Gravedigger (10 page)
Authors: Mark Terry
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Action & Adventure, #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Spies & Politics, #Espionage, #Thriller, #Thrillers, #FIC002000, #FIC031000, #FIC02000, #FIC006000
“These are just your opinions.”
“It’s what you asked for, Rick. I didn’t spend a lot of time in their company. I saw what was going on in that village. I saw that they were arming themselves. Maybe they just want to run Afghanistan. There’s plenty of competition. The three of us got right in the middle of two warring factions trying to do just that. I got to spend twenty-four hours in a refugee camp. What’s our policy in Afghanistan?”
“Officially?”
“Is there an unofficial policy?”
McGee shrugged. “It’s an election year.”
“Okay, what’s our official policy?”
“Since the Russians left, we don’t give a shit.”
“So we helped create a power vacuum and we’re not going to do anything about filling it.”
McGee shrugged again. “That’s above my pay grade.”
“Are we done here?”
“One more thing.”
Derek waited.
McGee said, “I understand you’ve been talking to some people in the U.N. about being a weapons inspector in Iraq.”
Derek nodded.
“Maybe that would be a good use of your skills, Derek.”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“You don’t like the CIA much, do you?”
Derek didn’t comment.
“Come on, Derek. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Derek reached into his shirt pocket and pushed an envelope across the table to Richard McGee. “I quit. My next job will be with the United Nations.”
McGee took the envelope but didn’t open it. “You have an interesting and useful skill set, Derek. “Perhaps you’ll agree to do some work for us on an as-needed basis.”
Derek nodded. “You know how to get hold of me.”
“That we do.” McGee leaned forward and held out his hand.
Pausing a moment, Derek shook and stood up. “Done?”
“As I said, Derek. Good work in Afghanistan.”
Derek nodded and left.
Mark Terry
is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Derek Stillwater thrillers, as well as numerous other thrillers and crime novels. His novel THE FALLEN was the winner of The National Best Books 2010 Award for Thriller/Adventure by USA Book News and THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS was a semi-finalist for The National Best Books 2011 Award. The Lansing State Journal said, “Mark Terry writes like Lee Child on steroids.” Of THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS, bestselling author said, “Vince Flynn and James Rollins better watch their backs because Mark Terry is coming up fast!” Mark Terry lives in Michigan with his wife and two sons, where he teaches karate, kayaks, runs, bikes, lifts weights and likes to play blues guitar. Visit his website at www.markterrybooks.com.
