Page 27 - Brokenclaw - John Gardner

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‘Who is it?’ he called.

‘FBI. Open up, Captain Bond, or we’ll have to smash the door down.’
They looked and sounded as though they meant it, and through the peephole,
he saw one of the men holding up a wallet with official ID. Even through the
lens Bond c
James Bond OO7 - printing disabledould see that it looked genuine. James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
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‘Come on, Captain Bond. We haven’t got all day.’
Slowly, Bond slipped the safety chain off the door, moved to one side and
tensed his body, ready to fight back if this pair proved not to be on the side of
the angels.

They were FBI, there was no doubt about that. One even had his automatic
pistol unholstered. They came into the room in the confident way of police
officers who know that right is on their side, not barrelling in, or attempting to
put any restraining hold on Bond, but smartly, firm in both manner and speech.
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‘You are Captain James Bond, Royal Navy?’ the leading one asked, while
his partner stood back, the unholstered automatic held close in to his side with
the business end steadily pointing towards Bond.
‘Yes, my name’s Bond.’

‘What are you doing in San Francisco, Captain Bond?’
‘I’m on vacation. Why would you want to know?’
‘You’re here as a private individual?’
‘Yes.’

The FBI man nodded, his face blank but a deep disbelief embedded in his
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eyes. ‘There are several people who wish to talk with you, Captain Bond.’
‘For instance?’
‘First our own local Bureau Chief . . .’

‘He’s very anxious to see you,’ sharp from the other agent.
‘About what?’ He was letting them come to him.
‘How about murder?’ Again from the younger of the two, the one looking
very angry, the one with the pistol.

‘I’ve only been here since last night. I really . . .’
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‘And you went out?’
‘Yes, but . . .’
‘Tell it to the Bureau Chief, Captain Bond. He wants to talk to you about the

murder of Agent Patrick Malloney who was found bludgeoned to death near the
Embarcadero early this morning.’
‘I’ve never heard of Agent Malloney, and I haven’t been near the

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