"Дон Пендлтон. Doomsday Disciples ("Палач" #49) " - читать интересную книгу автора

"We suffered an intrusion of our own," he said. "Several of my men were
killed, a member of the Devotees was... removed."
"Abducted?"
"More in the nature of a liberation," he replied.
"Somebody special?''
Minh nodded.
"You met her, I believe. Amy Culp."
The name registered.
"Pretty girl... freckles?" Carter asked. It hit him allatonce. "The
senator's kid."
Minh waited, saying nothing.
"How badly can she hurt us?"
The Vietnamese took his time, letting Carter sweat.
"That depends. The longer she remains at large..."
Carter made a low, disgusted sound and slapped an open palm against his
knee.
"Dammit all...''
Minh's voice was velvet-covered steel.
"Calm yourself, Mitchell. I am not without resources. Our subject has a
friend."
Hope dawned in the lawyer's eyes.
''Have you got a line on her?''
Minh suppressed the urge to snap at Carter, put him in his place.
"I have every confidence she will join us soon," he said. "At the
moment, I am more concerned with coordinating information on the two
attacks."
Carter suspiciously eyed his counterpart.
"You see one man behind both?" he asked.
Minh responded with his customary caution, the tone almost patronizing.
"I am not a believer in coincidence." he said. "To encounter separate,
unconnected enemies within a single night would be... remarkable."
Carter saw the logic, and the thought did nothing to appease him.
"What should we do?" he asked.
Minh held him with a steady gaze.
"For the moment, nothing," he replied. "The woman is within our reach,
and I've contained the problem here. It may be possible to salvage something
at your home."
"If you can't..."
Minh cut him off.
"The operation has begun. Cancellation now is quite impossible."
About to answer, the attorney reconsidered. He dropped his eyes,
avoiding Minh's penetrating stare.
"I understand," he said at last.
Minh wondered if he did. So far, the Russian's understanding, his
ability to cope, was minimal at best.
There was no surprise concerning KGB involvement in the raids.
Deception was consistent with the Soviet technique, and Minh discounted his
original mistrust of Carter. Whatever was happening, the lawyer's surprise
was clearly genuine.
Minh was not prepared to search for motives. The Russian mind was