"Amadori is based in Madrid, at the office of the Defense Ministry," Juan said. "But we hear he has established a headquarters elsewhere. We're trying to find out where. He has powerful Castilian allies in the Congreso de los Diputados and in the Senado. They're backing him with deeds and with silence."

"What do you mean?"

"The prime minister has the right to declare martial law," Juan said, "but the parliament can effectively block him by cutting off funds if they don't approve of the measure or the leader."

"And they haven't done that here," María suggested.

"No," Juan said. "I've been told by an informer from the Ruiz familia-"

"The computer makers?" María asked.

"Yes," Juan said. "I've been told that the funding was actually above what the prime minister had requested. By fivefold."

María whistled.

"But why wouldn't they back him?" Aideen asked. "Spain is facing great danger."

Juan looked from María to Aideen. "Usually, the money is approved in parcels. That's done as a means of preventing exactly this kind of coup. Powerful people are behind this. Perhaps they or their families have been threatened. Perhaps they've been promised positions of greater authority in the new regime."

"Regardless," María said, "they've given Amadori the power and the money to do whatever he deems necessary." She drew slowly on her cigarette. "Simple and brilliant. With the army under his control and the government crippled by acts of treason. General Amadori can't be stopped by any legal means."

"Exactly," Juan said. "Which is why the familia has had to work on this in our own way."

María looked at Juan then ground her cigarette on the floor. "What would happen if he were removed?"

"Do you mean dismissed?" Juan asked.

"If I'd meant dismissed I would have said dismissed," the woman replied sharply.

Juan turned and put his cigarette out against the metal wall. He shrugged. "We would all benefit. But it would have to be done quickly. If Amadori has time to establish himself as the savior of Spain, then whatever momentum he creates will continue with or without him."

"Granted," María said. "And he will move quickly to present himself as a hero."

Juan nodded. "The problem is, it won't be easy getting close to him. If he stays in one place, there will be security. If he moves around, his itinerary will be classified. We'd have to be very lucky just to-"

Aideen held up her hand. "Quiet!"

The others looked at her. A moment later María obviously heard it too. By then they could feel it in their gut-the low beat of distant rotors.

"Helicopters!" Juan said. He jumped to the back of the van and opened the door.

Aideen looked past him. Coming in over the nearby hills were the navigation lights of four helicopters. They were about a mile away.

"They're coming toward the factory," Juan said. He turned toward María. "Yours?"