AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And he’s probably right about that, too.
“And, of course, Schultz will have to know. He handles the encryption.”
“Only him?”
“He taught me how, in case I had to do it sometime, but he does the encryption. And decryption.”
“Keep it that way.”
Frade nodded.
He didn’t say, “Aye, aye, sir.”
But there was no sarcastic smile on his face when he nodded. He accepted the order. I’m going to have to be satisfied with that.
The sardonic smile will come back now when I tell him that President Roosevelt wants him to set up an airline.
Graham began: “Now, to the second reason I was coming down here before you sent for me . . .”
He saw that Frade was listening attentively.
“Is this airline supposed to be a cover for what we’re doing down here?” Frade asked when Graham had finished.
There’s no wiseass smile on his face.
“Obviously, it would be. But I don’t think that’s the primary purpose the President had in mind.”
“Then what’s he after?”
“He didn’t confide that in me. He doesn’t have to. He’s the commander in chief. And, actually, I haven’t talked to him. He told Donovan, and Donovan told me to do it.”
“Maybe he wants to stick it into Juan Trippe and Pan American Grace,” Frade said.
“Why would you want to say that?”
“My grandfather hates Roosevelt, but he says he’s smarter than hell. What was the name of that Italian family who went around poisoning everybody who got in their way? Machi-something.”
“Machiavelli,” Graham furnished.
“Right. My grandfather says Roosevelt is Machiavellian. Trippe has South America sewn up as far as airlines go—hell, he’s got the world sewn up. So give him some competition. Cut him down to size.”
“That’s pretty far-fetched, Frade.”
On the other hand, it may be right on the money.
I have no idea what Roosevelt was thinking when he came up with this airline idea or what it’s supposed to accomplish.
Frade chuckled.
“What’s funny?” Graham asked.
“I was just thinking: What does Donovan’s badge say, ‘world commander’?”
“I suppose. Either that or ‘friend of the President.’ Can this airline be done, Frade?”
Frade nodded.
“I’ll have to set up a company, and get some partners. . . .”
