BooksBarbecue
Back Balance of Power Save as PDF
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

"Madre de Dios, there are so many politicians, officers, and business figures who could do that job," Luis said. "But what we have decided is this. Someone in San Sebastían destroyed the yacht. Someone else delivered the tape to the radio station. Whether these people are still in the village or not, there has to be a trail. We have asked someone to go up there tonight and have a look. She's being helicoptered up"-he looked at his watch-"in two hours."

"I'd like to go with her," Aideen said. She threw her napkin on the table and rose.

"I'll be happy to send you," Luis said. He regarded McCaskey warily. "That is, if you don't mind."

McCaskey gave him a funny look. "Who's going up there?"

"María Corneja," Luis answered softly.

McCaskey quietly placed his knife and fork on his plate. Aideen watched as a strange discomfiture came over the normally stoic former G-man. It started with a sad turn of the mouth then grew to include the eyes.

"I didn't realize she was working with you again," McCaskey said. He touched his napkin to his lips.

"She returned about six months ago," Luis said. "I brought her back." He shrugged. "She needed the money so she could keep her small theater in Barcelona going. And I needed her because-pues, she is the best."

McCaskey was still looking away. Far away. He managed a weak smile. "She is good."

"The best."

McCaskey finally raised his eyes. He looked at Aideen for a very long moment. She couldn't imagine what was going through his mind.

"I'll have to clear it with Paul," he said, "but I'm in favor of having our own intel from the site. Take your tourist papers." He looked at Luis. "Will María be going as an Interpol officer or not?"

"That will be her call," he replied. "I want her to have the freedom to act."

McCaskey nodded. Then he fell silent again.

Aideen looked at Luis. "I'll get a few things together. How are we going to San Sebastían?"

"By helicopter from the airport," he said. "You'll have a rental car when you arrive. I'll phone María to let her know that you will be accompanying her. Then I will take you over."

McCaskey looked at Luis. "Did she know I was here, Luis?"

"I took the liberty of informing her." He patted the back of his friend's hand. "It's all right. She gave you her best."

McCaskey's expression grew sad again. "That she did," he replied. "That she most surely did."

ELEVEN

Tuesday, 12:07 a.m.

San Sebastián, Spain

When Juan Martinez maneuvered the runabout away from the Ramirez yacht, the twenty-nine-year-old sailor and navigator had no idea that he'd be saving his own life.