The Cleopatra Crisis (TimeWars 11)
“I should have guessed.” said Lucas. “That was you backthere.”
“No, actually, it wasn’t me,” Steiger said, coming into theroom with Castelli following him.
Delaney frowned. “But I thought you just said-”
Steiger sat down in an ornate, ivory-inlaid chair. “I wastalking about the hit they tried to put on Castelli, here. He handled himselfreal well.”
“ What said Lucas.
“I’m afraid I’m not following any of this.” said Travers asAndre sprayed a medicated sealant on his wound from a first-aid kit. “Who isthis person?”
“Col. Creed Steiger. Capt. Jonathan Travers,” Lucas said, introducingthem. “Col. Steiger’s T.I.A. He used to be the senior agent in the covert fieldsection. He’s also head of the Internal Security Division for the agency.”
“And he was also supposed to be back in Plus Time,” said Delaneywryly. “because he asked to be relieved of duty on this mission.”
“Up to your old tricks again. I see.” said Andre.
“I’m sorry about that,” Steiger said. “The idea was to backyou up, just in case your covers got blown. Which is apparently what’shappened.”
“Terrific,” Lucas said with a grimace. “We thought you mightbe the opposition. Damn it. Steiger. you could have screwed up this wholemission. Where the hell does Marcian fit in?”
“Marcian was really John Marshall, a former field agent whowent over to the Underground.” said Steiger.
“Was?” said Andre.
“Yeah. was. He’s dead. Looks like the S.O.G. got him. Likethey almost got Castelli and you. I came to warn you that this place is nolonger safe. I suggest we move elsewhere, quickly. “
“We’ve got a safe house set up,” Lucas said. “But we’d probablyhe safer here. This place is more easily defended.”
“Will someone please explain to me what’s going on?” askedTravers with a confused expression on his face.
“It’s pretty simple. actually: said Steiger. “I wasofficially relieved of duty in Plus Time so that I could clock back here undercoverand back up the team. They didn’t know I was here and they didn’t recognize mebecause I’d had cosmetic surgery.”
“Was this Forester’s decision?” Lucas asked.
“Yes and no? Steiger replied. “The truth is. I had my ownagenda. I wanted to demonstrate to him that there’s still a place for covertoperations. I’d been bugging him for a chance to prove my point, so he decidedto go along with it. only unofficially. Officially. I’m still on leave. Thatway. it’s just my ass that would be hanging in the wind if I screwed up.”
“You almost did just that. God damn it,” said Lucas. “Yourealize we wasted valuable time and manpower keeping you under surveillance?”
“Like I said. I’m sorry about that. But I had no idea I’ddone anything to give myself away. What put you on to me?”
“The chariot race,” said Delaney. “While we were watchingit. Andre figured out that it was fixed and that all the drivers were in on it.Travers said that the only one in a position to put in that kind of fix wasMarcian. SO we checked and found out that a man named Sabinus. Who came out ofnowhere, was the big winner that day and that he was connected to Marcian.”
“So you had someone watching Marshall. as well?”
“Lt. Donovan.” said Castelli. “He’s one of the new T.O.’s Ijust had brought in to help with the surveillance. Him and Sgt. Hall. Hall’sasleep upstairs. He was due to relieve Donovan in about an hour.”
“Well, you can tell him not to bother.” Steiger said.
“And you’d better check on Donovan, as well. They might’vegotten him. too.”
“Shit,” said Castelli. “I’d better clock over there rightnow.”
“Wake up Hall and Corwin and take them with you,” Lucassaid. “Make sure they’re both armed. Then go check on Andell. If Donovan andAndell are both all right, bring them back here and leave Hall and Corwin onsurveillance duty at Cleopatra’s house. But tell them to be very careful. They’reon to us.”
“I’ll get right on it.” said Castelli. hurrying out of theroom.
“What the hell happened. Creed?” asked Delaney.