The StarSight Project

by S. P. Perone

  The pained shock on Sarah’s face caused Shane to regret asking this question. He hadn’t realized Sarah wasn’t aware that David Johnstone had lost his life when Sarah had been abducted.

  Looking directly at Shane, Salomé responded coolly, “Yes. I was responsible.”

  Sarah turned away, staring blankly out the window. Her eyes moist, she reflected that Johnstone had probably given his life protecting her.

  “I know you must think I’m some kind of monster,” Salomé continued. “And, I won’t try to justify myself to you. But, keep this in mind. Next week, I may be working for the FBI, or the CIA…and you would approve. This sort of thing goes on all the time. If I didn’t take a contract, someone else would. I’m excellent at it. It provides me with a good income. It’s just a job.”

  As Sarah continued to stare out the window, and Shane looked blankly at Salomé, she decided to get up and leave them. Removing their food trays, Salomé walked back to the galley and placed them in the rack. Without any further word, she walked back to her seat in the forward cabin, where Max was currently napping.

  “Sarah,” Shane whispered after Salomé was out of earshot. As she turned her head, Shane placed his hand on her knee. “Sarah, I’m sorry about Johnstone. I didn’t realize you didn’t know.”

  “Tony, that woman’swicked andruthless !” she blurted out in a hoarse whisper. “Why did she want to tell us all that stuff about her ‘profession’? I’m disgusted!”

  “I don’t know, Sarah,” Shane responded, his brow furrowed. “But, I’m sure there was a good reason. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who engages in idle chatter. Trust me, this conversation had a purpose.”

  Finally aboard the express train, seated in a private compartment, Sharif felt his rage building. The terrorist attack on the United States, which had been so carefully planned…which had consumed him for so many years…had been thwarted in a single stroke by the efforts of the Senator and his wife. His immense anger and disappointment at the failed missile attack was surpassed only by the fury directed at Ellen Moorhouse. At least he had had the pleasure of dispatching the Senator with two rounds from his Glock 33. But, he was frustrated beyond all limits that he could not immediately vent his rage at Ellen. He wanted to have her to himself for just twenty minutes. He would make her pay for the humiliation and anguish he had suffered. She would suffer as no woman had ever suffered before. He was an expert at inflicting pain, and Ellen Moorhouse would feel the full brunt of it. He wanted hernow !

  As the malevolent thoughts coursed round and round in his mind, Sharif began to make plans for carrying out his revenge. It was then that he began to accept the reality that he could not get instant gratification. And, it was shortly afterward that he began to think about what he would do with the next woman that entered a bedroom with him. After a while, he had succeeded in transferring much of his rage to the faceless future female victim of his sadistic delights. It was only then, just before he drifted off to sleep, that it dawned on him that he already had a face to put with his next victim. A cruel twisted smile formed, as he placed his head against the window and dozed.

  It was late Thursday morning in Milan when the Gulfstream V landed at Malpensa airport. Max had had no further conversations with Shane or Sarah. His only communications were instructions describing what they were to do. When the aircraft had come to a stop, he and Salomé had marshaled them through immigration control, one at a time. In this way, one was always out of sight of the other. He assured them that any foolish behavior with the customs officials by either of them would result in the immediate death of the other. Shane and Sarah had no doubt that Max and Salomé would carry out this threat.

  Now, in the minivan Max had rented at the airport, they were on the highway headed for Genoa. This was the spot Solomon had chosen for their rendezvous. They should reach Genoa by evening, and the meeting had been set for midnight. The place was the parking lot of the soccer stadium, which would be vacant tonight. Max had the StarSight software and data files stored on several high-capacity disk cartridges in a sturdy metal travel case. Max would turn over the case, and Sarah, to Solomon, as agreed; and he would obtain verification of deposit of the ten million-dollar fee balance into his account at the Credit Suisse bank. The phone call could be placed by Solomon, with the proper codes, at the meeting tonight. Likewise, Max could immediately confirm the deposit. That would be a pre-requisite to transferring his prizes.

  The only hitch was that Solomon would not be expecting Shane as part of the deal. Max had thought long and hard about this since Shane had thrust himself into the mix by following them to the airport. The failure of the attempt to destroy the rest of the StarSight team had forced Max to re-consider Shane’s elimination. Solomon had been made to understand the importance of the human element in making the StarSight system work. And, he had embraced the idea of receiving Sarah Stenstrom along with the StarSight software. Would he now accepttwo scientists as part of the package? Max was certain that he would, especially when he explained to Solomon that one sure way to get Sarah’s cooperation in interpreting the StarSight results was to maintain the threat of harm to her lover. On the other hand, the ploy would work to gather Shane’s cooperation also. He was the inventor of the system, and brought other skills that Sarah did not, particularly if up-grades were required.

  Yes, Max thought to himself, he would be delivering a complete package. Solomon would get more than he bargained for, and he would be pleased. In fact, Max could probably justify a larger fee. But, he would not. The benefit he would derive in future contracts, from delivering a better package than promised, would far outweigh the value of a larger fee today.

  He congratulated himself for the foresight he had had to visit Daniels University during the Homecoming weekend. It was then that he had verified the intimate relationship between Shane and Sarah. He had known that that knowledge would benefit him at some point.

  As good as he felt about the contract he was handling for Solomon, he was equally disappointed in the failure to destroy the StarSight team as the Bear had requested. He persuaded himself that it had not been his fault, but the fault of the change in the location of the Thanksgiving dinner. Detonation of the explosive device had been unavoidably delayed, allowing the project team to escape.

  Of course, if he were honest with himself, he would admit that it was the abduction attempt that had messed up the timing of the explosion. If the dead FBI agent hadn’t been discovered; if Sarah had not been found missing; the explosion would have found its mark. His contract with the Bear would have been carried out successfully. It was only because of his attempt to satisfy two clients simultaneously that he had completely screwed up the task he was supposed to complete for one of them.

  Max had not contacted the Bear since the foiled attempt on the StarSight team. And, he was not supposed to contact him again. But, they had left open the option for communications through their usual channels if anything had gone wrong. The next opportunity for communications would be tomorrow, Friday. He was dreading it. But, he had his story ready. He did not know what had happened to Shane and Sarah. They were missing. Perhaps they alone had been killed in the explosion, blown to smithereens. He would take responsibility for hunting down the remaining members of the team and eliminating them. There would be no charge. He would get the job done for the fee that had already been arranged.

  If the Bear had other sources of information that conflicted with Max’s story, so be it. If it were known that Shane and Sarah were not killed in the explosion, and were missing, Max would claim ignorance, and accept the Bear’s information. He would still be committed to hunting them all down. One thing he was sure of, the Bear would not know that Max had abducted Shane and Sarah.

  Solomon had arrived half an hour early at the Genoa soccer stadium. He parked his rented Mercedes under the agreed upon section sign, and backed up against the fence. It was an advantageous position. No one could approach this site without being observed.
Dressed in black shoes and slacks, and a long black overcoat, he had decided not to don a disguise. It would not be necessary.

  Going over his checklist, he smiled at the simplicity of his plan. The only difficulty he had envisioned was transporting Ms. Stenstrom. But, a set of leg shackles would solve that problem. In fact, he was looking forward with great anticipation to having her company.

  Now, he saw the headlights of the minivan turning into the parking lot. Certain that it was Max’s van, he flashed his headlights as planned. Without delay, the minivan headed toward Solomon’s Mercedes. In a matter of seconds it had pulled up to a position about fifteen feet away, headlights pointed directly at the front of the Mercedes. Then, the engine stopped, and Max emerged from the driver’s side. It would be their first face-to-face meeting, and a simple protocol had been arranged to establish their identities. Max took several steps towards the other car, stopping about five feet away.

  “I’m looking for the yellow brick road,” Max said conversationally, looking at the dark figure still seated behind the wheel of the Mercedes.

  After a few moments, the driver’s door opened, and the dark figure emerged, showing himself to be slender and about as tall as Max. “I’m looking for the Scarecrow,” he replied.

  “Solomon, I presume?” Max offered.

  “And, you must be Max,” Solomon answered. “Welcome to Italy. I assume you’ve come to make a delivery?”

  “I have the complete package in the van. In fact, there has been some value added. I think you will be pleased.”

  Still standing about five feet apart, the two men eyed one another for a few moments. Solomon displayed a puzzled expression, not knowing what the “value-added” comment was all about.

  “What are you saying?” Solomon asked. “Has there been some change since we talked last?”

  Max immediately launched into an explanation of his statement, and expounded on the benefits of the enhanced package he was delivering…just as he had been rehearsing. Solomon waited patiently for him to finish.

  “Max, I appreciate your attempt to deliver a “better” package. But, sadly, I will have to reject your offer. I am prepared to take the StarSight software and Ms. Stenstrom with me immediately. And, you can dispose of Dr. Shane in any way you see fit.”

  Shocked at Solomon’s response, Max searched for a different tack. “Solomon, I hope you understand that I am not asking for any additional fee.”

  “Of course, I understand that, Max. It is not a question of money. Now, let’s not discuss it any further. Are you ready to make the exchange? I assume my operative, Salomé, is with you? Perhaps she can bring Ms. Stenstrom here, while you bring the software.”

  Resigning himself to Solomon’s position, Max asked, “Can we take care of the transfer of funds?”

  “Yes, of course. How do you want to proceed?”

  “I will have Salomé deliver Ms. Stenstrom first. You place the call to transfer funds; and when I get verification on my phone, I will turn over the software. Is this procedure agreeable?”

  “Quite.”

  Returning to the minivan, Max called Salomé outside and whispered to her the procedure they were to follow. Shane was to remain handcuffed and restrained in the minivan. He would not know that he was not going with Sarah. They would find an appropriate time and place to eliminate him.

  As Salomé listened to Max’s instructions, she gazed over his shoulder at the man who had solicited her to do this job…to assist Max in delivering the StarSight package. Solomon was known as an employer of free-lance agents; it was understood that he represented the Israeli interests. To her knowledge, no one had ever met him before. As she searched his face in the harsh directional illumination of the minivan’s headlights, her eyes suddenly widened, and then narrowed. Abruptly, when Max finished his instructions, she spun around, and headed back to the minivan to retrieve Sarah.

  As Max turned and returned to his position opposite Solomon, Salomé slid back the door, and entered the minivan. Leaning over Shane, she unlocked Sarah’s handcuff from the seat arm, and then re-attached that end to her other wrist.

  “What’s going on?” Shane demanded.

  “Quiet,” she barked in a low sharp voice, as she turned and spoke to Shane. Her face was just inches from his.

  “Listen to me. There isn’t much time. Do you remember the conversation we had on the plane?”

  A quick nod from Shane.

  “You know Carothers, don’t you? CIA?”

  Another nod from Shane, accompanied by a puzzled question-mark expression on his face.

  “If you made a commitment…a financial commitment…for a contract, would he back you up?”

  “What are you talking about? What contract?”

  “Tony, I’m about to become unemployed. Would you like to be my next client?”

  “What will you do for me?” he asked, still puzzled.

  “That will become obvious very soon. Just give meyes orno . Quickly! We’re out of time!”

  Hesitating a split second, Shane decided to trust his instinct, and go ahead. He nodded his assent.

  “One hundred thousand dollars, U.S. Agreed?”

  “Yes,” he whispered. He didn’t know what Salomé had in mind, but if necessary, he would sell his house to raise the cash. Sarah was in danger…and he was desperate.

  Quickly, Salomé helped Sarah to her feet, and whispered. “It may be rough for a little while, Sarah. There is no other choice right now. But trust me. Everything will be OK”

  Sarah and Salomé emerged from the minivan just as Max shouted back, questioning what was taking so long. Pushing Sarah in front of her, Salomé delivered her to Max’s side within a few seconds.

  “Sorry, Max. Shane started to protest, and I had to slap his mouth shut.”

  Turning his attention back to Solomon, Max asked how they should secure Sarah in the Mercedes. Solomon directed them to place her in the front passenger seat. There, he had provided a set of shackles normally used with jailed prisoners. Her ankles and wrists would be shackled, and linked together with a chain. The shackles around her feet would be chained to the bar under the passenger seat.

  When Salomé had completed the shackling of Sarah in the Mercedes, she returned to Max’s side, and turned to face Solomon. They were still separated by about five feet. Again, she searched his face. She saw no sign of recognition.

  “Do you want me to get the carrying case?” she asked Max.

  “No. Solomon and I have some business to transact first. Go on back to the van. I’ll let you know when we can transfer the rest of the package.”

  She whirled and strode quickly back to the minivan. She got in on the driver’s side, started the engine, removed her firearm from its holster, and watched.

  His eyes locked onto Solomon’s, Max commanded, “Would you be so kind as to place the call now and authorize the funds transfer? We can get this finished quickly.”

  Nodding his head, Solomon reached for the cell phone in his coat pocket. What he pulled out, however, was a compact black pistol, equipped with a long, menacing silencer.

  Max’s eyes grew wide, and he began to reach for the pistol he carried in a shoulder holster.

  “Don’t do it, Max,” Solomon said in a soft, but firm voice. “You would be dead before your finger reached the trigger. Just lift your arms, and place them behind your head. Stand there, and listen to me.”

  “What are you doing?” he cried, as he complied with Solomon’s command. “Salomé has the sights of her gun locked between your eyes right now. If you harm me, you’re a dead man.”

  Solomon laughed and shook his head slowly. “Max…Max…You’re unbelievable. So brilliant with computers…but such an idiot! I’m almost sorry for you.”

  “You’ll never get the StarSight package. She has the engine running, and will be out of here before you can do anything,” Max added hastily, striving to convince Solomon that he, Max, held the upper hand.

  “Max, please. Save
your breath. Think, man. Who is Salomé working for? You? or me?”

  “Not any more,” Max said, triumphantly. “I’ve offered her ten percent of my fee. She’s on my payroll now, Solomon.”

  Allowing a thin smile to creep across his face, Max waited for Solomon to acknowledge that the situation, indeed, was in Max’s favor.

  Shaking his head, Solomon continued to stare directly at Max, his cold dark eyes narrowing. “Max, Salomé has worked for me many times. She is a cold, hard professional. Don’t you think I anticipated you might try and turn her? She is, and has been, following my orders…despite what you might think.”

  The smile faded quickly from Max’s face. Suddenly, beads of sweat began to pop out on his forehead. His mouth was dry. He couldn’t speak.

  “What made you think, Max, that you could play both sides of this game?” Solomon began slowly. “Was it greed? Or was it the challenge? Did you think that you could fool the Bear? Or Solomon? Did you think you were dealing with amateurs?”

  Slowly, the truth began to permeate Max’s muddled thoughts. His eyes widened again, as he realized, finally, that he was not just looking at Solomon…but also the Bear!

  Noting the dawning recognition in Max’s eyes, Solomon/Bear continued. “That’s right, Max. I am ‘the Bear’. And, ‘Solomon’. This is not the first time I’ve uncovered a duplicitous operative. Maintaining bothpersonas …one Arab, and one Israeli…provides me a unique opportunity to sniff out unworthy agents. I have to admit, I didn’t think you were foolish enough to try and work both ends. Sadly, I was wrong.”

  Stumbling for words, Max pleaded his case. “Solomon…Bear… please, understand, I saw no reason why I couldn’t satisfy both clients. No harm, no foul.”

  “Max…Please…Save your breath. Do you think I’m an idiot? Do you think my Palestinian brothers would not doanything to prevent the Israeli’s from acquiring the StarSight system? You screwed up, Max. You had a bright future. The money you would have received from me would have given you a lifestyle that few even dream of. And, your computer skills remain in great demand. You could have doubled and tripled your fortune any time you wanted to work for us. Instead, you decided to betray us. It’s over, Max.”