[Jake Adams 01.0] Fatal Network
Page 22
“You’ve saved us a lot of money, Jake. If the Germans had picked up on our chip design, the European market would have been flooded with our technology. And we wouldn’t have made a dime off all our research expenses. Besides that, we wouldn’t have a chance in hell of getting the Joint Strike Fighter contract.”
Jake got up from the chair and went to the window overlooking the city. It was a bright, sunny day. The Willamette River sparkled from the direct sun and the reflection off the tall, mirrored skyline.
“Not only did you save us money,” Milt continued. “But you’re going to make us a lot of money.”
Jake studied the river. “How?”
“That transputer theory you talked about. Our engineers feel they can make it work with the right information.”
Jake still didn’t turn to Milt.
“We need a few things that would take us years to come up with on our own,” Milt pleaded.
“I can’t help you with that. I have only a limited knowledge of the theory,” Jake said.
“True. But the Germans have it. You could get it from them.”
Jake turned toward Milt. “What do you want from me? I’ve just been shot at how many times trying to keep your information from reaching the Germans and Hungarians? And now you want me to go back there and get the transputer information? I don’t think so.”
“You’re the only one who can do this for me, Jake.”
Jake turned back toward the window and the river. Beneath the surface flows swift water, Jake thought. Uncertain eddies. Whirlpools. People were no different. Bundenbach had his agenda. Lebovitz had his. Even Milt now.
Jake turned back toward Milt. “Bundenbach is in no position to deal,” Jake explained. “He’ll be wrapped up in a legal battle for quite a while. Besides, I wouldn’t trust him.”
Wait a minute. With Bundenbach severely hampered, Teredata could exploit his markets. Come on line with the fastest transputer at a far lower cost than any other super computer. More importantly, the personal transputer would revolutionize the industry. Exactly what Bundenbach was trying to do. Exactly what Lebovitz was trying to do. So, how was Milt any different from the Germans or Hungarians? Shit. Did Milt know what Steve Carlson was up to? Did he actually set up the entire scheme? Or did he just now come up with the idea now that the opportunity presented itself?
“You’re thinking it over, Jake?”
“I’ll give you one last bit of information and then I’m out of here,” Jake said, perniciously. “Lebovitz.”
“Lebovitz? What about Lebovitz?”
“Do you know him?”
“No.”
“He’s the Hungarian Carlson was dealing with indirectly,” Jake said.
“What about him?”
“He has most of the transputer information. I’m sure you can work with him. But I won’t help you. Lebovitz can supply cheap, skilled labor and the transputer technology. You’ll need to provide your chips, engineers, and a little capital and marketing strategy.”
“But Jake, I need you to make the deal.”
Jake walked slowly toward the door. “Find someone else, Milt. I have a date.”
Jake left and closed the door behind him. A part of him wanted to help. He knew Lebovitz. Knew it would be easy to pick up some cash at Milt’s expense. But what about the price? The men who had died had paid a price. Who could pay that price without a conscience? And what price would Jake have to pay? Conscience wasn’t cheap.
As the elevator closed him in and he drifted toward the ground floor, he reached to the inside pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out an airline ticket. He studied the open ticket to Rome carefully, smiled, and then placed it back in his pocket. He felt his temple where the bullet had grazed him, shook his head, took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Jake left the building and climbed into a cab waiting for him.
The cab driver turned to Jake for a destination.
Jake looked at the man and smiled. “The airport.”
Consider the next book in the Jake Adams Series:
Extreme Faction (Jake Adams #2)
The Dolomite Solution (Jake Adams #3)
Vital Force (Jake Adams #4)
Rise of the Order (Jake Adams #5)
The Cold Edge (Jake Adams #6)
Without Options (Jake Adams #7)
The Stone of Archimedes ( Jake Adams #8)
Lethal Force (Jake Adams #9, Coming Soon)
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Crown of Thorns by Hank Luce
The Seventh Deception by G. Dedrick Robinson
Spirit Flight by P.R. Fittante
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Hypershot by Trevor Scott