Tesla was sending the photograph by the time Charley emerged with her suitcase. Downstairs, they hurried out the kitchen, avoiding the quickly expanding crowd around the dead clerk in the lobby.

A plan was already forming in Tesla’s head. She would send Charley on the first plane to the States. Once Charley was safe, she would find a way to get to Harold.

Jana’s cell buzzed. As they exited the hotel and started along rue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Tesla glanced at the cell’s screen.

One word in English:

BEAUTIFUL.

13 - BRETT BATTLES

13

BRETT BATTLES

“You must know what Sikari has in mind,” Harold Middleton said to Chernayev. His blood had run cold when the Russian had told him the U.S. secretary of state would be visiting the Baglihar dam. He told the man about the email message from Sikari to Kavi Balan—the plan for the Village. To blow up the dam with the thermobarics explosives from Florida. Middleton now understood.

Chernayev seemed to consider Middleton for a moment. “Sikari is dead,” he said.

“Dead?” The American gasped.

“By his own arrogance, from what I understand. A man he called his adopted son has assumed control of Sikari’s interests. Sikari’s interests were in the dam itself. It is the son, Archer, who has seen the opportunity the secretary of state’s visit will create.”

Middleton stared at nothing, stunned by the news. The whole point of the Volunteers’ mission was to find Sikari and bring the war criminal to justice. And yet even with the man gone, it seemed more horrifying events were now in motion.

“But you’re responsible, Chernayev. You sold him the explosives.”

“No! My companies sell explosives, yes. And I shipped some to the site of the dam, along with a lot of other materials. I’m a partner in the construction project.”

“Thermobarics are military grade.”

Chernayev gave a faint smile. “That’s why I had to ship them in a, let’s say, circuitous route. My engineers didn’t want to use TNT. The foundation work takes forever. They wanted the real thing.”

“Well, that real thing is going to be used to blow the Village to smithereens.”

Chernayev grimaced. “You traced me through a company of ours in Tampa, right? Sindhu Power.”

“That’s right.”

“Before we closed it up, we were robbed. Explosives were stolen.”

That explained why Sikari was interested in the place. And why the thieves had left the bomb that killed Jean-Marc Lespasse.

“Still, you funded Sikari’s education.”