Sacred Stone

“So he decides to grab the meteorite and then what,” Hanley said slowly, “combine it with an existing warhead and bomb some Arab country?”

“That’s what has taken me so long,” Halpert admitted. “At first I was following that same train of thought—that the meteorite was to be used somehow in a nuclear fashion. That was a dead end—there is simply nothing to tie him to the Ukrainian nuclear device or any other—so I started to branch out in my thinking.”

“Radioactive dust?” Hanley asked.

“That’s the only other logical use,” Halpert said.

“What else have you found?”

“I found records that Hickman just purchased a textile mill in England, near the town of Maidenhead.”

“That’s right about the current location of the meteorite according to the tracking data,” Stone said.

“He’s pla

“I don’t think so, sir,” Halpert said slowly. “The mill has a large order from Saudi Arabia for a shipment of woven prayer mats that has yet to be delivered.”

“So he’s pla

“He arrived in London on his jet early this morning,” Halpert said. “I think—”

Right then Hanley’s telephone rang and he motioned to Halpert to wait while he answered. It was Overholt and he got right to the point.

“We have a problem,” Overholt began.

“NO,” THE HEAD of security for Dreamworld said, “I’m calling from my home phone. I don’t think it’s tapped.”

Continuing, he explained about the warrant and the items the detectives had removed.

Hickman listened.

“Where are you now, sir?” the head of security asked. “They would really like to speak to you.”

“It’s better that you don’t know,” Hickman said.

“Is there anything you want us to do?”

“Right now,” Hickman said, “there’s nothing anyone can do but me.”

Disco

Someone in the government was hard on his trail. It would not be long until they traced him to his current location. Reaching for the telephone, he dialed.

THE CREWMEN FROM the Free Enterprisethat had remained in Calais when the vessel sailed north had arrived in London this morning. There were four men, a skeleton crew really, but they were all Hickman had left. He telephoned them with their orders.

“You will need to steal a trio of trucks,” Hickman said. “Nothing will be available to rent because of the holiday.”

“What type?” their leader asked.

“The cargo are standard forty-foot shipping containers that slide aboard flatbed trailers,” Hickman said. “I called my man at Global Air Cargo and he recommended a few different types of trucks.”

Hickman read off the list to the man.

“Once we have them, where do we go?”

“Look at your map,” Hickman ordered. “There is a town named Maidenhead just north of Windsor.”

“I see it,” the man said.

“Once you’re in Maidenhead, drive to this address,” Hickman said, reading off the mill’s address and general directions.

“How soon do you need us?” the man asked.

“ASAP,” Hickman said. “I have a Global Air Cargo 747 jet waiting at Heathrow for the cargo.”

“How’d you arrange that on New Year’s Eve?” the man blurted.

“I own the company.”

“Give us at least an hour,” the man said.

“The faster the better.”

The noose was closing, but Hickman had yet to feel it tightening around his neck.

JUDY MICHAELS TAXIED the amphibian alongside the Oregon,then turned off the engine and walked back to the cargo door. Waiting for the plane to float forward on the tide, she waited until she saw someone on the deck then tossed up a rope. The deckhand secured the plane to the side and Cliff Hornsby climbed down the ladder.

“Evening, Judy,” he said as he began to take supplies that were being passed down to him, “how’s the weather up high?”

“Snow and sleet,” Michaels said as she too grabbed several of the bags and crates.

Rick Barrett climbed over the side clutching a bag. Once on the deck he turned to Michaels. “There’s some di

“Thanks,” Michaels said, taking the last package.

Halpert and Reyes crossed over.

“Any of you men have any piloting experience?” Michaels asked before going forward to the cockpit.

“I’m taking classes,” Barrett said.

“Chef and a pilot,” Michaels said, “hell of a combination. Come forward then—you can help with radios and navigation.”

“What do you need us to do?” Halpert asked.

“Once the deckhand throws off the rope, use that boat hook to push us away. Then close and latch the door and take seats. I’ll fire her up when you tell me we’re clear.”

Sliding into the pilot’s seat, she waited until Barrett was seated next to her, then turned back to the cargo area. “Ready when you are,” she said.

Hornsby grabbed the rope that was tossed, Halpert pushed them away, and Reyes fastened the door closed. “Fire her up,” Halpert said a moment later.

Michaels turned the key and the engines roared to life. Idling away from the Oregon,she waited until they were fifty yards away and advanced the throttles. The seaplane raced along the water then lifted into the air.

Michaels gained altitude, then made a sweeping left-hand turn.

She was still climbing when they reached the outskirts of London.

HANLEY WATCHED THE amphibian taxi away on the remote cameras, then turned to Stone.

“How are you coming?” he asked.

Halpert had left his notes in the control room. Stone was following up on leads.

“I’m ru

“I’ll check to see if Hickman’s pilot has filed any other flight plans,” Hanley said.

AT THE HEATHROW Airport air cargo a

“Have you pulled the latest weather?” the pilot asked the copilot.

“Fifteen minutes ago,” the copilot replied. “The storm breaks up over France. The Mediterranean is clear, and it stays that way into Riyadh.”

“Clearances and papers in order?” the pilot asked.

“We’re good to go,” the copilot said.

“I have the distance at thirty-one hundred miles,” the pilot said.

“Just over five and a half hours flight time,” the copilot offered.

“Now, if we just had our cargo.”

“If the owner tells you to wait,” the copilot said, “you wait.”

The pilot nodded. “What’s on the telly tonight?”

“The replay of the Hyde Park Concert with Elton John,” the copilot said. “The opening acts are starting soon.”

The pilot rose and walked over to the kitchen area. “I’ll microwave us some popcorn.”

“Extra butter on mine,” the copilot said.

MICHAELS LINED UP over the river and landed. After steering over to the shore, the men secured the plane with ropes to some nearby trees, then off-loaded the cargo and stood on the shore.

MI5 had all their assets tied up in London, so there was no one to meet them.

“Anyone know how to hot-wire a car?” Halpert asked.

“I do,” Reyes said.

“Cliff,” Halpert said, “go with Tom and find something big enough to transport us and the gear.”

“Will do,” Hornsby said, climbing the bank with Reyes and walking toward town.

Halpert studied the map as he waited. He’d had Michaels fly over Maidenhead Mills on the way here—now all he had to do was find the route on the map. Once he had that done, he turned to Michaels, who was still on the plane.