Edge of Tomorrow

by Wolf Wootan

  Hatch chortled, “Yes. That’s where I got the idea.”

  • • •

  That evening during cocktails in the small dining room, Hatch told Carmelo what he wanted to do with Judy Beecher. First, he was to get her documents proving that she was Samantha Smart, a British citizen. Then, when she was able to travel, she was to be sedated and flown to their base in the Bahamas in Shadow-4, accompanied at all times by Coffer’s medic, Mary Simms. The two were to drive to Nassau and catch a plane to Atlanta, and then on to Tahiti. They would be met in Tahiti and taken by chopper to Bora Tiki. Jacques Jabert owned a local helicopter service there. Mary Simms was then free to return to Rome—when Judy was medically sound—since Hatch had a family on the island who acted as year-round caretakers of his villa there. Carmelo agreed to take care of everything.

  “Then,” said Hatch, “there’s one more thing I need to do before going back to Miami. I need to send Tessitore a major message! I would just as soon kill the son-of-a-bitch, but he’s Bruno’s grandfather, so that wouldn’t sit well with me. So … tomorrow morning here’s what we’re going to do.”

  He explained his plan to the group, which included Colonel Coffer. Coffer said things would be ready at 10:00 A.M. tomorrow. Hatch then called his GS-V crew and arranged for a takeoff time to Miami of 2:00 P.M. the next day.

  Business over with for the moment, Hatch turned to Syd and Sara and said, “So what would you gals like to do on your last night in Italy?”

  Syd said, “I don’t know about Sara, but I’m partied out. I had way too much excitement in Monterra. I’d just as soon hang out here, have one of Gina’s luscious dinners, and hit the sack early—read, or something.”

  Sara laughed, “My preference would be another night with Charlie! But since that’s out, I’ll just go on down to the compound and eat with the Liberators—play strip poker later. Mary’s tired of being the only woman in the game!”

  Hatch said, “OK. We’ll take it easy tonight. Suits me.”

  • • •

  Wednesday morning at 9:55 A.M., Syd, Sara, and Hatch were in the Computer/Comm room. Coffer and his crew were in Shadow-4 hovering above Tessitore’s castle, Cremora. Sara was at a computer work station and was connected to the targeting display on Shadow-4. She wore a headset, and was in communication with Colonel Coffer.

  Hatch said to Sara, “Have them target the radar station on top of the castle, Sara.”

  “Roger.”

  She talked to Coffer, then enabled the large screen on the far wall so the target screen could be seen by all. The cross hairs were on the rotating radar dish. Using a number he got from Bruno, Hatch punched numbers on his Blue Phone. It took a few moments before he was connected to Don Tessitore.

  The Don and Evio were in the room where they had received Hatch, and were on a speaker phone. They were both curious as to why he was so insistent on talking to them.

  “Signore Lincoln. What can we do for you?” asked the nervous Don.

  “I suppose you are both disappointed that I’m still alive,” said Hatch with sarcasm.

  “Signore, I do not know …” began the Don.

  “Cut the crap, Tessitore! I know about Count di Cressi’s feeble attempt to kill me! And that you silenced him! I don’t know why you did what you did, but if you think I had anything to do with your problems at Casino Barone, you’re very mistaken! One of your goons was stupid enough to shoot a CIA agent, so the CIA took retribution. Which one of you morons gave that order?”

  Evio said, “CIA? I …”

  “Just shut up! If it wasn’t for your relationship to Bruno, I would have already eliminated you two. Now, I’ll let the CIA do it. They’ll have a fleet of top-notch assassins after you now. Your days are numbered. In the meantime, however, I’m going to demonstrate to you a sample of the power I can bring against you any time I wish.”

  He turned to Sara and held up one finger. She nodded and spoke quietly to Coffer. A lock-on symbol appeared on the large-screen display over the rotating radar target.

  Hatch continued, “I am now going to destroy the radar station on the roof of your castle. Please note, the target could just as easily be the room you’re currently in.”

  He motioned to Sara. Four seconds later, a missile from Shadow-4 smashed into the radar station. The explosion destroyed it, and shrapnel cut down several men who were sitting nearby with handheld SAM launchers. This set off an alarm system which wailed throughout the castle.

  The Don and his son were panicked, but did not know what to do. Hatch’s voice came through their speaker.

  “That will be it for today, assholes! Remember, I can turn your castle into rubble, with you in it! Don’t ever fuck with me again!”

  Hatch hung up and smiled. “That felt good!”

  Sara said, “We can still hose the parapets with .50 calibers. There are a lot of assholes running around up there.”

  “Let’s leave it to the CIA for now, Sara. I think Bruno’s mother may still be in there somewhere. Let’s all get packed and say our goodbyes. We takeoff for Florida at two,” replied Hatch.

  • • •

  On Wednesday, August 29, at 2:31 P.M., as the GS-V climbed through 35,000 feet on its way to its cruising altitude of 46,000 feet, Janet started preparing a late lunch for her three passengers. She had planned cold chunks of lobster on lettuce leaves with a light dill/mayo sauce as the first course, served with a delicate white wine. After that, they would have a choice of sandwiches and soups.

  They spent a lazy afternoon napping, reading, and chatting about leaving Bruno and Karen in Monterra. After dinner, Syd was looking forward to christening the new private bedroom that Hatch had added at the rear of the aircraft. She smiled as she remembered them doing it in the restroom on the trip over. That seemed like so long ago.

  • • •

  Later, as she snuggled in Hatch’s arms, she said, “Do you want to have children?”

  “Of course!” he replied. “Why do you ask?”

  “We’ve just never discussed it.”

  “Don’t you?”

  “Oh, yes! The sooner the better! My biological clock is ticking away.”

  “Well, we could get started right away!” he laughed as he caressed her breasts.

  “No way, mister! I’m not walking down the aisle pregnant! Let’s plan the wedding for right after my teaching semester. Say, February?” exclaimed Syd.

  “Not sooner?” he asked as he nibbled her ear.

  “No. I’ll teach this semester because I committed to it. I’ll tell them that will be it. Then we’ll get married and have some kids!” she said as she threw her leg over him.

  “What about your career?” he asked.

  “You and our kids will be my career. I’ve been taking notes for years for a book I want to write. I can work on that if I have any spare time.”

  He rolled on top of her and the future faded and gave way to the present.

  • • •

  Even though the flight took a little over eleven hours, because of the time difference they landed in Miami at 8:05 P.M. Wednesday night Miami time. The Triple Eye chopper got them to Klaus Haus by nine o’clock, where Mrs. Chamberlain had drinks and snacks ready for them. She was happy to see all of them. Things could get back to normal now. All of the trouble was left behind, was it not?

  Chapter 38

  Klaus Haus, Florida

  Thursday, August 30, 2001

  2:00 P.M.

  Jet lag took its toll and Hatch, Sara, and Syd were not up and around until the afternoon. They had Bloody Marys, Denver omelets, hash browns, and toast at 2:00 P.M.

  “I think it’s easier going the other way,” moaned Sara.

  “I agree,” said Syd as she sipped her Bloody Mary.

  Hatch had left the table to go make some phone calls and check in on his financial empire—and grab a smoke. Syd had called Karen when she first woke up, and things were going fine in Monterra—at least, Karen said they were. Syd was sure she heard
Bruno in the background.

  Smitty and his crew were still in Arizona putting Shadow-5 through operational testing, so Sara didn’t have a lot of work to do, except to get caught up on her paper work as Manager of a Triple Eye office. She had promised Jane Forbeson, the new CEO, that she would.

  After breakfast, Syd called the University of Miami and touched base with her Dean. Everything there was still on course. She needed to check out her new condo in Miami and make arrangements to move her things to it and close down her condo on Marco Island.

  Mrs. C. had faxed three choices to Syd while she was in Italy. Unknown to Syd, the one she had chosen had become a problem. The owner had changed his mind about leasing, and decided to sell instead. Mrs. C. had called Hatch about this, and he had solved it easily by buying it. He was Syd’s new landlord, but he did not want her to know, because she was insistent about taking care of herself until they were married. Hatch wanted her to stay at Klaus Haus and use the chopper to go to Miami everyday, but Syd wouldn’t hear of it. Her new condo was only three miles from the University and she planned on running to and from there every work day. She needed to get back to her exercise regimen. She pointed out that he could use the chopper to visit her—or stay with her when he was in town. There was plenty of room.

  • • •

  On Saturday, September 1, they used the Triple Eye chopper to move Syd’s things to her Miami condo. Everything was in place by 10:30 A.M., so Syd told Hatch she wanted to go check out the pool area and the club house. They were standing beside the Olympic-sized pool and admiring the landscaping when a helicopter appeared. It swooped down and hovered over the pool. Syd used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun and peered at it. She was trying to get its number so she could report it for a violation. It was definitely too low.

  Hatch was looking up also, and stepped to his left, accidentally bumping Syd as he did so. The slug caught him in the left chest and knocked him back into a lounge chair. Syd spun to her right, and when she saw the blood on his shirt, she screamed. As she stepped toward him, her sandal hit a wet spot and she slipped and fell backward, just barely catching herself before hitting the concrete deck. The second slug hit the lounge pad an inch from Hatch’s leg. Syd moved toward him again and knelt at his side, then looked back up at the helicopter. It was banking away and beginning to climb. She was only able to get part of its ID number.

  “Hatch! Are you all right? Shit! Talk to me!”

  But he was unconscious and didn’t respond. A tenant came running over and Syd yelled for her to call 911.

  The man by the pool house slipped away without being seen.

  Chapter 39

  Miami, Florida

  Saturday, September 1, 2001

  11:19 A.M.

  Syd was all cried out. Her eyes were red, and all of her makeup was rubbed off. Sara sat next to her with her right arm draped over Syd’s shoulders. Her face was a mess also. As Dr. Jenkins walked toward them, they both jumped up.

  “How is he?” Syd blurted.

  “Please, sit back down,” said the doctor with a wave of his hand.

  They sank back down onto the uncomfortable waiting room couch, their hands clasped on their knees.

  The doctor said gravely, “Mr. Lincoln is still alive, but he is in very critical condition. The bullet is lodged against his heart. Fortunately, it was deflected by a rib. It must be removed soon, or he will die.”

  “Then remove the fucking thing!” snarled Sara.

  “It is a very delicate operation, and …”

  Syd interrupted, “Who is the most qualified surgeon in the world for this type of operation?”

  “The top cardiothoracic surgeon is Dr. John Brent at the University of Chicago Medical Center, but we have very qualified people here …”

  “But he’s the best?”

  “I would say so. I know he has done similar surgeries, but he is very expensive, and hard to schedule,” Dr. Jenkins answered. “And he is in Chicago, and the patient is here—moving the patient is out of the question. It would certainly kill him. How he survived the ambulance ride is a mystery.”

  Syd was panicked! She had to save Hatch somehow! She asked the doctor, “Do we have enough time to get that Dr. Brent down here?”

  “It would have to be as soon as possible, but I would doubt if he would drop everything and rush down here. Mr. Lincoln is getting weaker by the moment, however, so a decision must be made very soon.”

  Syd turned to Sara and said, “We have to get that doctor down here now! How do we do this, Sara? We have to pay whatever it takes!”

  Sara frowned and replied, “I don’t have that kind of heat, but I can call Jane and see what she can do. At least, she could call Martin Winsocki and see what he would do.”

  Syd had a light go off in her head: Winsocki! That was the man Hatch had mentioned to her in Greece! Call him if you need help!

  “I just thought of something, Sara! We don’t need to call all over the friggin’ place to get help! I’ll call Winsocki! Can I borrow your Blue Phone?”

  “Syd, it is nearly impossible to get him on the phone! I thought Jane might be able …”

  “Just give me the fucking phone!” snapped Syd as she felt herself losing it. “I’m sorry, Sara! I’m losing it! Please, the phone. This has to work!”

  Sara looked at Syd and thought, She’s really gone off the deep end! What does she have in mind? This is a waste of time!

  Sara retrieved her Blue Phone from her purse and handed to Syd, knowing she did not know how to use it—certainly not how to reach Winsocki! Syd took the phone, punched buttons as Hatch had taught her, scrolled to Winsocki’s name and punched Dial. Each Blue Phone had the caller’s ID Code programmed in, so Syd had overridden Sara’s phone’s code with Hatch’s code. A receptionist at Lincoln Industries in Langley, Virginia answered the phone and Syd said she needed to talk to Martin Winsocki immediately. The secretary would have blown her off, but her console indicated that Van Lincoln was calling, so she put Syd on hold and told Winsocki that a Sydney Steppe was calling him with Mr. Lincoln’s code flashing on her console.

  Sara asked, “How do you know Winsocki?”

  Syd replied, “I don’t. It’s a name Hatch mentioned once.”

  “Hello, Ms. Steppe? This is Martin Winsocki. Would you repeat your name for ID purposes, please?”

  Syd did so, remembering that she had put her voice print in the system, then he said, “You’ve been verified. What can I do for you, Ms. Steppe?”

  Syd said, “Are you aware that Hatch—Mr. Lincoln—has been shot, and is on the brink of death?”

  Winsocki gasped, “No! My God! How bad is it?”

  Syd gave him a short synopsis of what the doctors had told her, then continued, “There’s a very expensive specialist in Chicago—the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the country, I’m told—and I want him down here immediately! Is there anyone in Hatch’s friggin’ conglomerate with the authority to get this done? To get things moving?”

  “Why, of course, Ms. Steppe. You do! I have your Power of Attorney on file, as well as Hatch’s taped instructions concerning your powers in situations like this,” he told her. “In Hatch’s absence, you are him. You have the power to do anything, ma’am.”

  “I do? OK, first of all, call me Syd, Martin. I want this Dr. John Brent in Chicago on a plane now! Bribe him! Pay him whatever it takes! Can you handle this?”

  “Of course, Syd. I’ll call him. I can be very persuasive when I have a blank check,” said Winsocki. “I know of this doctor. The Lincoln Foundation built a wing on his hospital a couple of years ago. I think he’ll be cooperative, and I’ll rent a Lear Jet in Chicago and get things moving. As soon as he is airborne, I’ll call you. Nice meeting you, Syd. Hatch will be proud of you!”

  “Nice meeting you, Martin. And thanks! I’m in a panic here!”

  “Call me Marty, please. A little housekeeping chore first. I see here on my monitor that you’re calling on Sara Smith’s phone usin
g Hatch Lincoln’s override code. Right?”

  “Yes. How do you know that?”

  “These phones are very smart. They transmit the phone’s serial number, the preprogrammed user code, and a GPS location of the phone. You, of course, overrode the preprogrammed user ID to get my attention, eh? Clever! What I’ll do is assign you your own personal user code so you won’t have to use Hatch’s. That way, I will know when it’s you calling.”

  He gave her the five digit code 00002. Syd said, “I would have thought that was your number, since Hatch is number one.”

  He laughed and replied, “No, Hatch has been saving that number and I suspect he was saving it for you. My number is 00666—very appropriate, I think, since most people think I’m the devil incarnate. You’ll need your own phone and pager. We are very careful about the phones, so I’ll send a courier to bring the phone and pager to you. I don’t want to use FedEx. Let’s see, if I get right on that, he should be there by this evening.”

  “I really appreciate all of this, Marty. You don’t even know me,” said Syd.

  “I don’t need to—Hatch knows you. He made the decision to make you number two. Now, let me get on this Dr. Brent thing. I’ll call you on Sara’s phone. Later.”

  Syd switched off the Blue Phone and sank back against the hard cushions of the couch.

  Sara blurted, “What’s happening? What did you just do?”

  Syd smiled wanly and replied, “I think we have Dr. Brent. Hopefully, he will be on his way shortly, if this Mr. Winsocki has the heat he thinks he has.”

  “Oh, Winsocki is the fucking heat. He’s Hatch’s hatchet man. He makes all of Hatch’s wishes get fulfilled. He’s going to handle this? How did you pull that off?”

  “I forgot that Hatch gave me a Power of Attorney while we were in Greece. You know, when you were taking down Koko and his merry band of assholes. He told Winsocki about it—we even put my voice in the security system—so Marty Winsocki says I can authorize anything. So I did! I’ll spend every friggin’ penny of Hatch’s money if I have to—to keep him alive!”