Chapters (53)
- BALANCE OF POWER
- Acknowledgments
- About The Creators
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
"I don't have time to waste," the major general said. "Answer and I'll let you go. Refuse and I'll leave you here with a bullet in your back. You have a count of three."
Aideen didn't think he was bluffing.
"One," said the officer.
Aideen was tempted to tell him that she was an Interpol operative. She had never faced death that seemed so imminent. It had a way of weakening one's resolve.
"Two."
She doubted that the major general would spare her even if she told him who she was. But she would definitely die if she didn't.
Yet by telling the truth, she could very well ruin the lives and careers of María, Luis, and their comrades. And she would destroy countless other lives if she helped Amadori survive this assault.
Maybe she'd been meant to die in the street with Martha. Maybe there was no escaping that.
Aideen heard the gun bark behind her. She jumped. She felt blood on her neck. But she was still standing.
A moment later Aideen felt the major general stumble against her. She lurched involuntarily as he fell forward. The two guns clattered on the floor. She glanced back at the officer. Blood spurted like a water fountain from the back of his head. She looked up.
A familiar man was walking toward her, down the corridor. He was holding a smoking pistol and wearing a look of grim satisfaction.
"Ferdinand?" she said.
The familia member hesitated.
"No, it's all right," she said. She looked around quickly. Then she turned her back toward the surveillance camera behind her. Certain she wouldn't be seen, Aideen lifted her black mask just enough for him to see her face. "I'm here with others," she said. "We want to help."
Ferdinand continued walking toward her. "I'm glad to hear that," he said. "Juan and I doubted you back at the factory, after the attack. I'm sorry."
"I don't blame you. You had no way of knowing."
Ferdinand held up the gun. "This came to me when your friend caused an uproar before. They took her away, and also Juan. I want to find them-and I want to find Amadori."
"Amadori went this way," Aideen said. She pointed as she stopped to pick up her gun. She also picked up the major general's gun and goggles.