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He stood rock still He wasn’t going to let Cobb know for a second he was scared But ouldn’t be? The dark end of a rifle barrel was not a pleasant sight

Cobb lowered the gun

Malone had guessed right They wanted hi than soent who claimed bin Laden surrendered to hined to conceal bin Laden’s death The military would deny the assertions and, in the process, supercharge the world’s fear of bin Laden He’d have nothing for proof and they’d have the terror of the past

Easy to see who’d win that battle

“Go on, Malone Get out of here Go tell the world what you know”

Not a chance

He slaht knee The ht him incapable? He heard bone break and he planted a fist into the jaw Cobb cried out in agony as he cru Malone lifted the rifle froround

“I’ll say it again You’re no better than he was He killed for Allah You do it for profit”

“The…devil…got his due”

Malone slung the rifle out into the open air, beyond the crumbled wall, and left

Malone zipped his suitcase shut and checked out of his hotel Downstairs, he stepped out into the frigid evening and searched the crowded street for a taxi to the airport One appeared and he quickly clih stop-and-start traffic Darkness caht had enveloped the city by the time they stopped at the terminal He handed the driver forty rubles and was about to leave when thefor you”

He stared at the driver from the rear seat as the man handed him a brown envelope