{"product_id":"2940012250803","title":"The Observers","description":"You can't be too suspicious when security is at stake. When everybody who is after a key military job wears a toupee, it is obviously a bald case of espionage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcerpt\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A job as laboratory technician with the Army Weapons Development Center carried about as much prestige as a bat boy in a World Series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGeorge Fisher was a laboratory technician.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe was a shy but likeable fellow, a diligent worker and trustworthy. He didn't talk. He was rarely talked to. He had no burning ambition to push himself ahead in the world. Being an assistant to the brains was good enough for him. He had a commendable talent for minding his own business.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a security job these qualities counted ahead of scientific knowledge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne day George Fisher turned up dead. The initial shock and concern experienced by his superiors was soon overcome by the coroner's finding. Suicide.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHarry Payne was the Civilian Personnel Director of Fort Dickson. It was his job to find a replacement for George Fisher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Miss Conway!\" Harry's voice lashed into the intercom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere was an interminable pause. He cursed under his breath.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen, \"Yes, Mr. Payne?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Where the hell were you? Never mind. Bring me the file on George Fisher.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"George Fisher?\" Miss Conway was in her favorite state of mind ... confusion. \"But he's dead, isn't he?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHarry let out a deep anguished groan. \"Yes, Miss Conway, he's dead. That's why I want his file. That answer your question?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes, sir. Be there in a jiffy!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHarry could tell she was bubbling over with smiles as she spoke. A few more centuries would pass, he thought, before they manufactured another broad as dumb as Miss Conway.","brand":"eStar Books LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47145281585392,"sku":"2940012250803","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012250803_p0.jpg?v=1763553846","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012250803","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}