“Damn straight. After that, the American people would want Kuraqi blood. They would accept anything necessary, even a change in the way they consumed energy. Anything. And I wouldn’t have to wait for this weak-kneed president to act. In exchange for what I gave Zuko, I got a nuclear suitcase.”
“You’re stark raving mad.”
“I don’t want to hurt people, not any more than necessary. I didn’t want to explode the bomb here.” He leaned forward. “Don’t you understand? I wanted to set the bomb off in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Seamus stared at him as the full magnitude of his twisted plan became clear.
“Not that many people would die, but the entire region would be irradiated for years to come, not just the strait but also the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. I’m sure you’re aware that more than seventy percent of the world’s oil supply passes through that narrow strait on the way to market. What would happen to those oil suppliers if the strait were no longer passable because it was drenched in deadly radiation? They would either have to ship their oil out over land-which would raise the price dramatically-or they would have to give it up. And you know what that means?”
“Really good news for Venezuela?”
“Don’t be stupid. Venezuela can’t service the entire world, and they’ll jump at the excuse to increase prices once their primary competition is eliminated. Faced with less oil available, and even that at a dramatically increased price, Americans for the first time simply would have no choice but to start looking to alternative fuels.”
Seamus shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“About the Middle East?”
“No, about your sanity. You are-to use a CIA technical term-totally fucked up.”
“You can belittle me all you want,” Rybicki said, “but it would’ve worked. Sure, there would be a cost. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. But it would be worth it. We would not only end our dependence on foreign oil, we would be able to secure our borders and stop involving ourselves in the ongoing troubles of the Middle Eastern region. It’s a win-win for us, man. Can you not see that?”
“It doesn’t matter. Your plan is done. So why explode a bomb in Washington?”
“Everyone will assume it was Colonel Zuko. The president may even prefer to let that be the cover story, rather than admit that it was done by a man he appointed to office. The American people will demand retaliation. The president will have to grow some balls. He’ll drop bombs. Maybe he’ll even have the sense to execute my plan and take out the strait.”
“Or maybe it will just lead to a lot of unnecessary bloodshed and death.”
“There is no such thing as unnecessary bloodshed,” Rybicki said. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
“The-” Seamus hesitated a moment. There was something about the way he said that. It was almost as if he were quoting something. Something very important to him.
He picked up his cell phone. “Ben? Are you there?”
“Still here.”
“I’ve been talking to this whack job, hoping he would spill something important. Type in ‘blood of the martyrs.’ See if it stops the countdown.”
“There’s not enough space. It will only take ten characters.”
“Then maybe ‘blood’?” He heard the clattering of a keyboard.
“No.”
“Martyrs.”
“No.”
“I think it’s a famous quotation…”
“Tertullian,” Ben said.
“I’m impressed,” Seamus said.
“I had a good rector. Well, till he went to prison.” More keyboard clicks. “Damn. I thought there was just a chance. But that isn’t it.”
Seamus turned his attention back to Rybicki. “Listen to me, you son of a bitch. I know we’re close. Tell me what the password is.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
“I might!”
“I hope you will. My lawyers will be able to use that.”
Seamus felt his fists tightening. “Do you understand how many people are going to die if that bomb explodes?”
Rybicki only smiled. “Blood of the martyrs, my friend. Blood of the martyrs.”
59
1:33 P.M.
Ben and Christina were laughing uproariously. Ben was holding his ribs. Tears streamed down Christina’s face.
“And-and then,” she said, trying to catch her breath, “do you remember when the Capitol police made you strip down to your boxers? What I would have done to have a camera on that!”
“That’s nothing!” Ben said, rolling on his side. “What about the time we were at the zoo and the birds attacked your hair?”
Her laughter slowed. “Well… maybe I did wear it a little big back then.”
“Big? You looked like Cromwell.”
“I did not.”
He wiped his eyes. “No, you did not. You looked gorgeous. You always do.”
“But the hair is better. Now that my hairdresser has it under control.”
He smiled. “Maybe a little better.”
She smiled back. “Why are we reminiscing like old people?”
He shrugged.
“It’s because you don’t think you’ll ever see me again, isn’t it?”
He glanced at the countdown.
“Hey,” Ben said, changing the subject, “I’ve got big news.”
“Really? So do I.”
“You are not going to do that to me again.”
“Perish the thought. What’s your news?”
“Well,” he said, his eyebrows dancing, “I’ve ferreted out the president’s deep, dark secret.”
“And?” she said.
“He’s been sneaking cigarettes when his wife isn’t looking.”
“Smoking in the boys’ room?”
“Exactly. In the White House.”
“Shame on him.”
“Well, it will probably be easier to quit once he’s not being dosed with LSD.”
“Whaaaat?”
“Long story. What’s your news? Not that there’s the slightest hope that you’re going to top mine.”
She grinned from ear to ear. “I decided to change my name. Already filed the paperwork.”
He stared at her uncomprehendingly. “But I like the name Christina.”
“Not my first name, you dunderhead. My last. I thought I’d take your name.”
“What? But I thought you said-”
“I know what I said. Keeping my professional reputation, blah, blah, blah. But you know what? We’re a team. We’re partners. We’re husband and wife. We’re a family.” She laid her hand on his. “I think it’s time we had the same last name.”
“Are you just saying this because-”
“No. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”
Ben looked back at her, his head bobbing. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say, ‘You’re right, Christina. Your news is better.’”
He sighed. “Okay. You win. Again.”
She squeezed his hand, then looked at the clock. Six minutes and counting. “Ben, I want you to go now.”
“But-”
“I know what you’re trying to do. I know what a-a noble soul you have. But you don’t have to die just because… you know. You’ve done so much with the time you’ve been given. You’ve helped so many people. It would be a shame to throw all that away. I want you to go.”
“But-”
“Don’t argue with me. I’m your wife. And you know I’m smarter than you are, at least when it comes to practical matters. So go.”
“But-”
“If you love me, you’ll go.”
Ben pressed his lips together, then slowly pushed himself to his feet. Eyes closed, he kissed her on the cheek, then turned and walked away.
“Hurry!”
He walked even faster, made his way across the monument floor, started toward the steps…
And stopped.
&n
bsp; He came back to Christina, running all the way.
“I’m sorry. I won’t leave you here alone. I won’t. I can’t.”
She wrapped her free arm around him and sighed. “You are such an idiot.” She squeezed with all her might. “And I love you so much.”
“You know,” Rybicki said, “I will not tell you the password. No matter what you do to me.”
“I know,” Seamus grunted, rolling up his sleeves. He could see Agent Beldon watching him closely from a short distance. “But it would still be fun.”
“You would destroy your chances of convicting me.”
“Do I look like a cop? I could care less about convicting you.”
“The president might feel otherwise.”
“Well, he’s not here.”
“Fine. Amuse yourself with your violent games. Reveal the beast that you truly are. It will soon be over.”
“No, you will soon be over.”
“What?”
“You’re staying. After the last shuttle has left the station.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Who’s gonna stop me? It’s your damn bomb. Only right that you should be one of the first victims.” He leaned backward. “Have you read anything about what it’s like to die of radiation poisoning? A slow, painful death. Your body just melts, starting with the internal organs. Your skin peels away from the bone. It’s protracted agony.”
Rybicki smiled defiantly. “You think that if you scare me I’ll give you the password so you can stop the bomb. You are wrong.”
Seamus squinted. “You’re wrong, pal. You’ve been wrong all along. And your big master plan was stupid.”
Rybicki scoffed. “As if you know anything about it.”
“I’ve devoted years to knowing what people are like in the Middle Eastern region. And you know what I’ve learned? Whatever else they may be, they’re tough. Resilient. They’ve been through a lot. They live in the harshest environment outside of the Antarctic, but they’ve survived. I don’t think your little bomb would’ve changed that. If they couldn’t use the strait, they’d find another way to get the oil out. Without raising their prices so high they killed the market.”
“That would be impossible.”
“Those guys do the impossible six times before breakfast.”
“I understand that people like Colonel Zuko can be tough!” Rybicki shouted. “That’s why we can’t hold back! That’s why we can’t use half measures. Scorched earth! That’s the only thing that works with these people. That’s how the ancient Scythians took them out. We should do the same. Scorched earth!”
Seamus looked at the man’s face.
Rybicki looked back at him.
The corners of Seamus’s mouth turned up.
60
1:39 P.M.
Fifty-five seconds left. “Ben! Are you there?”
Ben picked up his phone. “I’m still here, Seamus. Shouldn’t you have taken the last train out of town?”
“You should talk. Listen to me. Do you know anything about the scorched-earth policy?”
“My wife complains that I read too much history.”
“Just answer!”
“It’s a military strategy that involves destroying anything that might be of use to the enemy.”
“Just the sort of thing a secretary of defense might know about? And bring to modern use?”
“I suppose.”
Forty-five seconds.
Ben typed in first scorched and then earth. Neither was the password.
“He said something about the ancient Scythians.”
Ben typed in Scythians. No good.
Thirty-five seconds.
“That’s not it.”
“He said something about the Scythians using it to take these guys out. Like it was a history lesson.”
“That’s right,” Ben said, trying to retrieve the information from the far corners of his brain. “They were the first to use the scorched-earth technique and they did it in the ancient Middle East to battle a horrible dictator. They were nomads, and… and they had to retreat into the steppes, but before they left they burned all the food and poisoned the wells. The invading king moved in, but his troops started dying of starvation and dehydration.”
Twenty seconds.
“What was the king’s name, Ben? He’s the Colonel Zuko of his time. He’s the one Rybicki would obsess on. What was his name?”
Ben was thinking so hard it brought sweat to his temples. “I think it was… Darius. Darius the Great of Persia.”
“Type it in!”
Ben typed. D-A-R-I-A-S.
Not the password.
Ten seconds left.
“That wasn’t it.”
“Damn,” Seamus shouted. “I thought we had it.”
“You spelled it wrong!” Christina shouted. “You just can’t function at all without spell-check, can you? It’s D-A-R-I-U-S!”
“Are you sure?”
“Just type it!”
Five seconds.
Ben typed it in, hit a wrong key, started over again. His fingers were wet with sweat.
D-A-R-I-U-S. He hit enter.
The countdown stopped. With two seconds remaining.
“That was it!” Ben screamed. “That did it!”
Christina threw her free arm around him and hugged him tightly. “Oh, thank God. Oh thank you, God!”
Her arms were trembling. Ben knew that she had been putting on a brave front. Only now was she allowing her true feelings-and fear-to show.
“It’s okay,” he whispered.
“Thank you for not leaving me, Ben.”
He held her at arm’s length and gazed into her eyes. “I will never leave you, baby. Never.”
“Thank you,” she gasped. “And as long as you’re making promises, would you promise to stay away from crazed ideologues possessing nuclear weapons?”
“Deal.”
Rybicki was furious. And that fury was the happiest sight Seamus had seen all day.
“Ben?” Seamus shouted into his earpiece. “We’re going to call back the bomb people. They’ll get Christina out of there and make sure that bomb never goes off.”
“That’s great news. We’ll be right here waiting.”
“You’ll be happy to know that the secretary of defense is totally pissed off.”
“Well, that is a happy thought.”
“Congratulations, Ben. You showed a hell of a lot of-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Seamus?”
“Still here.”
“Are you with Rybicki?”
“Sure am.”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Anything you want, Ben. Just ask.”
“I don’t know how to put this… I don’t want to get you into any trouble…”
“Just ask, Ben.”
“I’d do it myself, but I’m staying with Christina…”
“Spit it out, Ben. What can I do for you?”
“Seamus… that man not only threatened to kill my wife-he hit her. Hard. On the face. He left a mark.”
“Say no more, Ben.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Seamus turned back to the man in the opposite chair. Agent Beldon was still observing. “Got something special for you, my friend.”
Rybicki looked at him, eyebrows pushed together. “What is it?”
Seamus smiled. “A special delivery. From my friend Ben Kincaid.”
The blow hit so hard that Rybicki was literally lifted up into the air. It wasn’t lethal, but Seamus was still certain the secretary of defense would remember it for the rest of his days.
61
8:53 P.M.
Ben met Seamus as he was leaving the CIA office where everyone involved had been debriefed.
“I hope you didn’t hurt Rybicki too badly.”
Seamus shrugged. “Well, Beldon was watching. And I’m already in trouble for that sort of thing.” He smiled slightly. “It would
’ve been a lot worse for him if you hadn’t stopped that bomb.”
“Good point. I just don’t want anything to undermine his prosecution.”
“Ben, the man gave security codes to the enemy, stole a nuclear device, and tried to explode it in the heart of Washington. There is no legal technicality on earth that could save him. He’s going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Or a mental institution.”
“I’ll sleep better knowing he’s someplace safe.”
“As will we all.”
They fell silent for a moment.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ben asked.
“I’m sure. I don’t know about you, but for me, April fourteenth was a hell of a long day.”
“Wasn’t exactly a vacation for me, either.”
“Right. But you’re a lot younger than I am. I’ve been doing this for way too long. I’ve served my country abroad, domestically, and what have I got to show for it? My wife left. My pension dried up when the stock market crashed. And all these supervisors who have a tenth as much experience as I do think I’m too mean to the bad guys. Enough already.”
“The stock market will come back.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I won’t. I’m just too old to run around getting shot at all day long. I got the hell beaten out of me today. This is a younger man’s game.”
“But you’re so good at it.”
“I’m not going to give it up altogether. I’m taking a position with the NCTC. Counterterrorism work.”
“You’re taking a desk job?”
“Why not? It’ll give me some time to, um, you know… pursue my hobbies. Something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Ben held out his hand. “Well, you deserve it. Thank you for everything. And thank you for saving my wife.”
Seamus shook his hand vigorously. “Aw, you did all the hard stuff.”
“It was a team effort. Which is why I hate to see you go.”
“Come visit me in Hawaii, Ben. Live a little.”
Ben grinned. “I’m really not the luau type.”
“The sun shines every day, it rains almost every afternoon-but not for long. There are endless beaches, and one woman in five dances the hula. What’s not to like?”
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