Finally it was dark. Kevin quietly leaned the chair against the door and pushed the top of the cane-backed chair up to the knob. He removed the bottle of ammonia triiodide from its hiding place and poured six-inch-diameter circles on the floor six inches from where the chair legs were wedged against the floor.
He closed the bottle and put the remaining triiodide and the super glue in his waistband. Then he moved the chair back to its normal position at the desk and turned off the lights. Standing close to the door, Kevin knocked and told Franco he was ready for the bathroom. The door swung open, and Kevin noted with relief that the door’s arc did not overlap the painted circles. Franco didn’t see them, or if he did, he didn’t remark on them.
Once in the bathroom, Kevin poured another larger circle on the bottom of the under-sink cabinet. He used up the rest of the triiodide and set the bottle aside. From the tall cabinet, he retrieved the bottle of Clorox, the ammonia, and the can of lubricating oil. He put the can of oil next to the triiodide circle under the sink. Then he poured most of the Clorox down the sink and waited. When he thought the triiodide had enough time to dry, he poured some ammonia into the bottle of Clorox, screwed on the lid tightly, and placed the mixture and the bottle of ammonia next to the ammonia triiodide circle. He closed the cabinet door and knocked on the door, knowing he didn’t have much time.
When the door opened, Franco said, “Did you take a leak?”
“Of course I did,” Kevin said, too defensively.
“Then flush the toilet, for God’s sake.”
With horror, Kevin realized he had completely forgotten about the facade. As he walked quickly to the toilet and pushed the handle, he told himself he couldn’t afford any more mistakes like that.
“Happy?” he said.
“Come on,” Franco said, pushing Kevin into the hall.
Kevin tried to walk casually down the hall, but the urge to run was strong. He had only a minute at most. At last, he opened the door to the room, slowly, to avoid a fast change in air pressure that might set off the explosive. Kevin cast his eyes downward, peering to see the dark spots on the floor. If he stepped on one of the circles, he might lose a foot. He turned without moving farther into the room and closed the door behind him. Franco gave him a funny look, probably wondering why he was doing it instead of letting Franco, but Kevin didn’t have time to worry about it.
When the door was closed, he heard the rattling of the lock. When it was silent again, Kevin took the super glue from beneath the sink and squirted it into the lock mechanism.
He went over to the chair and lifted it, carrying it to the door, always keeping an eye on the two purple dots on the floor. With the top of the chair wedged under the door knob, he placed it gently on the floor and shoved until it was held tightly in position. He glanced at the watch they’d let him keep. He only had seconds left. He needed to get to the window.
Hand towel and rag in hand, he moved the desk so that the top was even with the window. Luckily, the desk was light enough so that he could lift it without making noise. He sat up on the desk with his feet toward the window. Kevin waited.
He didn’t have to wait long. A loud bang echoed through the hallway, followed almost instantly by another, larger explosion. The concoction had worked exactly as planned. The mixture of ammonia and bleach had blown the bottle apart as it formed gas, setting off the ammonia triiodide contact explosive poured onto the shelf next to it, igniting the can of flammable oil and bursting the bottle of ammonia. If he was lucky, a fire was now raging in the bathroom.
His answer came a second later as an ear-splitting alarm sounded throughout the house, no doubt set off by the smoke detector. He heard the guard outside yell “Motherfuck!” and then race down the hall. Now was his chance. He hoped they were too distracted by the fire to worry about him.
Kevin held on to the desk and kicked at the window with both his feet. The glass shattered. Normally it would have set off the alarm, but the fire had already started it. As he had hoped, the fire alarm and the burglar alarm were one and the same.
The cross struts of the window splintered but held and the glass shards were caught by the screen on the other side. More shouting came from down the hall, but it didn’t sound like it was aimed at him. He concentrated on the struts, kicking them until they separated from the sturdy window pane. He cleaned the remaining shards sticking out of the window with the hand towel and rag wrapped around his hand.
With the glass shards out of the way, Kevin raised the screen and looked over the edge. No guards were in sight. Twenty feet below the window was a hedge about four feet high. To his left was the top of the portico covering the front porch. He had hoped there would be a car that he could take, but a quick scan of the parking lot to his far right revealed it to be empty.
Another shout down the hall. This time Kevin heard his name. Footsteps pounded toward the room. He began to climb out feet first.
The lock rattled.
“Hurry up!” someone said.
“I’m trying!” yelled Franco.
“Open it!”
“It won’t work!” said Franco. “That fucker did something to the lock.”
Kevin’s legs dangled over the side. He slid his waist across the edge and supported himself with his elbows.
“Forget about the goddam lock!”
The door shuddered as someone kicked it. It held, but several more would cave in the flimsy wood.
He had to jump now. As Kevin pushed off, another kick caused part of the frame to crack. Kevin saw the chair slide three inches toward the purple spots. Then he was freefalling.
If he hit a sturdy branch in the hedge, his ankle could be easily twisted or he could even break his leg. His butt came in contact with the hedge first, but the myriad tiny branches brought him to a gentle stop. The hedge’s sharp needles scraped him in dozens of places, but otherwise he was fine.
Above him, a third kick impacted the door in the room, immediately followed by twin explosions as the chair legs hit the ammonia triiodide.
“Holy shit!” Franco yelled. “He’s got a gun!”
Shots blasted into the room.
“What the hell are you doing?” screamed the other voice. “We can’t kill him!”
Their voices lowered, becoming inaudible to Kevin. He didn’t care. In a few seconds they’d realize that he was no longer in the room. He had to get to the forest before that happened.
He rolled off the top of the hedge and crouched on the ground with his back to the front porch, ready to sprint.
A chill gripped his stomach as he heard a voice behind him say, “Very good, Mr. Hamilton.”
He slowly turned to see David Lobec and Clayton Tarnwell standing on the porch twenty feet from him. They must have been there all along, shielded from the second story window by the portico. Kevin didn’t even consider running. Lobec had a pistol trained on him.
“Even in this light, Mr. Hamilton, I can assure you that I could hit you from this range. I can tell you from experience that getting shot in the leg is not pleasant.” He threw a sideways glance at Tarnwell. “Didn’t I tell you this would be amusing?”
CHAPTER 34
Franco, still huffing from his mad dash down the stairs, led Kevin up the front steps until he was facing Lobec and Tarnwell.
“When did you know?” Kevin asked as he was patted down by Franco.
Lobec smiled, and Kevin knew that he’d been set up.
“From the beginning?”
“He’s clean,” Franco said.
“I know that you are a resourceful man, Mr. Hamilton. You are not the type to sit back and wait for something to happen.”
Kevin looked at Tarnwell. “And the chemicals?”
Tarnwell nodded. “When you stopped up your toilet, David told me about this idea he had. I couldn’t resist. Being a chemist myself, I knew a few mixtures you could brew from what we left up there. You seem to know some yourself.”
“The key,” Lobec said, “was not to
make the availability of the chemicals too obvious. We had to make reasonably sure you would find them while not tipping our hand.”
“And you just waited here until I climbed out the window.”
“We had arranged for all paths to lead you to this point, but we did not know exactly how you would get here. That would have spoiled the surprise.”
“We surely didn’t want that,” Tarnwell said.
At least Kevin had the satisfaction of causing serious damage to the expensive mansion. “Did you want me to destroy two rooms in your house?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m having the entire second floor refurbished next month. I just bought this place, and it doesn’t suit me. You could consider tonight the groundbreaking ceremony.”
“Glad I could help,” Kevin sneered.
“Now, Mr. Hamilton,” Lobec said, “as I stated earlier, any attempt on your part to escape would force me to have you restrained. Thankfully, you did not disappoint us.”
* * *
When Hamilton was safely locked in another bedroom, Tarnwell motioned to Lobec to close the library’s door. He poured a snifter of Courvoisier and took a hand-rolled Cuban cigar from the mahogany humidor. Tarnwell noticed that Lobec stayed far on the other side of the room as he lit the cigar.
“Care for one, David?” he asked innocently.
“No, thank you.”
Tarnwell blew a smoke ring in Lobec’s direction, then closed his eyes as he sipped the cognac. After a long pause to savor the taste, he swallowed and opened his eyes. “Fine job tonight, David. I hope your plan for tomorrow is just as good. Tell me about it.”
Still standing at the other side of the library, Lobec’s eyes followed the smoke ring until it dissipated. “It’s very simple really. I will have two men in separate cars posted at each end of the Arlington Bridge. They can’t get there too early or police may stop to ask why they are holding up traffic. We will let Miss Jensen approach, if she is not already there. Once I verify that she has the notebook, we make the exchange and let them leave.”
Tarnwell raised an eyebrow. “You let them leave?”
“At least give them that impression. Since Mr. Bern and I must be on foot, it would be risky to terminate them in the middle of the bridge, too much attention would be drawn to us, with no way to escape easily.”
“Then where do you get them?”
“My men have instructions to take them out at the end of the bridge. A few short bursts should do the trick. They can then make their escape, with no connection to us.”
“Don’t you think they might have thought of that?” said Tarnwell.
“Of course, but there really is no defense. My men have automatic rifles. No matter if they leave by foot or by car, they will be vulnerable.”
“What about the water?”
“Unlikely. Since we will be in the middle of the bridge, they would have to swim a quarter of a mile to get to the shore. Even if they tried something as foolish as jumping, my men would have no trouble picking them off while they are still in the river.”
“And the police?”
“She has no proof. The police won’t help her.”
Lobec’s reasoning seemed valid. “It sounds like you’ve got things under control, David. Just make sure you get the right notebook. We don’t have time for any more delays. Just in case Miss Jensen doesn’t show up, I will be handling our contingency. Call me on my cell phone when you’ve succeeded.”
Lobec turned to leave, but Tarnwell wanted to remind him of something.
“David, I hope you haven’t forgotten about your brother and his family. Because I haven’t. I really want to see that notebook in my hands tomorrow, and I wouldn’t want to see a slipup on your part harm them.”
Lobec narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Tarnwell smiled. Lobec understood. With a wave of his hand, Tarnwell dismissed Lobec, who left the room. After the door was closed, Tarnwell pressed an intercom button next to his chair.
“Come in, Richard,” he said.
Through the library’s other door came Richard Bern. He stood uncomfortably in front of Tarnwell.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Tarnwell?”
“Yes, Richard, I did. You have a bright future in this company. You’ve become one of my most trusted employees, and you know that I reward my employees well.”
“You sure do, Mr. Tarnwell. I’m lucky to be working for you.”
“Thank you, Richard. That’s nice of you to say. The reason I asked you in here is because I need someone I trust on my side. You see, David is a very competent individual, but I’m afraid he may be planning something silly after the operation is completed tomorrow morning. I need your help.”
“Sure, Mr. Tarnwell, anything.”
“Once you have the item you are receiving from Erica Jensen tomorrow, never take your eyes off of it or David. I’m trusting you to make sure it gets back to me safely. It contains something that will make us all very wealthy, you included. This will be the most important job you’ve ever had. Don’t let anything stop you from getting that notebook to me. Do whatever it takes, I mean anything. Are you up for that?”
“You pay the bills.”
“Good,” Tarnwell said. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
Sensing that Tarnwell was finished with him, Bern left.
Tarnwell turned the cigar over in his fingers, treating himself to one more relaxing moment. In less than 24 hours, moments like these would be few. Even with the Adamas process, it would be hard work becoming the richest man in the world.
* * *
After an almost sleepless night tied to a four-poster bed, Kevin’s muscles ached, and his eyes were gummed from sleeping two straight nights without removing his contacts. At 6:00 in the morning, Richard Bern loosened his bonds. Bern was uncharacteristically dressed in gray sweatpants and a blue, hooded sweatshirt. He led Kevin to a different bathroom, but this time Kevin was afforded no privacy. The door remained open while he urinated.
He was given water but no breakfast. Kevin tried to suppress his growling stomach. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he could hear Bern chuckling behind him as they walked downstairs and into the library.
Lobec stood as Kevin and Bern entered the room. He was already dressed, but like Bern, did not wear a suit. Instead, he wore jogging shorts, a long-sleeved cotton pullover, and an Orioles baseball cap.
“I hope you slept well despite the conditions,” Lobec said.
Kevin had caught a glance at himself in the upstairs mirror and knew he looked like hell.
“Where’s Tarnwell? Doesn’t he want to join in on the fun, too?”
“Mr. Tarnwell had some business at the Capitol this morning. He’s quite involved in fund raising.” He looked at his watch. “Are you ready to meet Miss Jensen?”
“I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“Of course not.”
Lobec nodded at Bern, who cuffed Kevin’s hands in front of him. The three of them went outside to a Ford waiting for them at the mansion entrance. Franco was in the driver’s seat.
“Just the four of us?” said Kevin as they pulled away from the house. “I would have thought you’d bring the whole goon squad.”
“Mr. Francowiak will be dropping us off. There is no reason to upset Miss Jensen unnecessarily with a large contingent.” Even though Kevin couldn’t tell from the smooth voice, he knew Lobec was lying. Lobec probably already had men stationed around the bridge, waiting to tell him when Erica arrived.
Forty minutes later, Franco stopped at the eastern side of the Arlington National Cemetery. It was a ten minute walk to the bridge.
As Bern dragged him from the car, Kevin said, “So what’s the plan?”
“We will escort you to the middle of the bridge,” said Lobec, “where Miss Jensen should be waiting for us. She will leave the notebook and videotape on the sidewalk and you will be free to go.”
Kevin withheld a contemptuous chuckle and held up his cuffed hands. �
��Can I at least get these off?”
“I don’t think so. You have already shown a penchant for causing trouble. I will release your hands before we make the exchange.”
Bern pulled the hood over his head, and they began walking toward the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The western face of the Lincoln Memorial was still in shadows, and in the distance Kevin could see the Washington Monument and Capitol. They climbed down the incline, crossed a busy interchange, and walked onto the north side of the bridge.
The bridge was essentially a six-lane road with fifteen-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides. Cement railings lined the edge, with lamps embedded in square pillars every twenty feet. The half-mile span arched over the Potomac 75 feet below. A fine mist rose from the river’s placid surface, and the rising sun cast long shadows across the water.
As Kevin expected, several early morning exercisers jogged or biked across the bridge. Traffic was brisk, but not heavy. That would change nearer to 8:00, especially on the other side, where traffic was going from the Virginia suburbs into the District. No cars were allowed to park on the bridge at any time, which was probably why Lobec had agreed to the location. There was nowhere for the police to observe the transaction without being obvious.
That left only two ways for Erica to meet them. She could either pull up in a car and leave it for a few seconds while they made the trade, or she could walk. He didn’t like either scenario. Lobec and Bern could easily force themselves into a car with him and Erica. And if she walked, they had to trust Lobec to let them get to the end of the bridge and whatever mode of transportation she had waiting. After the past two days, Kevin trusted Lobec about as much as he’d trust a weasel in a hamster-laden Habitrail.
They reached the center of the bridge and stopped next to a cement pillar. They stood facing traffic, scanning both directions. Kevin looked at his watch. It was 6:57.
From a distance, it was difficult to tell one walker from another, and Lobec and Bern had several false starts when they saw lone women coming toward them. When they realized they were mistaken, they relaxed and began scanning again.
The Adamas Blueprint Page 25
