Seconds to Midnight

by Philip Donlay

  “It’s a solitary RAF Typhoon,” Donovan said. He felt someone else squeeze in and replace Montero; a man whom he guessed was Reggie. Though they’d talked on the phone and had many mutual friends, they’d never met in person. Donovan reached around and the two men shook hands.

  “Mr. Nash, I’m Reggie. Nice to meet you.” The former SAS commando then turned to Michael. “You must be Mr. Ross. Abigail does go on about the two of you.”

  “Reggie, nice to have you aboard,” Donovan said, “and thanks for getting everyone back to the plane.” Then he pointed out the window. “Any idea what he wants?”

  “They usually come in twos. The other guy is probably behind us,” Michael said as he dialed 121.5 into the primary radio and brought the microphone to his mouth. “Eco-Watch zero one calling Typhoon flight.”

  “Eco-Watch zero one,” the reply sounded from the speakers. “This is Venom leader, how do you read?”

  “Loud and clear,” Michael said.

  “Roger, can you confirm that you have Ambassador VanGelder aboard?”

  “That’s affirmative, we have Ambassador VanGelder, as well as fifteen other souls on board, no injuries, our destination is Edinburgh,” Michael said.

  “Venom one, I copy. Slight change of plans, we’re here to escort Ambassador VanGelder at best speed directly to the Faroe Islands. They have power and functioning landlines. Fly your present heading and say requested altitude.”

  “Tell him we’ll level off at flight level three five zero,” Donovan said. As Michael entered the coordinates, he saw that their new destination was less than three hundred miles away.

  “Looks like we’re not going to Scotland just yet,” Reggie said with a shrug.

  “Why isn’t Lauren with you?” Donovan asked. “How is it you ended up in Iceland without her?”

  “Communication has been spotty at best,” Reggie said. “When Kristof vanished, I made the call, at Dr. McKenna’s insistence, to contact William, and request that he fold the three of us under his diplomatic security.”

  “Kristof is missing?” Donovan asked.

  “Was. He wandered off, it seems, without telling anyone. I made the only assumption I could at the time, that something had happened to him, and I pulled Stephanie and Abigail out of England.”

  “Good work, but that still doesn’t answer my question. Where’s my wife?”

  “Last I heard, which was through an e-mail, was that she’s in Poland with Marta, Trevor, and Kristof.”

  Donovan was relieved at the news about Kristof, but instantly concerned about Lauren and the others. “What are they doing in Poland?”

  “Finding out who is behind all of this. They had a lead; a man involved in the abduction of the woman from Interpol was captured.”

  “Captured by Archangel?” Michael asked.

  “Uh, no.” Reggie hesitated as if confused. “I’m sorry, is there a player in this I’m not familiar with?”

  “Never mind,” Michael said and looked away, disappointed.

  “Anyway,” Reggie said. “I’m assuming they’re still in Poland. We’ll know more, I’m sure, once we land.”

  Donovan spotted tiny legs walking up the aisle behind them.

  “Daddy,” Abigail called out.

  “Ah, fatherhood calls,” Reggie said as he stepped aside and helped Abigail move up near her father. “We’ll all talk later. Thanks again.”

  Donovan slid his seat back, put an arm around Abigail, and pulled her into his lap. Abigail rewarded him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Daddy, you surprised me. You and Michael flew over low enough for me to wave to you. Did you see me? I didn’t even know you were coming. No one told me. Then we drove really fast. Did we fly faster than a bomb? I can’t wait to tell Mommy. You know, Mommy and I rode a horse faster than bullets, but the Galileo is even faster. The horse, his name is Zephyr, was really fast though, and I know we just had Christmas, but for my birthday can I get Zephyr as a present? I think Zephyr and Halley would be great friends, and they’d keep each other company.”

  Donovan smiled, hugged his daughter, and kissed her on top of her head. “We’ll see.”

  “Is there room for one more up here?” William asked as he came forward.

  “Sure.” Donovan reached out and was more than a little surprised when William closed the gap, hugged him fiercely, and kissed him on the cheek.

  “I’m sorry about our last conversation. I was—” William said and then leaned down and wrapped his arms around Abigail as well. “I’m sorry I was so shortsighted. I love both of you more than anything.”

  “We love you, too, Grandpa,” Abigail said.

  “Thank you, Abigail,” William said as he kissed Abigail’s cheek.

  “We’re being escorted to the Faroe Islands; I don’t think our day is over yet,” Donovan said. “Montero has calculated we’re in trouble across half the globe, and that was before Iceland.”

  “Do you have any idea who orchestrated everything that’s happened?” William asked.

  “Tell him,” Donovan said to Sofya who was still sitting in the jump seat.

  “Gregori Petrov.”

  William casually put his hands over Abigail’s ears. “That son of a bitch is a dead man.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  LAUREN FOLLOWED THE Marine and was quickly handed off to a man in a suit waiting on the other side of a door. Not a word was spoken as she was escorted into a conference room and offered a seat next to a man at the head of the long table, who held a phone to his ear.

  “Yes, sir. She just walked in,” he said, and handed Lauren the phone. “It’s for you. It’s the President of the United States.”

  Lauren took the phone, cleared her throat. “This is Dr. Lauren McKenna.”

  “Dr. McKenna, this is the President. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “I need some information. I have confirmation that a nuclear device has been detonated in Iceland. I also have intelligence that you were in the Russian embassy, and a Russian submarine communication system was used to send a message to divert a U.S. registered Gulfstream to Iceland prior to the explosion. Is any of that true?”

  “It’s all true.”

  “Dr. McKenna, I’m about ten minutes away from another phone conversation with the Russian President. We’ve averted a full-out nuclear war, but I need to understand what the hell you were doing, and why he asked me to thank you.”

  “Did that Gulfstream manage to leave Iceland?”

  “We don’t know, though if it did avoid the explosion, who would be on this airplane?”

  “Hopefully, Ambassador VanGelder, as well as other members of his staff and members of my family,” Lauren said. “The Russians and I couldn’t stop the events in Iceland from happening, but we came upon the idea of diverting the Gulfstream as a way to minimize the casualties. We also hoped to evacuate key personnel. I trust you’ve been informed that myself, as well as certain members of the SVR, believe that Gregori Petrov was behind the attack.”

  “We’re aware of Petrov’s actions. He’s being sought as we speak. I’ll ask again, why did the Russian President want me to thank you?”

  “Can you imagine what may have happened if the bomb went off without any warning? My friends and I uncovered the plot that could have thrust our countries into another cold war, or worse. The Russian President owes me; you both do. I hope you can leverage what’s happened into something diplomatically beneficial.” Lauren looked down as a sheet of paper was slid onto the tabletop in front of her.

  Eco-Watch jet on the ground in the Faroe Islands. Communications via land line will be established shortly. They are being instructed to call here.

  “With all due respect,” Lauren said. “I need to go.”

  “Why?” the President asked. “What’s happened?”

  “The Gulfstream is on the ground in the Faroe Islands,” Lauren said just as the phone on the table rang and was instantly answered by one of
the communication specialists who nodded that the call was for her. “Mr. President, I have a call I need to take.”

  “Tell them to patch it into here,” the President said.

  Lauren relayed the information and the rising static told her a connection had been made. “Hello? Donovan?”

  “Lauren, it’s William. Donovan and Abigail will be in shortly. Where in the hell are you? What’s going on in Russia?”

  “William, the President of the United Sates is also on the line,” Lauren said as she blinked at the tears forming in her eyes. “You two talk, I want to be free when my husband and daughter call. Mr. President, it’s been a long day. Any chance you could get me out of Berlin to go be with my family?”

  “I’ll take care of it, and thank you, Dr. McKenna. I look forward to meeting you soon.”

  Lauren handed the phone to the man in the suit, and she was escorted by a young woman into a nearby office. On the desk sat coffee service and a plate of Danish. Lauren sat down for the first time in what felt like hours, and moments later the phone rang. The woman answered, handed the receiver to Lauren, and stepped out of the room.

  “Lauren?” Donovan asked. “Are you there?”

  “I’m here,” Lauren said as tears broke free from her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks. “Are you okay? How’s Abigail?”

  “We’re fine,” Donovan said. “You’re amazing, and the message from the submarine, that was genius.”

  “I’m glad it worked.” Lauren didn’t want to know how many of the eleven minutes Donovan and her daughter actually needed.

  “Here,” Donovan said. “Someone wants to talk to you.”

  “Mommy, you should have seen us. Daddy flew really low. Aunt Veronica wasn’t scared at all, but I think Grandpa was a little afraid, so I sat on his lap and held his hand. Where are you?”

  Lauren struggled to find her voice. “I’m in Germany right now, so we both still have some traveling to do, but I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. We might be a day late, but we’re all going to celebrate New Year’s at Aunt Stephanie’s house, okay?”

  “Okay, Daddy wants to talk to you again.”

  “Hey,” Donovan said. “I’m standing here next to William, and it seems the President wants to talk to me. Though I did overhear that he cleared the way for us to leave and fly to London as soon as William talks with someone in Moscow. Apparently, you’re being flown directly from Berlin to London via State Department jet. I’ll see you in a few hours. How about I buy you dinner tonight?”

  “I’d love that more than you’ll ever know. Do me a favor—play nice with the President. Tell Abigail I love her, and I’ll see you both soon.”

  EPILOGUE

  “SHE’S FINALLY ASLEEP,” Lauren said as she walked out onto the patio where William and Donovan were watching the Northern Lights. Donovan put his arm around her to try to keep her warm in the chilly night air. “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to send Abigail back to school. All she talks about is riding horses, bullets, and flying faster than a bomb.”

  “There’s always homeschooling,” Donovan said.

  “Honey, that’s so sweet of you to offer to leave Eco-Watch to stay home and teach your daughter. We’ll tell her in the morning.”

  “Very funny,” Donovan said. “Does that have anything to do with the President asking me if the White House could borrow you for a few years? What’s that about?”

  “Oh, probably nothing.” Lauren laughed. “That’s about political favors and making things happen, like using a State Department jet to fly me to London and then getting Michael home to his family. We both know that anything they might offer would pale in comparison to what I do now.”

  “Which is what exactly?” Donovan teased.

  “Being married to one of the most wonderful men in the world and raising our daughter. Who, by the way, told me that you two have already decided on her next birthday present? A horse named Zephyr is coming to live with us. Does that ring a bell?”

  “It was something she blew past me in the heat of the moment. I told her we’d think about it. Why does she always take that as a yes?” Donovan shrugged it off and then briefly wondered the best way to transport a horse across the Atlantic Ocean to Virginia. He turned to William. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, did Robertson, the agent who stayed behind and marshaled us out to the runway, survive?”

  “He didn’t,” William said. “The Secretary of State told me that Agent Robertson used his tactical frequencies to spread the word and help a great many people seek shelter before the bomb detonated. He’s a big reason there were less than five hundred casualties.”

  “He made some things happen for us that would have been difficult otherwise,” Donovan said. “Let’s make sure that his family is taken care of. Okay?”

  “Absolutely,” William said. “In my conversations with Washington today, I was told the bomb was relatively small, a crude copy of a North Korean design using radioactive material manufactured in Russia. It was small as far as nuclear devices go, though if the same bomb had gone off in the heart of Washington, D.C., they estimate over eighty-five thousand fatalities, and another two hundred thousand injured. It’s still a terrible tragedy, but thankfully, Iceland isn’t densely populated. Plus, the airport sits out on a peninsula, and Reykjavik is situated miles away, far outside the bomb’s blast radius.”

  “What about the Boeing?”

  “Now that the connection between Iceland, Russia, and the Boeing has been confirmed, the Canadian authorities were happy to allow a joint Canadian/American salvage effort. Any evidence of wrongdoing by Eco-Watch in Canada will be dismissed. The RCMP has already arrested the head of the charter operation in Thompson. I understand he’s being charged with conspiracy and held without bail until a full investigation can be made.”

  “I spoke with Jesse Burke today. He and Rick are finally both back home,” Donovan said. “He did a great job in Manitoba, so I took the liberty of promoting him to Eco-Watch senior diver.”

  “That’s fine,” William said. “Though maybe I should ask why?”

  “So you and I could ensure he’s one of the men on the team who are going back to raise the 737. He seems focused and ready to get back to work. I think he’s turned a corner.”

  “You guys are going to freeze out here,” Stephanie called from the door. “Uncle William, please come inside.”

  Donovan led Lauren back into the parlor of Stephanie’s house. He reached out and took her hand and they sat close on the sofa, soaking up the heat from the crackling fireplace. Across from them, William took a seat between Kristof and Stephanie. They were all still full from dinner, and slowly working their way through Stephanie’s wine cellar.

  “Everything is perfect,” William said. “Stephanie, thank you for still having us over tonight even after everything that has happened.”

  “I’m thrilled we’re all still here to enjoy this,” Stephanie said. “But please, Lauren, keep talking.”

  “Where were we?” William asked. “Lauren, you were telling us what happened when you left the Russian embassy.”

  “Thrown out was more like it,” Lauren said. “As soon as the VLF message was sent, Nikolai couldn’t get Kristof and me out of there fast enough.”

  “He couldn’t very well have Archangel and a DIA analyst in his operations room at what might be the beginning of a nuclear war, could he?” William said. “Though of all the phone calls I’ve taken in the last twenty-four hours, the most surprising one was from the Austrian President. Imagine my surprise when he profoundly apologized for the police work that made Lauren a suspect in the attack on Kristof’s residence.”

  “I have officially been cleared of any wrongdoing. Though to be accurate,” Lauren said, “it was Kristof and Montero who made a deal with Interpol that erased all of the misunderstanding.”

  “Where are Marta and Montero?” Donovan checked his watch. “They’re going to be late.”

  “I think they’re here now,” Stephanie
said as headlights flashed across the patio.

  Donovan stood. Even though the house was fully protected by diplomatic security service agents, he still felt the need to be prepared. He heard the slamming of car doors and smiled inwardly when he counted four of them.

  “We’re here,” Montero said as she opened the door.

  “We’re all in the parlor,” Stephanie said, jumping up. “Here, I’ll take your coats.”

  “We brought a few extra people. I hope you don’t mind.” Montero strolled into the parlor followed by Marta, Trevor, and Sofya.

  “Oh my God!” Lauren jumped to her feet and hugged Montero and Trevor. She turned to Sofya. “I’m Lauren, Donovan’s wife. Sofya, I’m so happy to finally get to meet you.”

  “It’s good to meet you as well,” Sofya said quietly. “Everyone has been so kind.”

  “We all owe you a huge debt,” Stephanie said as she came over. “I’m Stephanie, William’s niece. Can I get you some wine?”

  “Do you know what I’d really like?” Sofya said. “Is there any vodka?”

  “I know where it is,” Donovan volunteered, and then turned to the others. “Anyone besides Sofya and me switching to the hard stuff?”

  Montero and Trevor both raised their hands.

  “Everyone, sit,” Stephanie said and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll bring everything out.”

  “So, what have we missed?” Marta asked as she leaned down and gave Kristof a kiss on the cheek.

  “Never mind that,” Lauren said. “Why don’t you bring us up to speed about the gorgeous diamond ring on your finger?”

  Donovan watched Kristof light up as Marta smiled and held up her brand-new engagement ring. Trevor leaned in and he and Kristof shook hands. The two men shared a knowing glance, telling Donovan this engagement wasn’t a surprise to anyone but Marta.

  Marta and Trevor kissed, as Lauren and Montero moved in to take a closer look at the ring.

  “Congratulations,” Donovan said as he hugged Marta and shook Trevor’s hand.

  “I was so shocked,” Marta said as she brushed a tear away. “I didn’t know he and Dad had talked. We were in the park in Berlin, the sun was just coming up and he proposed. Turns out he’d had the ring for weeks.”