by Alex Lukeman
"You talked with the computer?" she said.
"It knew who I was. There wasn't much of a conversation. After I shot the guy who built it, it told me I was a bad man."
"I'm worried, Nick. I think there's going to be a war."
He took her in his arms.
"I'm sorry I was short with you, when you said we could pose as inspectors and drive in."
"I was angry with you, but you were right. It wouldn't have worked. I'm just glad you're back in one piece."
He reached up and stroked her hair.
"I need you to come with us when we go after this man, Nicklaus."
"What would I do? Someone always ends up shooting at us. That's what you're worried about, isn't it?"
"There's plenty to do that doesn't involve getting shot at. You can handle communications."
"You don't think Steph can do that?"
"She's still in the hospital. I'd rather have you right there with us."
"You're not worried about the twins?"
"I'll be worried until after they're born. But like I said, you won't be getting shot at. With a little luck, none of us will."
"You don't believe that."
"I keep hoping," Nick said.
He looked at the clock on the kitchen stove.
"The others will be here soon."
"I'd better get the coffee going."
The team gathered in the living area. Nick spent the first fifteen minutes debriefing Elizabeth. Stephanie was present by way of a video link to a big screen television.
Elizabeth's small body vibrated with tension.
She looks like she's going to explode, Nick thought. Something's up.
"It's too bad you killed the man who built that computer. It would have been better to bring him out so we could question him."
"I didn't have a choice, Director. He almost blew my head off."
"At least we know who's behind these attacks," Selena said
Elizabeth said, "Mister Nicklaus. Who has an estate in California."
Nick nodded. "That's what the computer guy said."
"Must be rich," Ronnie said.
"We need to find this person right away. The Chinese are massing troops on the Russian border. They're going to invade. The Russians have brought up nuclear tipped missiles and reinforcements. DCI Hood tells me Moscow thinks we're the ones who brought down their plane. On top of that, President Corrigan is convinced Moscow sabotaged the Palo Verde nuclear facility."
"Oh, oh," Lamont said.
"You see what's happening?" Elizabeth said. "Nicklaus has manipulated things to move everyone toward war. China thinks Russia sabotaged their dam. Russia thinks we took out their top brass. Corrigan thinks the Russians are responsible for what happened in Arizona. All of this at once. Everybody is sitting on enough nuclear weapons to wipe out the world two or three times over. We're on the verge of Armageddon. We have to find this man and prove he's behind it, and we have to do it before the shooting starts. All it will take is one missile, and it's game over."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Ronnie asked.
Stephanie said, "Director, I'm feeding Freddie through to you."
I have been listening to your conversation. Do you want to know about Mister Nicklaus?
"Yes, Freddie, we do." Elizabeth said.
A picture came up on the screen of a newspaper front page. A photograph showed a man in a dark suit coming down the steps of the Federal Reserve building, surrounded by men carrying briefcases. It was hard to make out his features, as if the camera had moved when the photographer tried to focus on his face. The rest of the picture was clear.
This picture was taken six years ago. Mister Nicklaus is one of the richest men in the world. He is the founder of PHOENIX, an organization with the stated aim of creating a unified world government.
"I know about them," Nick said. "They think borders should be eliminated. They want to eliminate all national governments in favor of some centralized authority. Their motto is 'One World, One Flag.'"
"Good luck with that," Lamont said.
"Freddie," Elizabeth said. "Do you have a current location for Nicklaus?"
Mister Nicklaus has not been seen in public for three years, seven months and fourteen days. He lives on his estate in California. I am displaying coordinates.
The coordinates for Nicklaus' estate appeared on screen. Elizabeth copied them down.
"This is starting to make sense," Selena said.
"How so?" Elizabeth asked.
"Do any of you think Washington, Beijing, or Moscow would give up sovereignty to some centralized world bureaucracy? Give up their borders? Take down their flags? It's not going to happen. But if there was a world war..."
"I know where you're going with this," Nick said. "A war would wipe out all three of those governments, and a lot more besides. Problem solved. When the shooting stops, guys like Nicklaus emerge and take over what's left."
"Doesn't seem to me there'd be much left," Lamont said.
"I don't think they care about that," Selena said, "as long as they're around afterward to rule it."
"From that perspective, the name of Nicklaus' organization fits perfectly," Elizabeth said.
"How so?" Ronnie asked.
"The phoenix is consumed in fire and rises again from the ashes. It's an ancient metaphor for destruction and renewal."
"If Nicklaus thinks he's going to survive a nuclear exchange, he's built a place to ride it out," Nick said.
"It's probably on his estate," Selena said. "It's the logical place."
"I think we should pay Mister Nicklaus a visit," Nick said.
"Freddie, we need aerial views of the estate."
Processing.
Elizabeth said, "I'm going to go to the president with this and try to convince him we've all been manipulated. Nick, you have to come up with something solid. We need a recorded confession from Nicklaus, something I can play back for Corrigan."
"That might not be possible, Director. We don't know what will happen when we go in there. He's not going to cooperate if we find him."
"Make him cooperate. Do whatever it takes. There are no rules of engagement here, the stakes are too high."
A satellite shot of the target appeared on the screen.
"Quite a spread," Ronnie said.
"That house looks like something out of a Dracula film," Lamont said.
"Big," Nick said. "If we have to shoot our way in, it will be a mess."
"What else is new?" Lamont said.
CHAPTER 50
The closest airport to the target was San Jose. They took the Gulfstream.
They picked up three hours time difference flying between the coasts and landed in the early afternoon. Elizabeth had briefed DCI Hood on what Nick had discovered in Alaska and asked for his help. A vehicle was waiting for them in a private hanger, another black Suburban. The agent handed over the keys.
"The DNCS says hello," he said.
The man got in his car and drove away.
Ronnie looked at the car. "Why are these always black?"
He wore one of the shirts from his Hawaiian collection, a gaudy creation of tropical flowers painted against a blue background. It hung loose outside his pants, concealing the pistol he carried on his right hip.
"Some congressmen probably got a deal for making sure they were all the same color," Lamont said.
Selena drove. She wore a light jacket over a blue silk shirt that fell loosely over her abdomen. A Sig 229 pressed awkwardly against her side. They had MP7s in the back, where Ronnie sat with Lamont.
Selena glanced over at Nick. She liked the gray shirt he had on. It went with the lightweight sport jacket that kept his shoulder holster out of sight.
Nick watched his GPS.
"Getting close," he said. "Take the next right and pull over."
Selena turned and stopped by the side of the road. A high, stone wall began not far ahead, the border of Nicklaus' estate.
"There's
a drive and a gate about two hundred yards on," Nick said. "From the satellite shots, it doesn't look as though there's a guardhouse. If the gate's open, drive through. If it isn't, there's probably a call box."
"What should I say?" Selena asked.
"Say you have a message from Merlin. That should do it. Once we get to the house, we see who answers the door."
"What if it stays closed?"
"Then we open it."
He touched a transceiver in his ear.
"Time for a comm check. Director, do you copy?"
Each of them had one of the voice-activated transceivers, linked to a satellite that connected them to Washington, where Elizabeth waited in Nick and Selena's loft. Elizabeth's voice came through their earpieces.
"Five by five, Nick."
"We're about to go in," Nick said.
"China is about to invade, Nick. Get him to talk."
Nick said, "Selena, you stay with the car. Anybody have any questions?"
There were no questions. Selena put the SUV in drive. In a minute they reached the gates leading into the estate. They were closed.
"There's the phoenix," Nick said.
An image of the mythical bird was worked into the intricate iron work of the gates. An iron nest of flame surrounded a black feathered creature reaching toward the sky, its beak open in agony.
An intercom with a button was mounted on a stone post ten feet in front of the gates. Selena stopped, rolled down her window, and pressed the button.
"Yes." The voice was electronic, impersonal.
"I have a message for Mister Nicklaus from Merlin."
Selena released the button. They waited.
"Maybe it won't work," Ronnie said.
The heavy gates swung open.
CHAPTER 51
Selena guided the Suburban along the landscaped drive, toward the peaked roofs of the mansion visible above the trees ahead. They came over a rise and saw the house.
"Zowie," Ronnie said. "That's some house."
Lamont nodded. "Like I said, right out of a horror film."
Selena entered the circular part of the drive and stopped under the portico. The entrance featured a wide wooden door with black iron fittings. The door was open, an invitation to enter. There was no one there.
"Shouldn't there be a butler or someone?" Lamont asked.
"Something's not right," Nick said.
They got out of the car. Ronnie handed Nick an MP7. Lamont picked up his weapon and hooked a canvas pouch on his belt. They moved toward the door. Selena reached into the back and took one of the submachine guns from the floor. Adrenaline began pounding through her system. She watched Nick and the others disappear into the Gothic mansion.
The hall forming the entry to the house was deserted. A massive staircase of marble rose at the far end of the hall to a balcony on the second floor. Closed doors led to rooms on the right. On the left, two tall doors of dark oak stood open.
"Which way?" Ronnie said.
"We'll clear the rooms on this floor." Nick gestured with his weapon at the open doors. "That one first."
Nick glanced inside the room. It was large, a library, or perhaps a study. At the back of the room was a broad desk set in front of a draped window. A man sat behind the desk, his hands steepled in front of him.
"Come in, Mister Carter," he called. "I've been waiting for you. Bring your friends with you."
"What?" Lamont said. "How...?"
"Don't be shy," Nicklaus said. "Don't worry. There's no one in here but me."
"Lamont, you and Ronnie watch my six."
"You sure?" Ronnie asked.
"Yeah."
Nick stepped into the room, keeping his weapon pointed at Nicklaus. He sniffed at a faint smell, something he couldn't quite identify, something old and unpleasant.
The room was poorly lit, except for a lamp on the desk. Even so, there was an odd gleam in Nicklaus' black eyes. The hair on the back of Nick's neck stirred.
This guy is weird, Nick thought.
"Stand up," Nick said. "Put your hands on top of your head. I have a few questions for you."
"I'm sure you do, but all in good time. I'm afraid they'll have to wait until later."
Before Nick could react, the section of floor with the desk and the chair where Nicklaus sat dropped from sight. It took only an instant. A moment later the desk reappeared, without Nicklaus.
Nick went back outside the room, where Ronnie and Lamont waited.
"The son of a bitch disappeared on me."
"What do you mean?" Ronnie asked.
"He had some kind of mechanism under his desk. The whole thing sank out of sight and took him with it, like an elevator."
"Must be a basement then," Lamont said. "Let's go find it."
"Selena, did you catch that?"
Her voice was tense in his ear. "I did."
"Where is everybody?" Ronnie said. "Big house like this, there should be servants, staff, lots of people."
From the corner of his eye, Lamont caught movement on the balcony. He let off a three round burst as someone fired at them. Bullets ricocheted from the marble floor.
They retreated into the study. Nick and Lamont reached around the doorframe and let off short bursts in the general direction of the balcony.
Outside the house, Selena heard the gunfire. She shut down the Suburban and climbed out. Three men came around the corner of the house, running toward the entrance. They carried Kalashnikovs.
Selena crouched unseen behind the bulk of the car. When they were almost to the door, she stood and opened fire. Two of them went down. The third fired at her as she ducked behind the car. Bullets shattered the windows of the Suburban and ripped holes in the side of the car. When the shooter paused to reload, she stood and emptied the rest of her magazine at him. He fell on top of the others.
She slammed another magazine into her weapon. If there were more, they'd be here soon.
Inside the house, Nick heard the gunfire.
"Selena, are you okay?"
"I'm good, Nick. It's under control."
Nick pointed across the hall.
"There's an alcove on the other side of the stairs. If we can get to it, they can't see us from above. The trick is getting there."
Lamont reached into the pouch on his belt and took out a smoke grenade.
"What made you think of bringing that?" Ronnie asked.
"Like they say in the Boy Scouts, be prepared."
"You were never in the Boy Scouts."
"Yeah, but if I was, I would have been prepared."
"Once we're there, we go through the door," Nick said.
Lamont looked at him. "What if it's locked?"
Nick sighed. "Throw the damn thing, will you?"
Lamont pulled the pin and tossed the grenade out into the hall. Clouds of white smoke billowed out over the floor. The shooters on the second floor began firing blindly into the smoke, hoping for a lucky hit.
They ran through the smoke, laying down fire toward the balcony above. Bullets hummed past them, striking the floor in flat drumbeats and whining away.
They reached the alcove unharmed. Nick pushed open the door and they stepped inside. On the opposite wall was a closed elevator door. A call button was set on the wall beside the door.
The elevator room was about twelve feet square, lit by a pair of antique wall lamps. The walls were covered with expensive wallpaper in a Victorian pattern of gold and blue. A large, red leather couch with wooden arms rested against one wall.
"Fancy," Ronnie said.
Nick spoke into his headset.
"Selena, do you copy?"
"Copy, Nick."
"We've found an elevator. Nicklaus is down there somewhere. We're going after him. We might get cut off as we go underground. We don't know what we'll find. If you don't hear from me in thirty minutes, get out."
"Nick..."
"Don't argue. Thirty minutes. Then get out and let Harker know we need backup."
He
broke the connection.
"Ronnie, give me a hand with this couch."
They dragged the heavy piece of furniture across the floor and pushed it up against the door.
"I wonder how far down this elevator goes?" Ronnie asked.
"Only one way to find out," Nick said.
He reached out and pushed the button.
The door slid open with a soft hiss.
Lamont said, "This is the part in the movie where the audience starts yelling 'Don't go down there!'"
"Yeah, but this isn't a movie."
"I don't like elevators," Ronnie said. "There have to be stairs."
Heavy blows sounded on the blockaded door behind the couch.
"You want to take time to look for them out there?"
"On second thought, let's take the elevator," Ronnie said.
They stepped in. The elevator had the expensive appearance of the rest of the house. The walls were made of polished walnut. Two brass light fixtures with tulip shaped bulbs provided soft illumination. The floor was carpeted with expensive pile. The control panel held only two buttons, marked with up and down arrows.
"Going down," Nick said.
He pushed the button. The door closed and the elevator began to descend.
"When that door opens, shoot anyone who's waiting for us," Nick said.
The elevator came to a stop. The door stayed closed.
"It's not opening," Ronnie said.
A sudden hissing sound began.
"What's that?" Lamont asked.
A sweet, flowery smell filled the elevator car.
Nick stumbled and coughed.
"Get that door open."
Ronnie and Lamont started coughing. Ronnie moved toward the door and fell to his knees.
Seconds later they were all on the floor, unconscious.
The elevator door opened.
CHAPTER 52
Two thousand kilometers to the east of Moscow, Vladimir Orlov and his commanders were meeting in a secure command center in the Ural Mountains. The facility was proof against a direct hit by a nuclear weapon. The closest comparison in the West was the NORAD installation at Cheyenne Mountain.
The center was fully equipped with living quarters, kitchens, recreation areas, a motor pool, and supplies. Its occupants could remain inside for up to three years. It had the best communications and surveillance technology the Federation could provide.
