by M. Z. Kelly
Taylor’s muddy brown eyes blinked. He was a half foot shorter than Caine, with thinning brown hair. His voice pitched higher. “Warren fell on top of her, and some men came running. They must have been cops. I had to get out of there.”
“It was a setup to get him to talk.” Caine’s gray eyes swept over the street. “There’s no telling what he told her before he died.”
“I don’t think it was much, if anything. Jon was a screw-up, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut.” Taylor blew out a frosty breath, glanced around the street. “How do you want to proceed?”
Caine barely resisted the urge to shoot his companion. “We move ahead. Hollister’s on schedule.”
“I’m assuming the delivery went as expected?”
A nod. “It’s in the warehouse behind a secure perimeter.” Caine looked up the street, seeing a car pull to the curb. He doubted anyone had followed him but couldn’t take any chances. He motioned for Taylor to follow. They moved down a side street and up an alley, where Caine told him what else was on his mind. “I made a promise that needs to be kept.”
“What kind of promise?”
“I told Hollister, when he was close to completing the assembly process, if everything went as expected this time, he could talk to his daughter.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“How is her companion?”
“Under control. I think she’s still shell-shocked from her boyfriend’s death.” He smiled. “Maybe I should keep her company.”
The decision Caine had been struggling with was in that moment made. What his old friend’s son had said sealed his fate. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Why not?”
Caine pulled the 9mm from his waistband. “Because you’re dead.”
As Joshua Taylor lay dying in the alleyway, Caine moved back up the street. He had two things on his mind: Eliminate anyone who might lead the police to him, and destroy the city.
THIRTY-SEVEN
“Do you have any idea where we are?” Lindsay asked.
“I heard one of the Guides say something about ‘Laurel,’” Kendra Hollister said. “I think it could be a nearby city.”
Lindsay’s companion in the underground labyrinth of rooms was eighteen. Kendra had told her she’d been taken one night after returning home from a school dance. She’d said the men had also taken her father. The two women had been held captive in a house somewhere near Los Angeles before spending days in the back of a truck and arriving here. This place was a series of interconnected rooms that the women called Guides referred to as the Chamber.
“Where do you think they took your father?” Lindsay asked her.
Kendra was a slender girl, with long brown hair and hazel eyes. “I have no idea.” She hugged her sides, slumped down in her chair. “I’m worried.”
“Why? What do you think is happening?”
“My dad, he’s...his job is working at laboratories.”
“What does he do?”
Kendra met her eyes. “He’s an expert on nuclear weapons.”
What Kendra had said sparked fear and dread in Lindsay. She had no way of knowing for sure, but if the man who took her was part of the Swarm, she knew, from the last time she’d been held captive, that the group wanted a bomb. Was that why they were being held underground?
“What do you think is going to happen to us?” Kendra asked.
“I’m not sure. Maybe they’ll let us go when they’re finished.”
It was a lie. Lindsay had no doubt that Kendra had been taken to make sure her father cooperated. She wasn’t sure why she was here but thought it might have something to do with Kate. The leaders of the Swarm had been obsessed with her sister, but she didn’t know why.
“You both need to come with me.”
Lindsay and Kendra turned, seeing it was Astrid, the older of the Guides. She was abusive and hateful. As they followed her, Lindsay dreaded what might be happening.
After being led through a series of corridors, they were brought to a small room. It was empty, except for a table and two chairs.
“Sit down and keep your mouth shut,” Astrid said.
The Guide started to leave the room when Lindsay said, “What’s going to happen? Why are we here?”
Astrid’s vile eyes looked back at her as she removed a key from her pocket. Just before she locked the door, she said, “Because you’re both going to die.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Maggie Fenwick had suffered a gunshot wound to her shoulder after the round pierced Jon Warren’s heart, killing him instantly. After the local cops arrived, an ambulance transported the reporter to the hospital, and we all went to the local FBI office. We spent the remainder of the day debriefing the day’s events before Waters and Logan met with Joe and me.
“Looks like we’re back at square one,” Logan said. “All we know is that Caine’s probably building a bomb and he’s going to use it soon.”
“The inauguration has to be the target,” Stan Waters said.
“Maybe they’d considered moving the swearing-in to an undisclosed location,” I suggested.
“Tatum’s already been offered that. He refused, saying that he won’t start his term by being intimidated.”
“Better that than dead, along with the entire government,” Joe said.
“Not an option.” Waters looked at Logan. “Any thoughts?”
Logan smiled. “Fenwick will be on the rebound. Maybe she’ll be looking for someone older, with more experience.”
Waters rolled his eyes and shook his head. “We don’t have time for your BS.”
Logan’s smile retreated. “If Caine has a bomb, it has to be delivered. That means it will need to be in relative close proximity to the Capitol building. I’d say that’s where we need to concentrate our efforts.”
Joe and I agreed with him, then Waters said, “That means we’ve got less than twenty-four hours to stop a nuclear attack on the nation’s capital. We’d better get busy.”
We spent the remainder of the day, and part of the night, with specialized teams going building by building in the neighborhoods near the Capitol. Sentry worked with the Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT), which had experts and specialized equipment to detect radiation. Despite the search and monitoring devices, we found no sign of Caine, or any indication of radiation.
Logan expressed his frustration after we huddled on the sidewalk just before midnight. “If Caine’s making a bomb, why the hell aren’t we detecting the radiation?”
Waters brushed a hand over his bald head. “It’s possible it’s being shielded. Lead and a few other materials can scatter and absorb the radiation.”
“There’s another possibility,” Joe said. “Maybe he’s building the bomb somewhere else and plans to fly it into the capital.”
“Doubtful. The airspace is closed and monitored.” Waters checked the time on his phone. “I’m going to catch a couple hours sleep, then get back at it. The inauguration is set for noon tomorrow.”
After Waters and Logan said goodnight, Joe and I decided to get a drink at a bar near our hotel. After parking and walking up the street, I asked him for his thoughts.
Joe glanced at me. “I think we’re missing something.”
“As in?”
“Caine, the bomb...” His gaze moved off. “Your sister.”
We stopped on the sidewalk near Hudson’s Bar. “What are you saying?”
He exhaled. “You build a bomb in the suburbs, put it in the back of a van, and drive it into the city. End of story.”
“But there are checkpoints.”
“We’re talking a nuclear explosion. Even if it’s a mile from the Capitol, it will have the intended effect.”
“And Lindsay?”
He stepped closer to me, taking my hand. “She’s got to be part of what’s...”
I saw his gaze move off as he stopped talking. I turned in the direction he was looking. “What is it?”
&
nbsp; “Call me crazy, but I think it’s the guy we’re after.”
THIRTY-NINE
In the instant I turned, I saw the man across the street and locked eyes with him. His hair was darker than in the mugshots, but his features were unmistakable.
“It’s Caine,” I breathlessly said to Joe.
Joe was already moving across the street, weaving his way through traffic, with his gun out. I followed behind, dodging a taxi at the last second, as the driver blasted his horn. By the time I got to the sidewalk, Caine was running up the street, with Joe in pursuit about thirty yards behind. There were several people moving down the sidewalk, making it impossible for Joe to use his weapon.
As I followed behind, I got Stan Waters on the line. “It’s Caine,” I said. “Joe and I are in pursuit on 1st Street, headed north from our hotel. Send all available units.”
“On the way,” Waters said. “Keep me in the loop.”
I put my phone away and glanced up the street, seeing that Caine was turning a corner. Joe was still in pursuit and closing on him. By the time I rounded the corner, I saw Joe moving across the street again, zig-zagging through traffic, his weapon still in hand. As I followed, I saw that Caine was now on the opposite side of the street, disappearing down a subway entrance.
After crossing the street and scrambling down the stairs, I entered the subway terminal. There was a scattering of passengers on the platform, waiting for the next train. I looked around for Caine and Joe, but didn’t see them. A train came rumbling into the terminal just as I heard an all-too-familiar popping sound. There was screaming as the waiting passengers all moved back. I saw a man lying on the ground.
It was Joe, and he was bleeding!
FORTY
When I got to Joe’s side, I saw a bloody stain spreading across his shirt. I bent down to him at the same time a woman came over to us. “I’m a nurse. Let me help.”
Joe looked at me. “I’m fine. He’s on the train. Go!”
I looked over, seeing that the train was starting to leave the terminal. I dashed over just as the doors closed. Seconds later, a face appeared, pressed up against the glass, the man’s features grotesquely distorted. Nathan Caine was on the other side of the door, his features contorted, staring straight at me!
I ran, trying to match the speed of the train, and brought my gun up. The train picked up speed, and I lost my footing, my gun tumbling out of my hand. When I looked back at the train, I saw Caine’s lips moving.
The train accelerated, as I clawed at the glass doors. I realized the train was approaching the tunnel as it continued to gain speed, the floor of the terminal dropping away. I got hold of a door handle but realized, if I held on, I would be splattered against the tunnel wall.
As the train moved faster and the tunnel approached, the doors came open. I saw Caine’s hand reaching out to me.
“Take it!” Caine yelled.
I hesitated for an instant. If I kept holding onto the handle, and if I didn’t take his hand, I would be crushed against the side of the tunnel. I reached up, grasping hold of the terrorist’s heavily calloused hand. He pulled me up, seconds before the tunnel wall rushed past the side of the train.
I landed in the passenger compartment at the same time Caine darted away from me. I got to my feet, seeing him running through the train and disappearing into the next compartment. I followed behind him, frantically moving past the startled passengers, toward the front of the train.
When I got to the engineer’s compartment, I tried the latch but found the door was locked. I desperately pounded on the glass doors, trying to get the engineer’s attention. Then I realized Caine was across from him, moving his gun up to the trembling man. He squeezed off a shot, killing the engineer instantly.
Moments later, I saw Caine moving over to the control panel. He pulled the train’s safety brake. The train lurched violently, and sparks flew as the emergency braking system grabbed hold of the wheels. I fell forward against the locked engineer’s compartment, as the train screeched to a stop inside the darkened tunnel. After getting to my feet, I realized the train was moving again, but, this time, back in the direction of the terminal.
The interior of the train was dark, but I managed to get Waters on the phone. “I’m on the subway,” I explained. “Caine’s onboard. He’s put the train in reverse. We’re moving back toward the terminal...” I tried to brace myself. “...and we’re accelerating rapidly.”
“We’re in the terminal now,” Waters said. I heard him talking to someone before he came back on the line. “There’s another train on the same track. It’s minutes away, coming head-on in your direction.”
“You’ve got to stop it!” I screamed, before ending the call.
Emergency lighting had come on, and I glanced around, desperately looking for something to smash against the glass doors to the engineer’s compartment. The train was picking up speed as I worked on a railing in the passenger compartment. A passenger, a big guy, came over and helped me. We managed to pry the railing loose.
“We’ve got to get into the engineer’s compartment,” I told him.
He went over and repeatedly smashed the railing against the doors, shattering the glass.
When I entered the engineer’s compartment, Caine was nowhere to be seen. I went over to the control panel and caught sight of another train passing on the adjacent tracks. The trains momentarily matched speeds. As I applied the emergency brake, the other train began moving away. Then I saw the silhouetted figure crouching low on the top of the disappearing train. I knew it must be Caine.
My phone rang. I quickly answered it and heard Waters saying, “You’re less than a minute from impact. Take cover!”
I went over and tried the braking system again. As the brakes grabbed hold, the train lurched and tossed me against the shattered doors. It was slowing to a stop when I realized the instrument panel allowed for me to reverse engines. After what seemed like an eternity, the train slowly began moving forward again into the darkened tunnel.
As the train gained speed, I heard Waters on the line again. “It’s going to be close. The train behind yours is attempting to stop, but we’re not sure it’s going to be in time.”
“It’s Caine,” I said. “He’s on the opposite train, moving toward...”
The impact of the other train hitting mine was a quick, violent jolt that knocked me off my feet and caused me to drop my phone. There were screams from the darkened passenger compartments as the train that hit us pushed us deeper into the tunnel. Sparks flew, and there was a grinding of metal as the two trains worked against one another.
I went over and tried the braking system again. The trains finally began to decelerate as they continued to move together into the tunnel. I released a pent-up breath as the twisted mass of metal finally rolled to a stop.
It was several minutes later, after tending to some of the injured passengers, that I managed to make my way through the tunnel, back toward the terminal. I almost bumped into Stan Waters, who was moving toward me with a flashlight in hand.
“Did you get Caine?” I asked.
Waters shook his head. “We have agents everywhere, but, so far, no luck.”
“What about Joe?” I asked. “Is he okay?”
“On a stretcher, heading for the hospital.”
When I got to the terminal, the attendants were ready to transport Joe. I went over and checked on him, seeing that his arm was bandaged. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Through and through. Caine?”
I shook my head. “He said something to me.”
“What?”
“When he was in the terminal, before the train left. He was pressed up against the glass, moving his lips.
“Could you make it out?”
I nodded and released a breath. “‘Lindsay.’ Caine said, ‘I’ve got Lindsay.’”
FORTY-ONE
“Do you really think they’re going to kill us?” Kendra asked Lindsay.
They had been locked
in the room for hours, dreading the death sentence Astrid had pronounced.
“I don’t know,” Lindsay said. “Maybe they changed their mind and will let us live.” She saw her companion’s eyes filling with tears. “We can’t give up hope.”
“I know the man who took us is using my dad. I think he’s making him build a bomb.”
“Have you talked to your dad since you were taken?”
“Just once. He told me not to worry, and we would be together again soon.”
“Did he tell you what Caine was using him for?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’m sure about what I said.”
Lindsay raked her fingers through her dark hair, pushing it off her forehead. She knew what Kendra was saying was likely happening. Her only hope was that Kendra’s dad might not be able to do what Caine wanted.
“Does your dad...? Do you think he knows how to build a bomb?”
Kendra nodded slowly. “We hardly ever talked about his work, but...yes. I think he can do it.”
Lindsay nodded, releasing a long breath. The air escaping from her deflating lungs felt like it was releasing the last bit of hope she’d held in reserve. Once the bomb went off, killing thousands of people, she and Kendra would die. It was just a matter of time.
FORTY-TWO
“Joe’s going to be fine,” Stan Waters said after speaking with the doctor. We were in the emergency room at Georgetown University Hospital. “They say he’s going to need some minor surgery to repair his arm, so it could be several hours before you can see him.”
I breathed for what seemed like the first time in minutes. “Thank God.”
He took a seat next to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I looked at him. “Caine?”
“Nothing. He must have slipped away in the confusion at the terminal.” He held on my eyes. “Why do you suppose he helped you onto the train?”