The Alexandria Link

The room winked in and out and he shook the pain from his brain.

He whirled and saw a knife in McCollum’s hand.

The same knife from Lisbon.

He readied himself.

But never got the chance to do anything.

One shot.

McCollum acted surprised. Then blood flowed from a hole in his right side. Another shot and his arms went into the air and he staggered backward. A third, then a fourth, and the body tilted forward, the eyes rolled skyward, blood spurted from his mouth with each exhale, then he thudded face-first to the floor.

Malone turned.

Pam lowered the gun.

“About time,” he said.

But she said nothing, her eyes wide at what she’d done. He stepped close and lowered her arm. She stared at him with a blank expression.

Figures emerged from the shadows of the doorway.

Nine men and women quietly approached.

Adam and Straw Hat were among the group. Eve was crying as she knelt beside Haddad’s body.

The others knelt with her.

Pam stood still and watched.

So did he.

Finally he had to interrupt their mourning. “I assume you have communications equipment?”

Adam stared up at him and nodded.

“I need to use it.”

EIGHTY-SIX

VIENNA

THORVALDSEN WAS BACK IN THE LIBRARY WITH GARY-BUT this time Herma

“They were here last night,” the vice president said, clearly agitated. “Had to be there somewhere.” He motioned to the upper shelves. “Damn place is like a concert hall. He called the attorney general and told him everything.”

“Is that a problem?” Herma

“Thank God, no. Brent will be my vice president once all this happens. He’s been handling things in Washington while I’m gone. So at least it’s controlled on that end.”

“This one,” Herma

The vice president grew even more agitated. “Which begs a whole host of questions. Alfred, I didn’t question what you were doing here. You wanted the Alexandria Link, and you got it. I was the one who managed that. I don’t know what you did with that information and I don’t want to know, but it’s obviously become a problem.”

Herma

Thorvaldsen was not impressed. “Maybe it was about time.”

“And you, young man.”

A knot clenched in Thorvaldsen’s throat. He hadn’t pla

“Alfred,” the vice president said, “everything is in motion. You’re going to have to handle this situation.”

Sweat beaded on Thorvaldsen’s brow as he realized what those words meant.

“These two will never breathe a word of what they know.”

“You’d kill the boy?” Thorvaldsen asked.

“You’d kill my daughter? So what? Yes, I’d kill the boy.” Herma

“Not accustomed to this, are you, Alfred?”

“Taunting me will accomplish nothing.”

But it would buy Thorvaldsen time, and that was about the only play he knew. He turned to the vice president. “Brent Green was a good man. What happened to him?”

“I’m not his priest, so I don’t know. I assume he saw the benefits of taking my job. America needs strong leadership, people in power who aren’t afraid to use it. Brent’s that way. I’m that way.”

“What about men of character?”

“That’s a relative term. I prefer to see it as the United States partnering with the worldwide business community to accomplish goals of a mutually beneficial nature.”

“You’re a murderer,” Gary said.

A soft knock came from the door and Herma

“The president is on the telephone,” Herma

Surprise flooded the vice president’s face. “What the hell?”

“He tracked you here from the Secret Service. Your detail reported that you were in here with me and two others, one a boy. The president wants to talk to us all.”

Thorvaldsen realized they’d have no choice. The president clearly knew a lot.

“He also wanted to know if I had a speakerphone,” Herma

“Good day, Mr. President,” Herma

“I don’t think you and I have ever met. Da

“No, sir. We haven’t. It’s a pleasure.”

“Is my vice president there?”

“I’m here, Mr. President.”

“And Thorvaldsen, you there? With the Malone boy?”

“He’s here with me,” Thorvaldsen said.

“First, I have some tragic news. I’m still reeling from it. Brent Green is dead.”

Thorvaldsen caught the instant of shock on the vice president’s face. Even Herma

“Suicide,” Daniels said. “Shot himself in the head. I was just told a few minutes ago. Awful. We’re working up a press release now before the story explodes.”

“How did this happen?” the vice president asked.

“I don’t know, but it did and he’s gone. Also, Larry Daley is dead. Car bomb. We have no idea about the culprits there.”

More dismay invaded the vice president’s expression and his shoulders seemed to sag an inch.

“Here’s the situation,” Daniels said. “Under the circumstances, I’m not going to be able to travel to Afghanistan next week. America needs me here and I need my vice president to take my place.”

The vice president stayed silent.

“Anybody there?” Daniels said in a loud voice.

“Yes, sir,” the vice president said. “I’m here.”

“Great. Get your tail back here today and be ready to go next week. Of course, if you don’t want to make that trip to see the troops, you can tender your resignation. Your choice. But I actually prefer you make the trip.”

“What are you saying?”

“This isn’t a secure line, so I doubt you want me to say what I really think. Let me say it with a story. One my daddy used to tell. There was a bird flying south for the winter, but he got caught in an ice storm and fell to the ground. He froze, but a cow came along and crapped on him. The warm poop unthawed him and he liked it so much he started to sing. A cat came along to see what the commotion was about, asked if he could help, saw it was a meal, and ate the bird. Here are the morals of the story. Everybody who shits on you ain’t your enemy. Everybody who comes along to help ain’t your friend. And if you’re warm and happy, even in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut. That make my point?”

“Perfectly, sir,” the vice president said. “How do you suggest I explain my resignation?”

“Tough to use the always popular Spend more time with my family. No one in our position quits for that reason. Let’s see, the last VP to resign was facing indictment. Can’t use that one. Of course, you can’t tell the truth, that you got caught committing high treason. How about, The president and I seem no longer capable of working together? Being the consummate politician that you are, I’m sure you will choose your words real careful because if I hear one thing I don’t like, then I’m going to tell the truth. Talk issues, debate our differences, tell people I’m an asshole. All fine. But nothing I don’t want to hear.”

Thorvaldsen watched the vice president. The man seemed to want to protest but wisely realized the effort would do no good.

“Mr. President,” Thorvaldsen said. “Stephanie and Cassiopeia okay?”

“They’re fine, Henrik. Can I call you that?”

“Nothing else.”