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Chapters (83)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY TOM CLANCY
  3. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. 65
  69. 66
  70. 67
  71. 68
  72. 69
  73. 70
  74. 71
  75. 72
  76. 73
  77. 74
  78. 75
  79. 76
  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
  83. What’s next onyour reading list?

He took the first side street available and let the woman’s voice on his map program guide him the rest of the way, almost due west of his guesthouse. On a regular traffic day the journey was no more than fifteen minutes.

Five minutes from his destination, Jack’s phone rang. The caller ID read SEN. RHODES.

Strange.

He answered via the Audi’s streaming wireless Bluetooth. “Senator Rhodes. What can I do for you?”

“Jack, I’ve been trying to reach Paul. Is he with you?”

Yeah, I know. But why? “No. I’m trying to find him myself. Is there a problem?” In the close quarters of the Audi’s cabin, the pounding rain and squeegeeing wipers were deafening.

“I was just going to ask you the same thing. My God, it sounds like you’re in a machine shop.”

“Something like that.”

“Paul was supposed to call me this evening. I’ve tried calling his phone, but he doesn’t pick up. I’m worried about him.”

“Why?”

“You may not be aware that Paul struggles with alcohol. He says it’s under control, but that’s what every drunk says.”

Jack’s jaw clenched. He resented Rhodes calling Paul a drunk, even though it was true. “You know it was his wedding anniversary yesterday.”

“Oh, yes. Of course. I’d quite forgotten. Probably set him off. I need to speak to him immediately.”

“I’ll let him know when I find him.” There was a long pause on the other end. “Anything else on your mind, Senator?”

Finally, “Jack, I’m concerned that Paul might be in some hot water.”

“Why?”

“I can’t read you in on that. Let’s just say I asked him to do me a favor. If he doesn’t do this thing by midnight tonight, it’s a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Just call me when you find him, will you? It’s extremely urgent.” Rhodes rang off.

Jack shook his head. What the hell was that all about?

59

Jack’s phone rang again. “Gav, I’m a minute out.”

“I know, I’m tracking you.”

“How?”

“Your phone.”

“Yeah, duh. What do you need?”

“Wanted to give you a heads-up. This isn’t a goose chase after all. These Bulgarians or whoever they are really are after Paul.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ll patch you in.” Gavin punched a few buttons on his end. Jack heard voices speaking in German over the Audi’s car audio system.

“What am I listening to?”

“I hacked into the van’s onboard Safety Connect, Toyota’s version of OnStar. We’re listening to them live.”

“What are they saying?”

“They’re supposed to go in and grab Paul in the next five minutes.”

“You speak German?”

“I have streaming translation software. Ninety-two percent accurate. I think I’m hearing just two distinct voices.”