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"What brings the Secret Service to Mount Vernon on a weekend?"

"Practice mission," Blackowl replied conversationally "How about the FBI?"

"Sa lazy, so he dreamed up a top-priority exercise"

"Looking for anything in particular?" Blackowl asked, feigning indifferent interest

"Whatever we can determine about the last people ere onboard-identification through fingerprints, where they came from You know"

Before Blackowl could reply, Ed McGrath stepped onto the dock fro in sweat and his face was flushed Blackowl guessed he had been running

"Excuse ot a minute?"

"Sure" Blackoaved to the FBI agent "Nice talking with YOU"

"Same to you"

As soon as they were out of earshot, Blackowl asked softly, "What's going down, Ed?"

"The FBI guys found so you should see"

"Where?"

"About a hundred and fifty yards upriver, hidden away in trees

I'll show you"

McGrath led hi a path that bordered the river When it curved toward the outer estate buildings, they stayed in a straight line across a manicured lawn Then they clirowth on the other side Working their way into a dense thicket, they suddenly ca two large tanks connected to what looked like electrical generators