tsk, General. I don’t think you want to go there—do you? Haven’t we had this discussion before when you signed on? Yes, I believe so. The nature of this operation and all that it entails is above you and your small military mind. You are a soldier—you’re doing the grunt work here, isn’t that what soldiers do?” The voice didn’t wait for an answer but continued on. “Of course it is. That is, unless you don’t feel capable. Is that the case, General? Don’t think you can handle this operation?”
    “I—” the General started to say.
    “I’m not done yet so shut the hell up! General Stone had issues with our plans. He is no longer with us anymore. Do you have any issues with our plans, General?”
    “No,” Morris replied, the sarcasm and anger in his voice now gone and replaced with a submissiveness that made the General feel sick to his stomach.
    “Good. Now get back to MacDill and make the necessary preparations. I’ll be in touch.”
    “But…”
    The caller disconnected.
    General Morris folded the cell phone and placed it into his jacket pocket. As he withdrew his hand from his pocket, he unconsciously ran his fingers on the ribbons and awards upon his jacket. It was a habit when he was troubled about something. The feel of the cloth ribbons and the shiny metal emblems reminded him of what he had done to earn those awards; hard honest work—placing his life on the line at times. The others, fellow soldiers, that he had known that had fallen and given their life to country—honor, courage, and commitment.
    Now, however, instead of getting the warmth of association with his previous service and comrades, the feeling was that of betrayal. He quickly removed his hand from his awards and placed them in his lap. It wasn’t the first time he had gotten this feeling. It seemed that every time his employer called, it got worse.
    My employer—the damn spooks. They don’t have a bloody clue how things are in the military—all they know is what they want. They throw words like national security around as if it was a simple greeting. How did we let them get so entrenched? How I wish I had stayed with the normal military and not gotten involved. They’re like leeches—once they hold of you, all they do is suck you dry until you become like one of them.
    “How much longer to the airport?” he barked.
    “Ten minutes, sir,” the driver answered.
    “Get on it—I have a flight to catch,” the General said, and then added softly to himself, “Yeah, a direct flight to hell if I’m not careful.”    
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Part II

Chapter One
    Hotel-Norfolk, Virginia
    P RESENT D AY
    The naked man lay on his back in the bed next to the woman as she slowly ran her tongue over his neck. She would stop long enough to kiss him and then begin licking again, searching for the spots she knew would further excite him. He could feel her warm breath on