Chapter Fifteen
Sam!
He went back in and offered the washcloth and towel, which were quickly accepted. Then Nathaniel put the plate of sandwiches, the thermos of coffee on the table, and sat back. The young man ate and drank in silence for some time, then, without looking up he asked, "Do you know where Sam is?"
"Your other brother?" Nathaniel asked.
The young man nodded. "I was hoping you could tell me," Nathaniel answered.
The young man shook his head. "Poppa always taught us to work in teams of of three, each attacking from a different locality. Then if any one of us got caught there was a chance the others would get through and complete the mission. I only know he's got the other gas gun."
"Then that's a real problem," Nathaniel exclaimed, then explained about the nerve gas. The young man's head sank again.
"Sam," he muttered, "hates this stuff, hates what we do. He only does it because he loves Poppa. If you can find him and tell him he'd never use that stuff. You've GOT to find him!"
"You've got no idea?" Nathaniel asked.
"The only thing I heard Poppa say was that he was giving Sam the most public try, as Sam was so young he could fag up and look like a high school kid, and get right up close. Let me talk to Sandy. She'll never tell you anything, but if she knows anything she might tell me."
"Let's give it a try," Nathaniel agreed.
They went down to the room where the young lady was being interrogated, but she was very upset her young companion was cooperating, and would not cooperate at all.
Nathaniel left the interrogation to others. He didn't think he could gain any more. Things were going nasty in Ohio. Realizing their operation was exposed, the Supremacists were putting up a fight. trying to be martyrs for their cause. But that wasn't Nathaniel's worry. His concern was that somewhere in this city was a young man carrying a deadly device, that had been instructed to use it in some public place.
"Public place," he thought. What was the most public place their subject went every day? The library, which was often full of college and high school students.
"Son of a bitch!" the agent cursed. He gathered up his forces and headed for the library. He intended to put a net around it so tight a flea couldn't get through without his knowing it. If only they weren't too late! But there was no problem that day. The subject had already made his morning rounds, and had gone home for the afternoon.
Nathaniel had a feeling they were safe until the morning. He hoped a thorough check of the local hotels would produce their young assassin before morning. But his hopes failed and in the morning he woke with an uneasy feeling that his young adversary would make his move that day.
"He probably knows," Nathaniel warned his men, "that something's happened to his father and brothers. He couldn't have missed the news stories of what's going on in Ohio. He knows we're closing in. So if he's going to make an attempt he'll probably make it today. He is not to succeed, gentlemen, understand that thoroughly.
If you see the gas gun, if he's in a position to fire, your orders are clear. Put him down before he can use it. No warning, no announcement. If he has the weapon at the ready, put him down."
The other agents nodded their understanding. Nathaniel took up a position at the library entrance as a survey taker, and began to watch everybody coming in very, very carefully.