High Alert (The Project Book 14)

by Alex Lukeman

  Guards burst through the door of the conference room, only to be confronted by a solid wall of the highest ranking officers in the country.

  "What has happened here?"

  "A tragedy, Sergeant," Park said. "Our Great Leader was brilliantly demonstrating a point with his favorite pistol when it discharged. He has joined his ancestors. We must prepare the nation. Summon your commanding officer."

  The soldier snapped to attention and saluted. "At once, sir."

  He barked an order and the guards hurried from the room. Park looked around at his fellow officers.

  "We are in agreement then? An accident?"

  The generals nodded.

  "Thank the gods he's dead," Kang said.

  Rhee walked over to Yun's body. He bent down and placed his pistol in the chairman's dead hand. He took Yun's pistol from under the dead man's coat, put it in his own holster and closed the flap.

  "We must form a committee to rule until a successor is chosen," Park said. "The people will expect it."

  "Who will succeed him?" Rhee asked.

  "Perhaps the nephew," Park said. "It will maintain continuity of the line."

  "He's just a boy."

  Park smiled. "Yes, he is, isn't he? Until he reaches his adulthood, we will have to take charge. For the good of the nation."

  Rhee nodded, smiling. "Yes, of course. For the good of the nation."

  CHAPTER 44

  Elizabeth Harker was sipping her first cup of coffee of the day when DCI Hood called her.

  "Clarence, good morning."

  "Good morning, Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"

  "Better."

  "We have new satellite photos of Musudan-Ri," Hood said. "The damage is extensive, but that's not why I'm calling. There's been a coup in North Korea. The military has taken control. Yun is dead."

  "How?"

  "The official explanation is an unfortunate accident."

  "Unfortunate for Yun," Elizabeth said. "Good for the rest of the world."

  Hood continued. "The country is shut down. State television is playing funeral music and showing patriotic clips featuring Yun. The propaganda machine is spinning full blast."

  "Who succeeds him?"

  "The generals are setting up Yun's nephew as the new Great Leader. It preserves the bloodline of the leadership."

  "He's only a boy. What is he, nine years old?"

  "That's right. The real control of the country rests with a military junta, led by Marshal Park."

  "Park's a hardliner."

  "Yes, but he's not crazy like Yun. He might be someone we can deal with."

  "We can hope," Elizabeth said.

  "Tell me about the mission."

  She filled Hood in on the details. "The Chinese were a complication nobody expected. Beijing can't be happy but they're not going to say anything. Nick thinks they were there to sabotage the launch. I think he's right. They could have screwed up the whole operation."

  "We were lucky," Hood said.

  "This time," Elizabeth said.

  "Are you feeling well enough for dinner this evening?"

  "I'd like that," Elizabeth said, "but I'm still tired. I'll take a rain check."

  "I'll keep my umbrella handy."

  After she'd hung up, she turned to Stephanie.

  "Do we have anything new on Haltman?"

  "I told Freddie to find out everything he could," Stephanie said. "Let's ask. Freddie, did you hear Elizabeth's question?"

  Yes, Stephanie. There is something new.

  "What have you discovered?"

  You requested that I look for calls from Langley made to numbers linked to General Sanford. I found one such call.

  "Excellent," Elizabeth said, "but what is the connection with Haltman?"

  The call was made after the assassination of the Chinese ambassador to someone in Northern California. The area is rural and sparsely populated. Triangulation indicates the call came from an area north of San Francisco and south of Oregon. Haltman's private estate is located in the area. Given that Haltman designed and manufactured the technology identified in the drone and video, there is statistically significant likelihood that the call was made to him. Probability that Haltman is responsible for passing classified material to North Korea is ninety-eight point eight two percent.

  "Got him," Stephanie said.

  Would you like to know what else I have discovered?

  Stephanie looked at Elizabeth and shrugged her shoulders.

  "I didn't know he'd be like this," she said. "Yes, Freddie, we would like to know what else you have discovered."

  Haltman has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has approximately six months to live. The assassin Chun was also diagnosed with terminal illness. He was treated in the same hospital in Beijing at the same time as Haltman. It is logical to conclude that Chun and Haltman met each other there. Chun's family is now living in the United States. It is logical to conclude that Haltman persuaded Chun to assassinate the ambassador in return for protecting his family.

  "He may have six months to live, but I'm going to make sure he doesn't live them out comfortably," Elizabeth said.

  There is more that may be of interest to you.

  "Go on."

  The man you know as Gregory Haltman was not born with that name. His name was changed legally when he was thirteen years old. His mother divorced and was awarded custody. She remarried and Haltman's stepfather petitioned for the name change.

  "You're right, that is interesting. What was his birth name?

  Gregory Hudson Lodge.

  Elizabeth was startled. "What!"

  Gregory Hudson Lodge.

  "I heard you, Freddie."

  Did you not just make an interrogative exclamation?

  "Yes, but I heard you."

  I do not understand.

  Elizabeth took a deep breath, wondering what the answer would be to her next question.

  "Stephanie will explain it later. Freddie, did he have any siblings?"

  One younger brother. The siblings were separated during the divorce and subsequent custody dispute. The younger brother remained with his father.

  "What was the brother's name?"

  Wendell Oliver Lodge.

  Elizabeth and Stephanie looked at each other.

  "It can't be," Stephanie said.

  "Freddie, do you have any information on the brother?"

  Yes.

  "Well, what is it?"

  Wendell Oliver Lodge was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency when he graduated from Yale University. He eventually became director of the agency. He committed suicide five years, three months, four days and seventeen minutes ago.

  "Oh, my," Stephanie said.

  CHAPTER 45

  Elizabeth sent a Gulfstream to pick up Nick and the others in Japan. The next day they were seated on the couch across from her desk. Selena had a brace wrapped around her thigh and knee. A cane rested against the arm of the couch. She was sitting close to Nick,

  "How's the leg?" Elizabeth asked.

  "Sore. I'm looking at weeks of rehab before things get back to normal. The brace is a new design. I feel like the Bionic Woman."

  "I'm glad it wasn't worse."

  "You and me both."

  Elizabeth tapped her pen on her desk. "There's been a development. Nick, you remember Wendell Lodge?"

  "That son of a bitch?" Nick snorted. "How could I forget him?"

  "It turns out he was Haltman's younger brother," Elizabeth said. "Haltman's name was changed when he was a teenager. He's the one who sent the drone you shot down. He engineered that video alleging a conspiracy against China. It's a safe assumption he hired the thugs that went after you and that he handed over the plans for Black Dolphin to North Korea."

  "You're kidding. Lodge's older brother?"

  "I guess treason runs in the family," Lamont said. "Must be a bad gene."

  "That would explain why that drone attacked us," Selena said.

  "It would a
lso explain why his goons were waiting outside Cotter's apartment after they killed him instead of leaving the scene," Nick said.

  "Revenge," Ronnie said. "He knows we were there when Lodge died and he wants revenge for his brother's death."

  "That's what I think," Elizabeth said. "We've identified the leak at Langley who was feeding information to him. He's being interrogated. He told Haltman what we were doing."

  "We need to pay this guy Haltman a visit," Lamont said. "One of my friends died on that sub."

  "You'll get your chance," Elizabeth said. "Haltman spends all his time on his estate. If there is any proof he's the one we want, it will be in his house. He's paranoid and he has a private security service. Plan a mission to get in there and find what we need."

  "With his money, his security is going to be professional, probably ex military, probably special forces," Nick said. "It could be trouble."

  Elizabeth gave him a flat look. "Use whatever force necessary."

  "It's domestic, Director."

  "Haltman forfeited any rights he had when he gave North Korea those plans. Do whatever you have to do. Just don't get caught."

  "We need more intel," Ronnie said.

  "Freddie can help you," Stephanie said. "He can provide satellite photographs, along with plans of the house and grounds. Those should be public records. Right, Freddie?"

  That is correct, Stephanie.

  "Selena, you're off this one for obvious reasons," Elizabeth said. "Nick, I want to move on this now. Haltman has a lot of motivation to disappear. He must know we'll figure out who he is."

  My analysis of Haltman/Lodge's personality indicates he is unlikely to flee.

  "What do you think he'll do if he doesn't run?" Stephanie asked.

  He is more likely to anticipate that you will come after him and establish counter measures.

  "He'll be waiting for us?" Nick said.

  That is correct.

  CHAPTER 46

  Haltman's compound was on the coast of northern California, not far from the town of Fort Bragg. There were no soldiers stationed in Fort Bragg. There had never even been a fort, only a military outpost built before the Civil War and named for its commander, Braxton Bragg. Bragg had gone on to become a general in the Confederate Army. After the war, the garrison had been abandoned.

  The town was a thriving tourist destination in the summer because of its location on the Pacific Ocean. During the winter months, it was the kind of place where they rolled up the sidewalks after six at night.

  Selena talked Harker into letting her go along on the mission, even though she couldn't take part in the assault on Haltman's estate. Her role was confined to communications support. As a last resort, she was limited backup. You didn't have to have two good legs in order to pull a trigger.

  The Project operations center was located in what had once been the central magazine of the old Nike missile installation. The room contained a conference table, a coffee station, and a refrigerator stocked with snacks, sodas and water. A large whiteboard and a seventy-two inch, plasma screen monitor on the wall rounded out the furniture.

  "Freddie," Nick said.

  Yes, Nick?

  "Please put the satellite shot of Haltman's compound on the monitor."

  Do you mean display the photograph? I do not have the physical capabilities to put it on the monitor.

  Nick sighed. "Yes, Freddie, display it."

  Haltman's home was on a high point looking out over the Pacific. At the base of the point, waves smashed against a narrow, rocky beach. It was a sheer drop, with no way down to it from the house. Even if there had been, it wasn't the kind of beach you picked to get a tan. One road led in to the estate, a blacktop drive accessed from Highway 101, the main north-south route along the coast.

  The drive passed through two checkpoints. The first barrier was a chain-link fence that surrounded the property. Anyone coming up the drive had to stop at a double gate and request entry through an intercom. The next checkpoint was farther in, at a high stone wall with a manned guardhouse and another, heavier gate. From there the drive continued through trees and landscaping, terminating in a wide circle in front of the house.

  The house was a ten thousand square foot designer home with a cedar shake roof, redwood siding, walls of glass, and lots of river stone accents. A wide flagstone patio on the ocean side featured a large fire pit and a full-sized swimming pool.

  A long, multi-car garage was set a short distance away from the house. Beyond that was another building, quarters for household staff and the security guards. A large dog run and kennels were discreetly tucked away behind the garage. Two dogs could be seen in the photograph. There were probably more.

  "Quite a spread he's got there," Ronnie said.

  "How big is it?" Selena asked.

  The area included in Haltman's estate is slightly more than seven hundred acres.

  "Nice if you can get it," Lamont said.

  "The outer fence is to keep the riffraff out," Nick said. "It doesn't look like much, but I'll bet he's got it wired."

  "It'll be patrolled," Ronnie said. "We're going to have to do a little recon. See if they have a regular rotation."

  Nick took out a laser pointer and clicked it on. He put the dot on the stone wall.

  "That could be a problem," he said. "It's high. Razor wire along the top."

  "I hate that stuff," Lamont said. "I always get cut when we have to go through it. What about the dogs?"

  "They'll be running free inside that wall," Ronnie said.

  Nick moved the laser to the kennels. "Freddie, zoom in on the kennels."

  The image closed in on the dog run. Inside the run, a large, bearded man was leaning down to talk to the two dogs. He had an MP-5 slung under his arm.

  "Dobermans," Ronnie said. "Clipped ears. Those aren't household pets."

  "We'll drug them. We can't risk it with the guards, though. We'll have to take them out."

  "They're Americans," Selena said. "Do we have to kill them?"

  "They're working for a really bad man," Nick said. "Haltman isn't going to hire nice guys to work for him. They knew the risk when they signed on. See that MP-5 the guy in the kennel is carrying? Nobody carries one of those unless they know how to use it. Haltman's security is professional. Mercenaries."

  "How many of them are there?" Selena asked.

  "Hard to tell. It's a lot of property."

  Nick moved the laser dot over by the garage.

  "They've got ATVs to get around. I'd be surprised if they use them at night."

  "What do you think?" Ronnie asked. "Three shifts, maybe four men each?"

  "At least. Maybe more. That's too much ground to cover for a couple of men out walking around. There have to be cameras. Maybe laser trip alarms and ground sensors. Someone will be inside watching all that and handling communications between the individual units."

  "They could be relying on the dogs and the technology," Selena said. "If they have the kind of set up you're talking about, why would they need people all over the place? Four on a shift could handle it. One for the guardhouse, one to monitor everything, and two for walking around. At night, they probably stick to the inner compound. If you're right about three shifts, that leaves eight off duty. An alarm would bring them all out. Plenty of backup."

  "Good point, but we have to assume there are more."

  "What's the plan, Kemo Sabe?" Ronnie asked.

  "It's a long way to the house if we go through the fence and over the wall. High risk of triggering an alarm."

  "What about from the beach?" Lamont asked.

  "I don't think it's possible," Nick said. "Look at those waves smashing against the base of the point and swirling around. There will be strong rip currents. Even if we could get a footing, the cliff face is a good hundred and fifty feet high."

  "What's the back of the house look like?" Ronnie asked.

  "Freddie, do we have pictures of the back of the house?"

  Yes, Nick.
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  "Show them to us."

  The back of the house was almost a solid wall of glass. Drapes were pulled across some of the windows. Several sets of sliding doors opened onto the patio. A wooden fence about three feet high ran along the edge of the cliff.

  Nick studied the pictures. "We could come through the woods on the right, then drop down below the edge of the cliff before we reach the perimeter fence."

  "And?" Ronnie said.

  "Work our way past the fence and the end of the wall and come up on the ocean side. That's the most vulnerable point. The cliff has to give them a false sense of security. They'll be relying on the wall and alarms to keep everyone out of the front and sides."

  In the photographs it looked as though it might be possible to climb horizontally along the face of the cliff below ground level, then come up over the patio near the end of the swimming pool. It wouldn't be an easy climb. The face of the cliff appeared soft, ready to crumble. A fall meant death on the rocks below.

  "The idea is pretty good except for one thing," Ronnie said.

  Nick had known Ronnie a long time. The two of them were still alive because they trusted each other.

  "What's bothering you?"

  "The look of that cliff. It's more dirt than rock. I don't think it's going to hold us. There's too much moisture. Look at the photo. You can see the erosion and lots of plants growing on it."

  They all looked at the photograph.

  "I lived on the coast most of my life," Selena said. "Ronnie's right. People are always getting hurt or killed when they get too close to the edge of one of these. The ground just crumbles away under their feet."

  "Okay," Nick said. "What's Plan B?"

  "Maybe we've been thinking about this all wrong," Ronnie said. "Like you said, it's a long way to the house through the grounds. We're worried about alarms giving away the game. Ground sensors, lasers, stuff like that, right?"

  "Right."

  "So why not just drop in on him?"

  "An air drop?"

  "We could land on that patio. It's plenty big enough. We make a night drop from a few thousand feet and glide right in. Everything they have assumes someone comes through the grounds. They won't expect trouble from above."