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Chapters (53)
  1. BALANCE OF POWER
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. About The Creators
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY

"I think a couple of things," McCaskey said. "Mike's right. The lady's got backbone to spare. She wasn't afraid to get right in Serrador's face. And my gut tells me the same thing as Bob's: I'm inclined to let her loose on the Spaniards. But Liz has also got a solid point. So if it's okay with you, let me talk to Aideen first. I'll know pretty quick whether she's up to it."

Hood's eyes shifted to the staff psychologist. "Liz, if we decide to go ahead with something and Aideen's involved, what should Darrell look for? Any physical signs?"

"Extreme restlessness," Liz replied. "Rapid speech, foot tapping, cracking the knuckles, heavy sighing, that sort of thing. She's got to be able to focus. If her mind wanders into guilt and loss, she's going to drop down a hole and not be able to get out."

"Any questions, Darrell?" Hood asked.

"None," McCaskey said.

"Very good," Hood said. "Darrell, I'm going to have Bob and his team look over any new intelligence that's come in. If there's anything useful, they'll get it over to you."

"I'm also going to make a few calls over here," McCaskey said. "There are some people at Interpol who might be able to help us."

"Excellent," Hood said. "Anyone else?"

"Mr. Hood," Carol Lanning said, "this is not my area of expertise but I do have a question."

"Go ahead," Hood said. "And please-it's Paul."

She nodded and cleared her throat. "Might I ask if you're looking to gather intelligence to turn over to the Spanish authorities or-" She hesitated.

"Or what?"

"Or are you looking for revenge?"

Hood thought for a moment. "Frankly, Ms. Lanning, I want both."

"Good," she said. Rising, she smoothed her skirt and squared her shoulders. "I hoped I wasn't the only one."

SEVEN

Monday, 10:56 p.m.

San Sebastián, Spain

No one had survived the explosion of the Ramirez yacht.

Adolfo hadn't expected anyone to be left alive. The blast had flipped the ship onto its side before anyone could get out. The men who weren't killed in the explosion itself were drowned when the yacht capsized. Only the pilot of the runabout had escaped. Adolfo knew about the man. He was Juan Martinez, a leader of the Ramirez familia. He had a reputation for being resourceful and devoted to his boss. But Adolfo wasn't worried about Martinez-or any other Ramirez thugs. Very soon the familia would no longer exist as an adversarial force. And with their demise other familias would stay out of the General's way. It was funny how power didn't matter so much when one's survival was threatened.