"Williamson, Michael Z - Freehold 01 - Freehold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Michael Z. Williamson - Freehold (BAEN) (v5) [htm jpg])

generated more admin seemed illogical. But then, it was the military.

The thing which she wished she'd put off but had waded through first, was the
documentation and her personal statement on missing property. Her personal gear was all
accounted for, but literal transport loads of gear had gone "missing" on Mtali. She was a
stickler for procedure, so she had accounted for the fact that everything she issued had
gotten where it was supposed to. The first sergeant had relayed to her secondhand that
some clown was claiming that her attention to detail proved she was involved. "He's just
digging. Relax," she'd been told.

She still felt nervous. Trucks, generators, weapons and tools didn't just walk off by
themselves. Most required lift gear to move. A rapidly maturing and increasingly cynical
part of her surmised that they were being sold by someone in system. Well, if they
checked her bank accounts, they were all as she reported. She just wished they'd hurry up
and do so and get done with it.

Her musing was interrupted when her phone rang. Not a military line at her carrel,

but her personal phone. She dug it out of her purse, wondering who was calling.

"Pacelli," she answered.

"Hi, dear. Don't mention my name," the caller said. It was Tom Anderson, an old
lover who was an MP. "We are getting all kinds of activity. Arrests are expected for
Robinson, Bruder, Jacobs, Pacelli and several others. If those people are lucky, they are
off base right now. They'll be in for a nasty surprise when they return."

"Why? What's up?" she asked, shocked beyond reason.

"Apparently, the government has found the parties responsible for the equipment
that went missing during the Mtali mission. All those people are part of the conspiracy."

"I'm not part of any conspiracy," she protested in a whisper. "All I did was document
what went walkies. That was at the general's request."

He continued as if he hadn't heard her protest. "What's important is that they are
looking for those people. The way things look, they'd be lucky if they were missing,
permanently. You know how the Department of Special Investigations can overreact. I
just hope they don't come through the gate; I don't need any excitement right now.
Anyway, the reason I called: you left some things at my place last night," he said,
although she hadn't been there in weeks. "I put them in the car. Gotta run, we are about to
start a gate exercise. Love you." Click.

Kendra hung up the phone, hesitated a half-second, then stood, grabbing a folder.
She tried to be casual as she walked down the hall. A quick nervous glance didn't show
any suited goons coming for her, but she had no doubt Tom was correct. There were
horror stories of people being dragged in for even being "associated" with criminals. But
where could she go?

Just before she reached the door, Janie came out of the back office. "Kendra, can