The Alexandria Link

“Your doing?”

Green nodded. “We wired the car with explosives and waited for the right time. All part of the terrorist attack on this nation that will start with Daley and end with Daniels. This country will be worked into a frenzy.”

“Which the VP will exploit, after being sworn in. Then he’ll need a vice president, and that’s where you come in.”

“Not all that many opportunities to advance anymore, Stephanie. You have to take what comes along. I’ll be the perfect choice for the crisis. My confirmation will be unanimous.”

“You’re pathetic.”

He threw her a self-deprecating expression. “I’ll accept that. After all, you have only a few more minutes to live. By the way, you were supposed to become part of the attack. When you showed up at that restaurant I decided to add another layer, but you somehow managed to avoid the men that were sent. I still haven’t learned how you accomplished that one.”

“Good training. Makes all the difference.”

He threw her a cold smile. “I’ll miss that wit.”

“Do you realize what you’re doing? The violent overthrow of a duly elected president?”

“I believe it’s called treason. But Da

“And the Alexandria Link will do that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s the new president’s problem, and he says he has it under control.”

“You want to hang around that bad?”

“I wouldn’t call being vice president of the United States hanging around. Since I aided the transition of power in such a critical way, I’ll have a unique relationship. Lots of responsibility and little visibility.”

She motioned at the gun. “You going to kill me?”

“No choice. That CD you have surely incriminates me. I can’t let it go, and I can’t let you go.”

She wondered where Cassiopeia had been taken. This was not unfolding according to plan. And she hadn’t expected Green himself to be toting a weapon. One thought flashed through her mind.

Stall.

“The attorney general of the United States is going to shoot me?”

“I’ve thought about it all day and, unfortunately, there’s little choice.”

“What about all those Christian values I’ve heard you talk about so much?”

“This is the heat of battle and the rules are different. It’s a matter of survival, Stephanie. As I said, I did listen to the recordings Daley saved on the flash drives. The VP’s chief of staff talked a lot about presidential succession. Too much. It’s not incriminating, but it would raise questions. Daley was obviously investigating. That disk you’re holding contains even more. It has to stop here. Of course, your body will never be found. There’s a coffin waiting at the Saudi Arabian embassy. One of their envoys died and wants to be buried at home. You’ll share a ride back to Arabia with him on a diplomatic flight.”

“Got it all figured out, don’t you?”

“Friends can be a good thing. I’m learning that. I went it alone for a long time, but I like being part of a team. The Saudis want only the destruction of Israel. We’ve promised that it can be done. The Israelis think the Saudis are working with them on this one. They aren’t. They’re working with us. Have been from the start.”

“They have no idea what double-dealing pieces of crap all of you are. It’s all about money and power. Nothing more.”

“Anything else you’d like to say?”

She shook her head.

And the gun fired.

EIGHTY-TWO

VIENNA

THORVALDSEN STOOD WITH GARY. HE’D CALLED JESPER JUST AS they’d left the schmetterlinghaus and told him to send a car and driver. As soon as he and Gary were on their way back to Copenhagen, he’d instruct his aide to release Margarete. He hadn’t bothered to retrieve their clothes. No time. Instead, all he held was the atlas from the library that contained the letters of St. Jerome and St. Augustine.

Cars were coming and going from the lane that led through the trees to the front gate. Not all Order members stayed on the estate. Many chose to visit with friends or enjoy their favorite hotels in Vie

“Are we in trouble?” Gary asked.

“I’m not sure.” And he wasn’t.

“You whacked both those guys pretty hard.”

He saw the boy was impressed. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Don’t want to be here when they wake up.”

Neither did he. “We must keep these letters, and I’m afraid our host will never allow that.”

“What about his daughter? He didn’t seem to care about her.”

“I don’t believe he ever did. Taking her was just something unexpected that caused him to pause long enough for us to act.” He thought of his own dead son. “Men like Alfred care little for family.”

And how awful that must be. He missed his wife and his son. Seeing Gary Malone rush to his defense had both frightened and pleased him. He patted the boy on his shoulder.

“What is it?” Gary asked.

“Your daddy would be proud.”

“Hope he’s all right.”

“Me, too.”

Three cars sped down the main drive and rounded the paved lane. They stopped at the château, and men emerged from the first and third vehicles, each dressed in a dark suit. A quick survey of the surroundings and one of the men opened the rear door of the middle car.

The vice president of the United States climbed out into the afternoon sunshine, dressed casually in a pullover shirt beneath a navy blazer.

Thorvaldsen and Gary stood twenty yards away and watched as security men flanked the vice president and they all strolled toward the château’s main entrance. Halfway, the vice president stopped and changed directions.

Heading straight for them.

Thorvaldsen watched the man with a mixture of anger and disgust. This ambitious fool seemed willing to do anything.

“Not a word, lad,” he said to Gary. “Remember, ears open, mouth shut.”

“I’ve figured that out.”

“You must be Henrik Thorvaldsen,” the vice president said as he came close and introduced himself.

“I am. A pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“None of that sir stuff, okay? You’re one of the wealthiest men in the world and I’m just a politician.”

“What is the saying? One heartbeat away from the presidency?”

The American chuckled. “That’s it. But it’s still a rather dull job. I do get to travel, though, and I enjoy coming to places like this.”

“And what brings you here today?”

“Alfred Herma

Another car cruised down the drive. A light-colored BMW with a uniformed driver. Thorvaldsen motioned and the car headed his way.

“Are you leaving?” the vice president asked.

“We have to go into town.”

The American motioned at Gary. “And who is this?”

Thorvaldsen introduced them, using Gary’s real name, and they shook hands.

“Never met a vice president before,” Gary said.

The BMW stopped and the driver emerged, rounding the car and opening the rear door for Thorvaldsen.

“And I never met the son of Cotton Malone,” the vice president said.

Thorvaldsen now realized they were in trouble. Which was doubly confirmed when he spotted Alfred Herma

The vice president said, “Brent Green sends his regards.”

And Thorvaldsen saw Green’s betrayal in the man’s hard eyes.

“I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere,” the VP said in a low tone.

Herma