Read Believed Violent for Free Online

had packed and had returned to the Research Station.” Radnitz paused again to sip his drink. “He caught his wife in bed with his assistant, about the only man on the Research Station he had any contact with. He killed the man and was only just prevented from killing his wife. He was found battering down the bathroom door, quite insane and extremely violent. The killing, his wife’s behaviour and Forrester’s insanity were hushed up. It became a Top Secret secret. Warren arranged for Forrester to be put in the Harrison Wentworth Asylum. There he remains, quiet, moody . . . a zombie.”
    Lindsey recrossed his legs.
    “What makes you think he will decode the formula?” he asked.
    “You will read my suggestions later,” Radnitz said. “I have talked to a number of mental specialists. There is a chance. As regards the code it is apparently simple, but without a key, unbreakable. What Forrester seems to have done is to substitute words and numbers for other words and numbers, probably taken from some book. Every book in his home and laboratory has been examined without finding any of them marked, This isn’t surprising as Forrester has a remarkable photographic memory . . . quite a freak thing. He is or rather was able to read a page of print and then recite it back without making a single error. So it would seem the key to the code is in his head.”
    Lindsey thought the girl running across the sands to the sea in the far distance shouldn’t be wearing a bikini. Although her figure was acceptable, her thighs were enormously fat . . . so fat, she ran awkwardly.
    “This girl . . . Nona Jacey?” he asked, shifting his eyes back to Radnitz.
    “Yes. She is still working at the Research Station in some lowly job. It was she who gave Warren the clue about this metal. Forrester liked and trusted her . . . this is important. She had no idea he was a mental case. She has been interrogated by the top scientists, the C.I.A. and by Warren. From the interrogation comes the fact that Forrester has discovered this metal. She was present when he hit on the formula and -he told her about it. She was puzzled and worried when he said no one should have it. He was alarmingly elated and told her the United States did not deserve the fruits of his brain. It was thought that he hadn’t discovered anything of importance and all this talk was part of his growing madness, but the girl is emphatic she has seen the metal and has seen the various tests Forrester made . . . if one is to believe her, the metal exists. A thorough search for the metal was made, but Forrester either has hidden it or destroyed it and it was never found. As you know, every effort has been made to break the code without success. So the affair stands . . . stalemate. Nona Jacey is vitally important. You will see what I suggest.” He looked inquiringly at Lindsey. “Any questions?”
    “A lot,” Lindsey said, “but I want to read your suggestions first.”
    “Yes, do that,” Radnitz said. “You will find them on my desk. This is probably one of my most important operations. If you run into any major difficulties, you may consult me. I am relying on you,” and with a wave of his hand, he dismissed Lindsey, then sank lower in his chair and stared out at the beach and the blue sea, glittering in the sunshine.
     
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    As the hands of the wall clock pointed to 5.00, Nona Jacey hastily cleared her desk, slapped the cover over her typewriter and got hurriedly to her feet.
    The two other typists watched her with mischievous grins.
    “Don’t break your neck, honey,” the plump one said. “No man’s worth that.”
    Nona winked.
    “This one is,” she said and hurried out of the office, down the corridor to the staff changing-room. As she washed her hands, she hummed happily under her breath. She paused to run a comb through her hair, put a touch of powder on her nose, regarded herself for a brief moment in the mirror, then leaving the building she