Page 21 of Beachcomber Danger

“What do you expect to accomplish?” Dane knew Andrews was holding back. It was in the man’s posture. His question got the usual hostility from Goodley, but Andrews remained passive.

“Your observations. Let us know if you see someone who could be—”

“What?”

“Assassins. Or lookouts for the assassins.”

“Don’t you have a whole boatload of Secret Service Agents trained to do exactly what you’re telling us to do?”

“Sure, but you two fit in. You can chat people up. If we see someone we’re interested in—you talk to them without tipping them off.”

Dane nodded. He knew it was bullshit. They were being set up. But whatever they were being set up for he still had to think about. Except that he knew it was something dangerous, something they were afraid to tell him about. Or maybe it was something Andrews or his bosses at the Secret Service weren’t telling Homeland Security about, even though it was Homeland Security who was watching the terrorist cell.

Whatever it was, something was afoot and Dane was damned well going to figure it out. Either from Acer’s probing of Internet sources or from pure inference and puzzle-solving.

He and Shana studied the itinerary that was given to them and answered questions about each of the locations—giving the unofficial backgrounds on people they knew. Before the afternoon was over, Dane assessed Andrews to be satisfied that he and Shana were cooperating to their very fullest.

It was time for them to meet with the Acer up their sleeve. There was no way in hell either of them were going along with this game any further without knowing full well what they were getting into.

The Secret Service was about to get out-maneuvered.