title: An Unlawful Order
author:  Carver Greene 
description: <span>"Greene is a skillful writer who has introduced a new heroine readers will look forward to seeing in future installments.</span> <span>This entertaining military thriller provides an intriguing look inside the Marine Corps." - <i>KIRKUS </i></span>
zlib_text: > Louise Candlish
  
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  THE INTRUDER AT NUMBER 40
  
  
  ![](images/00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  
  > [The Intruder at Number 40](index_split_002.html#filepos1012)
  
  > [Follow Penguin](index_split_007.html#filepos64938)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  On a pleasingly sharp blue day in May, Ryan Steer let himself into a vacant
  house on Vale Road in Lime Park. He was happy to see among the scattered post
  on the doormat the package he’d taken the liberty of ordering in the owner’s
  name.
  
  
  Not to mention without the owner’s knowledge.
  
  
  Of course, as precautions went, it was hardly worth the padded envelope it was
  written on: a child could trace the order back to Mr R. Steer, negotiator at
  Lime Park Estates, sole agency for the sale of the property in which Ryan now
  stood. But, still, it seemed necessary to make a token effort to cover his
  tracks. To commit a crime in plain sight was disrespectful to all concerned.
  
  
  He stored the unopened packet in his work bag, piled the rest of the post on
  the hall radiator c