A PUPPET ON A STRING

Chapter 7

"Frank Drake... That is your name." Spoke Smith, bringing Frank to attention.

"That's right..." Frank responses tentatively unsure who Smith was working for. Thinking Smith was actually an IRS official about to confront him

."Just checking..." Mused Smith seeing Frank sit up,

"Let me begin by saying I have been observing you for some time..."

"Really... Have you? ... Why? ... Who are you? ... What do you want?"Responds Frank firing questions back.

"Relax Frank... I'm not who you think I may be."

"Then who are you?" He prompts wanting to identify his personal stalker.Just then Tomo arrived with the drinks.

"Enjoy." Placing the drinks before them.Smith slides a twenty in Tomo's direction.

"Keep the change." Advised Smith.Tomo heads back to the bar to leave them to continue. Smith savors the glass of dark cherry red Merlot and Franks takes a hit of the golden bourbon that was quickly calming his nerves and anxiety.

"I work for an Agency... A very special kind of Agency..." Smith begins."IRS?" Suggests Frank looking at Smith with suspicion.

"Oh... No. No... Though I do deal with them from time to time." Smith grins at the private joke and resumes his train of thought,

"No... I work for an Agency shall we say that does not publically exist ... If you know what I mean?"Hoping Frank would join the dots."

I'm sorry... I don't know what you mean... You need an Accountant for an Agency that doesn't exist?" Becoming confused.

"Not so much an Accountant... Though that would be a good cover I suppose..." Said Smith thinking through the possibilities.

"Cover? ... What are you talking about?" Becoming more confused.

"Let me explain."

"I wish you would." Becoming a little frustrated.

"My Agency handles National Security on behalf of the Government." Smith opens his wallet and reveals his identification card and badge.Leveling his brief case open enough for Frank to see a holstered G lock pistol.Frank is taken back at the sight of the weapon. And the authority of the man sitting opposite. In some way, he would rather have had an IRS official sitting inhis place. That he could understand. But not Smith. Obscure questions ran through Franks mind.

"What do you want with me?" Franks searches for answers

."One of my tasks with the Agency is to recruitment."

"You need an Accountant?"

"Not quite... But you are in desperate need of work are you not?"

"I wouldn't say desperate." Frank lied,

"How did you know that?"

"I know everything about you Frank." Smith advised.

"Everything?" Frank's eye brow's pinched together. Focusing his stare on the man in the dark suit sitting opposite.

"Everything... How is Marilyn?" Smith asked hitting a nerve.

"What the fuck? You leave her out of this... You touch her and by God I'll touch you... I don't give a fuck who you are... I'll hunt you down and hurt you so badly..." Frank exploded at Smith.

Tomo looked up at the eruption taking place at the booth. Frank could handle himself. Obviously Smith had pushed a button he should not have. Smith took the verbal barrage and waited for Frank to stop. It was pleasing to know he had a dark side. But was he capable of killing?