by Siegel, Alex
"We helped Kamal design the system," Bethany said. "It's really cool. It uses gamma-ray radiographic imaging with multiple sources. It can see the bullets inside a gun."
"Will it give us cancer?"
"I don't think so, ma'am."
Norbert raised his eyebrows. He had hoped for a more confident response.
They passed the twentieth floor and continued upwards. They were now entering the secret section containing the new headquarters.
The elevator finally stopped. Marina opened the door and everybody got out.
They walked into a small chamber with concrete walls. There were spaces for a large window and a door, but they were still open.
"This will be the main entry," Marina said. "You won't be able to get through here until Jack presses a button to open the inner door. The walls are thick enough to stop a bomb blast."
They proceeded through the open doorway. The vast space beyond spanned almost the entire top of the hotel. There were no interior walls yet, and their footsteps echoed distantly. All the surfaces were covered with some kind of gray metallic tile. Widely spaced work lights on stands created uneven lighting.
Norbert noticed a large square hole in the floor. He walked over and looked down. It appeared the hole went straight to the ground far below. He stepped back nervously from the deadly drop.
"What's this?" he said.
"An escape shaft," Marina said. "There are two others, and they go into bomb shelters under the building. We'll also install automatic rappel lines on the exterior. We need a lot of different ways to escape in an emergency. We don't want to get trapped up here." She looked around and smiled. "This is going to be great when we finally move in, even better than the old headquarters off Wacker. How much of that place did you see?"
"Just a few rooms. Then I had to run for my life."
She shrugged. "That's what you get for breaking into Ethel's home."
He grimaced. "She scares the crap out of me."
"God's wrath has flowed through her veins for three decades. She probably has more brimstone than blood in her body. The Brotherhood of the Luciferian Child picked a fight with the wrong bitch."
Norbert couldn't agree more. Except for himself, the entire Brotherhood had been slaughtered.
He walked over to one of the walls. The windows were one foot square and six inches thick. He looked out and saw O'Hare a mile away. Airplanes were taking off and landing continuously, but he couldn't hear a thing.
"Let's get busy," Marina said. "We have a lot of unpacking to do, and I want it done quickly. Aaron needs my help up north. A shit load of prep work has to be done before the convention starts. We'll barely have time to do it all."
* * *
Xavier stared at the note in his hands. It was inscribed in Ethel's distinctively elegant handwriting. Every line was straight and firm, and every loop was just so. The words were written on real parchment. Black ink had penetrated the natural fibers and appeared especially dark. It was a note that declared its status as an important document.
Even though the style was familiar, the words were shocking. He had read them again and again for fifteen minutes. He had never expected to see words like these in his lifetime.
He opened up a desk drawer. It contained a framed photograph of a beautiful woman with raven black hair. She had naturally pink lips and a perfect smile. She wore a blue evening gown, a favorite of his.
"I love you," Xavier whispered.
Rhiannon had died two years ago, but his heart still ached terribly. Not a day went by without him longing to touch her again. He would pay any price to hear her voice one more time. She had been more than his lover. She had been his best teammate and closest confidant. Her wisdom had lit the way during some very dark times. He still couldn't believe she was really gone.
He blew a kiss to her and gently closed the desk drawer.
He stood up. He had to make a phone call, but he couldn't do it here.
Xavier was the commander of the Houston cell of the Gray Spear Society. His office was full of trophies collected by himself and his predecessors over many years of service. There was a skeleton of a human hand preserved in clear plastic. The finger bones ended in two inch claws. A sledgehammer in the corner had a head that weighed fifty pounds, and it was still speckled with the dried blood of its former owner. An atomic bomb sat in an airtight glass case. The high explosives had been removed, but the uranium was still inside.
Xavier turned around and pressed the nose of a shrunken head mounted on the wall. A narrow panel slid out of the way, and he forced his body through the slot. It seemed every year it got harder to get through his private back door.
He stepped onto an underground train platform. Six inches of water covered badly rusted tracks. A single incandescent bulb provided the only light.
In the 1960's, the City of Houston had decided to build a subway system. All the other big cities had them, and therefore, Texas needed one too. With a great deal of fanfare and a fresh issue of government bonds, construction began.
There was an immediate problem though. Houston was a very flat, very wet city. It was really just a swamp with buildings on it. The engineers quickly realized there was no way to keep the water out of the subway, at least no cost effective way. After just one station was built, the entire project was cancelled and forgotten. Nobody ever mentioned the embarrassing mistake again.
The lone station was put up for sale, but there was only one bidder. The sale went through regardless. Thus, Global Real Estate Partners added another unique property to its secret collection.
Xavier walked across a wooden bridge that carried him over the water. He could hear giant pumps running in a Sisyphean effort to keep headquarters from flooding. They never stopped. He entered a tunnel so dark he had to wait a moment for his eyes to adjust. Working by feel as well as sight, he climbed two flights of stairs.
He came to a steel door secured by twelve bolts. Each bolt was four inches thick and made of the finest steel. One by one, he pulled the bolts back with cranks. Even though the machinery was decades old, it was well lubricated and silent.
When the door was unlocked, he looked through a peephole to make sure nobody was in the area. He grabbed a hardhat and a clip-on badge that were waiting for him.
He pulled the door open, slipped out, and closed it again. The door had a thin wooden veneer that blended perfectly into the outer wall of a storage shed.
He was standing in a large train yard. The entire yard was under visual and radio surveillance from the security booth in his underground headquarters. If he used his phone now, it would get picked up by his security chief.
Xavier started jogging in a zigzag pattern. He knew precisely where all the surveillance cameras were and how to avoid them. He had done this many times before. The trains provided ample cover.
It was about seventy degrees outside and the humidity wasn't oppressive. There were relatively few mosquitoes at the moment. Winter was the nicest season in Houston. He actually enjoyed being outdoors.
He eventually reached a road that ran along the edge of the train yard. A neighborhood of cheap little houses was on the other side. He judged he was far enough away from headquarters to make his call safely.
He was reaching into his pocket when a battered blue pickup truck stopped beside him. He looked over in surprise.
"What are you doing out here, sir?" the driver said.
Xavier recognized the technology expert on his team. His name was Dew. He had a full head of curly blonde hair and a jaw that was a little too big for his pinched face. Dew was an absolutely brilliant hacker. Xavier felt he contributed as much as any of the legionnaires even though they outranked him.
"Just walking around in the fresh air," Xavier said. "Sometimes I get tired of breathing swamp gas. And it's such a nice day."
Dew furrowed his brow. "You seem upset."
"I'm not."
"I've worked with you for eight years. I'm your best friend. I know y
our moods."
"OK." Xavier smiled. "You got me, but I'm more perturbed than upset. I just received some very surprising news."
"What?"
"I'll tell the whole team when I go back down. I really came up here to think about what I'm going to say to you all."
"Does that mean you want to be alone, sir?" Dew asked.
"Give me a half-hour."
"Yes, sir."
Dew drove off. Xavier breathed a sigh of relief.
He took a slim black phone out of his pocket. It wasn't his regular Gray Spear Society phone with all its remarkable capabilities. This one was ordinary instead, but it had two essential features. It was small enough to hide easily, and the Society didn't know anything about it.
He called a number that he had memorized.
A man answered, "Hanley here."
Xavier always had to be sure. "What is my color?"
"Gray," Hanley said.
"What is my weapon?"
"A spear."
"Who am I?" Xavier asked.
"The commander of Houston. Hello, Xavier. What's going on? I wasn't expecting a call from you. We're getting ready to move the Unit to Atlanta. The attack will take place in five days as planned."
"Postpone the operation."
"Why?" Hanley said.
"There's a new development. Ethel called a convention. I just got the note."
"A convention?"
"Yes," Xavier said. "Every commander in North America will be there along with Ethel herself. The second in commands are going too. The leadership for the entire division will be in one place."
"That's great news!" Hanley said. "Instead of destroying one cell at a time, we can smash the entire organization at once. This is a huge gift."
"Don't get too excited. There are a lot of things wrong with this picture. First, conventions are very rare things. I don't think anybody who attended the last one is still alive. The fact that Ethel called one right now is suspicious. I have to believe it's because of what we did in Miami and San Francisco."
"Sounds like she's afraid. That's good for us. Fear makes people stupid."
"No." Xavier shook his head. "The legatus legionis doesn't fear anything. She's up to something sneaky."
"Where and when is this convention?"
"The when is two days from now, starting Friday night. The where is unknown. I'm supposed to meet the other attendees in O'Hare Airport, where a bus will take us to our destination. The note told me to pack for very cold weather."
"Somewhere near Chicago," Hanley said. "I'll issue orders to have the entire Unit sent there immediately. When you get to the convention, you can tell me exactly where you are and what the security looks like. Then we'll plan the attack. You'll be my guy on the inside."
"The fact that it's near Chicago also bothers me. That's Ethel's home town. She was the commander there for many years, and it's where she's strongest."
"Again, sounds like she's afraid. Do you think she suspects you?"
"No," Xavier said, "or I'd already be dead. And there's another issue. A guy named Aaron runs Chicago now. He's a relatively new player, but he already has a reputation as a very clever man. This whole thing smells funny."
"Doesn't matter. We have to take our shot. We'll never get another chance like this."
"That's easy for you to say. You won't be right in the middle of it."
"Calm down," Hanley said.
Xavier squeezed his phone. "I'm stating legitimate, rational concerns. And by the way, I'm not the only one at risk here. If Ethel figures out you're involved, you'll be a dead man, too."
"You're talking to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I'm not worried."
Xavier snorted. "Are you kidding?"
"I was also a Navy Seal for five years," Hanley said. "I can take care of myself."
"Let me explain something to you in small words you can understand. The Gray Spear Society isn't the mob, and Ethel isn't an ordinary crime boss. She's a thousand times more dangerous than anybody you've ever met. She has people working for her with capabilities you wouldn't believe. Your precious FBI can't protect you."
"We're still talking about human beings. If you shoot them, they die."
"Maybe," Xavier muttered.
"Regardless, we have to move forward. Go to the convention and be my spy. Once I have all the intelligence I need, I can take care of the rest. There won't be any guesswork this time. We should be able to execute the operation flawlessly."
Xavier took a deep breath. Hanley was right about one thing. This was an opportunity they couldn't ignore no matter how fishy it smelled.
"I have to go," Xavier said. "I'll call again when I get to the convention."
"Be careful."
Xavier put his phone back in a secret pocket in his pants. He didn't entirely trust Hanley to "execute the operation flawlessly." Xavier needed an escape plan just in case. No matter what went wrong at the convention, he had to live to fight another day.
He walked off, deep in thought.
* * *
Norbert looked up at the sky. It was a cold night, and the air was perfectly clear and still. He could see thousands of stars, a rare treat in Chicago. They glittered like tiny diamonds.
He leaned forward and looked down. The ground was two hundred and fifty feet below his feet. At the bottom of that long fall was packed, frozen dirt, which was probably as hard as concrete. He took a deep breath.
He jumped.
For an instant he was in free fall and his stomach tried to climb up his throat. Then, he felt a sharp jerk on his harness. His descent slowed to a merely frightening speed. The electric winch above screamed. Copper tinted windows shot past him one after another.
The ground approached rapidly, and he braced his legs for a violent impact. At the last second there was another jerk that cut his speed again. He landed with a soft thump.
His heart was racing. That was fun, he thought.
The last two weeks had been a time of peace and quiet for Norbert. He had spent about a third of his time looking after the twins and another third practicing martial arts on his own. The rest had been spent puttering around the new headquarters. He had installed plenty of equipment. He knew Nancy would probably redo a lot of the work, but it had kept him occupied.
He had spent most of today installing the emergency rappel system on the roof. There were ten winches, enough to allow the entire team to escape at once. Of course, he had had to test the system to make sure it worked.
Unfortunately, the retraction button was on the winch, which was on the roof. He began to climb the rope.
By the time he reached the top, he was dripping in sweat and the muscles in his arms were burning. The long climb had taken every bit of his strength and determination. The accomplishment felt very good though. Not too long ago, he would never have attempted such a feat.
The roof of the Rosemont Tower Hotel was empty at the moment. A helipad marked with bright red paint was the only splash of color. The plan was to put an array of defensive weapons up here, including a guided missile launcher. Everything would be covered or disguised when not in use. When the team finally moved into the hotel, it would have more security than the White House.
Norbert went down a flight of stairs and entered headquarters proper. It was still a huge empty space, but he and the twins had made a home of sorts here. A king-sized mattress was laid on the floor. There were piles of clothes, some dirty and some clean. A small bathroom held just a sink, a toilet, and a basic shower with reasonably hot water. Food had been the biggest issue. They couldn't take delivery, and there was no refrigerator. Norbert had made many trips to local restaurants to fetch meals.
He walked over to the twins. They were nestled in the soft webbing of their workstations. Their big eyes were fixed on giant monitors above, which displayed an endless flow of cryptic information.
He took Bethany's shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. It was nicer than screaming to get her attention. He did the s
ame for Leanna.
"Tomorrow is the big day," Norbert said. "Are we all set?"
Bethany nodded. "All the new software is installed. The entire surveillance system is operational. Automated tracking is online."
"Good. We should sleep now. Once the convention starts, we'll be extremely busy, and there may not be much time for rest."
The twins climbed out of their chairs.
"I want to be touched tonight," Leanna said.
"Of course." Norbert smiled. "Anything you want, darling."
Chapter Four
"Sir," Sampson said, "do you mind if we stop for a snack? I'm starving."
Xavier faced his second in command. Sampson had received his nickname because of his magnificent mane of curly, blond hair. He had other impressive attributes besides. He was as strong as an ox and as ferocious as a lion. His boundless energy was so infectious it was hard not to get excited in his presence. Xavier didn't know anybody who didn't like Sampson. Most importantly, he never questioned orders. He was so stubbornly loyal and obedient it was almost embarrassing.
"Sure," Xavier said.
They were walking through the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. In terms of physical size, it was smaller than the Houston Intercontinental Airport, but O'Hare was much busier. The curved roof lines and intricate window arrangements made the airport seem more sophisticated, too. Xavier had never been to Chicago before. As a rule, members of the Gray Spear Society rarely left their home territory.
Sampson went to a kiosk that sold specialty nuts. He bought two pounds of a variety mix. The man was always hungry.
"Come on," Xavier said. "We can't be late."
They both hurried through the airport, each man pulling a large suitcase.
The latest instructions from Ethel had told them to go to the top level of the parking garage. The signs were confusing, which cost Xavier more time. Finally, he exited through what he hoped was the right door.
The cold hit him like a slap in the face. Weather like this didn't exist in Houston. He couldn't believe people would choose to live in such a miserable place. He was wearing a heavy leather jacket, the warmest coat he owned, but it wasn't nearly warm enough for these conditions.