"That's true," Burkow said. "But he's prepared to use his abdication as a gesture to the people of Spain. He wants to show them that if they want autonomy, he won't stand in their way. However, he's adamant about not handing over power to a tyrant."

Hood had to admit that even though the king probably had a fortune hidden in foreign banks, there was an admirable if grandstanding logic to what he had proposed. "When will the king be making this gesture?" Hood asked.

"When Amadori is no longer a threat," Burkow replied. "Speaking of which, what's the status of your team?"

"We're awaiting word," Hood said. "Striker should be arriving at the target any mo-"

"They're there," Rodgers said suddenly.

"Hold on, Steve," Hood said. "Mike, what've you got?"

"Darrell just heard from Colonel August," Rodgers said, the phone still pressed to his ear. "Striker has successfully deployed along the east side of the opera house. They have the palace in view and so far no one has bothered them. The soldiers seem to be concentrating on the palace and nothing more. Colonel August is awaiting further instructions."

"Thank Darrell for me," Hood said, and repeated the information to Burkow. As he spoke, he brought up the mission profile McCaskey had filed a half hour before. There was a map of that section of Madrid as well as a detailed map of the Royal Palace, along with various assault and infiltration configurations. According to McCaskey, the estimate from the Interpol spotter put the palace strength at four or five hundred troops. Most of them were clustered outside the southern end, where the throne room was located.

"What would the plan and timing be if they had to go in now?" Burkow asked.

Rodgers had come over to the desk. He looked over Hood's shoulder. Hood put the phone on speaker.

"There's a sewer on the northwest corner of the Plaza de Oriente," Hood said. "It connects to a catacomb which used to be part of an old Moorish fortress. It's used to store rat poison now."

"Hold it," Burkow said. "How do they get into the sewer?"

"They use an old French Resistance trick," Rodgers replied. "Create a diversion and hit the main target. Nothing lethal-just lots of smoke."

"I see," Burkow said.

"The catacomb connects to a palace dungeon, which hasn't been used for that purpose in over two centuries," Hood said.

"You mean it's just sitting there?" Burkow said.

"That's correct," Hood replied.

"Given Spain's history vis-ŕ-vis the Inquisition," Rodgers said, "I'm not surprised it hasn't been restored and opened to the public."

"Entering the dungeon will bring the Strikers right below the Hall of Tapestries," Hood continued. "From there, it's a short trip to the throne room."

"A short trip as the crow flies," Rodgers said, "though there are probably troops up and down the corridor. If they go in a three-cut mode, there'll definitely be casualties among the Spaniards."

"Three-cut mode?" Burkow said.