Juan regarded Maria. So did Aideen. Maria had played Juan honestly-and beautifully.
“Adversity has made stranger trenchmates,” Juan said. “All right. We’ve been looking into Amadori since we returned to the factory.” He snickered. “We still have some allies in government and the military, though not many. The death of Senor Ramirez has scared people.” “As it was meant to,” Maria remarked.
“Amadori is based in Madrid, at the office of the Defense Ministry,” Juan said. “But we hear he has established a headquarters elsewhere.
We’re trying to find out where. He has powerful Castilian allies in the Congreso de los Diputados and in the Senado. They’re backing him with deeds and with silence.” “What do you mean?” ” “The prime minister has the right to declare martial law,” Juan said, “but the parliament can effectively block him by cutting off funds if they don’t approve of the measure or the leader.” “And they haven’t done that here,” Maria suggested.
“No,” Juan said. “I’ve been told by an informer from the Ruiz familia- ?”‘ “The computer makers?” Maria asked.
“Yes,” Juan said. “I’ve been told that the funding was actually above what the prime minister had requested. By fivefold.” Maria whistled.
“But why wouldn’t they back him?” Aideen asked.
“Spain is facing great danger.” Juan looked from Maria to Aideen. “Usually, the money is approved in parcels. That’s done as a means of preventing exactly this kind of coup.
Powerful people are behind this. Perhaps they or their families have been threatened. Perhaps they’ve been promised positions of greater authority in the new regime.” “Regardless,” Maria said, “they’ve given Amadori the power and the money to do whatever he deems necessary.” She drew slowly on her cigarette.
“Simple and brilliant. With the army under his control and the government crippled by acts of treason.
General Amadori can’t be stopped by any legal means.” “Exactly,” Juan said. “Which is why the familia has had to work on this in our own way.” Maria looked at Juan then ground her cigarette on the floor. “What would happen if he were removed?” “Do you mean dismissed?” Juan asked.
“If I’d meant dismissed I would have said dismissed,” the woman replied sharply.
Juan turned and put his cigarette out against the metal wall. He shrugged. “We would all benefit. But it would have to be done quickly. If Amadori has time to establish himself as the savior of Spain, then whatever momentum he creates will continue with or without him.” “Granted,” Maria said. “And he will move quickly to present himself as a hero.” Juan nodded. “The problem is, it won’t be easy getting close to him. If he stays in one place, there will be security. If he moves around, his itinerary will be classified. We’d have to be very lucky just to-was Aideen held up her hand. “Quiet!” The others looked at her. A moment later Maria obviously heard it too. By then they could feel it in their gut-the low beat of distant rotors.
“Helicopters!” Juan said. He jumped to the back of the van and opened the door.
Aideen looked past him. Coming in over the nearby hills were the navigation lights of four helicopters. They were about a mile away.
“They’re coming toward the factory,” Juan said.
He turned toward Maria. “Yours?” She shook her head. She pushed past him and jumped onto the asphalt. She stood watching the choppers for a moment. “Get your people out of here or into safe areas,” she said. “Arm them.” Aideen slid out around the men. “Hold on,” she said. “Are you telling him to shoot at Spanish soldiers?” “I don’t know!” she snapped. She started running toward the car. “These are probably Amadori’s men. If any of the familia members are captured or killed, it accomplishes what we’re afraid of. By shutting down pockets of dissent, he’s strengthened in the eyes of the people.” Aideen jogged after her. She was trying to imagine some other scenario. But there were no riots in San Sebastian and the police were handling the inquiry into the explosion in the bay. There were only small homes and fields between this spot and the mountains: the Ramirez factory was the only target large enough to merit four helicopters.
This is a civilized nation preparing to make war on itself, she told herself. Though it was difficult to accept that fact, it was becoming more and more real by the moment.
Juan stepped from the van. He was followed by Ferdinand.
“Where are you going?” Juan shouted after the women.
“To call my superior!” Maria shouted back.
“I’ll let you know if I find out anything.” ” “Tell your people that we will not fight back unless we’re attacked!” Juan yelled as he and Ferdinand started running toward the factory.
The helicopters were less than a quarter mile away. “Tell them that we have no quarrel with the honest soldiers or people of-was His words were drowned out by the rattling drone of the rotors as the choppers bore down on the factory.
An instant later the crisp chatter of the airborne Modelo L-1-003 guns was added to the din and both Juan and Ferdinand fell to the ground.
TWENTY-TWO Tuesday, 5:43 a.m. Madrid, Spain Darrell McCaskey couldn’t sleep.
After bringing Aideen to the airfield, he’d returned with Luis to Interpol’s Madrid office. The small complex occupied a single floor of the district police station. The tum-of-the-century brick building was located just off the broad Gran Via on Calle de Hortaleza. The ride back to the city had been a quiet one as McCaskey reflected on his months with Maria.
Suddenly exhausted when they returned, McCaskey had lain down on a soft sofa in the small dining room. But while he’d gladly shut his heavy eyelids, his heavy heart had refused to shut down. Maria’s anger had disturbed him, though it was not unexpected. Worse than that, though, was simply seeing the woman again. It reminded McCaskey of the biggest mistake of his life: letting her go two years before.
The sad thing was, he’d known it then.
Lying there, McCaskey remembered vividly all the differences that had come up during her stay in America. She had a live-for-today attitude, not worrying very much about health or money or the danger of some of the assignments she took. They had different tastes in music and in the sports they liked to watch or play. She liked to bike everywhere, he liked to walk or drive. He loved cities and high energy places, she loved the country.
But whatever their differences, and they were considerable, one thing was true. They had loved each other. That should have counted for more than it did. It sure as hell did now.
McCaskey could still remember her face when he told her the relationship wasn’t working for him. He would always see that face, hard but deeply hurt-like a soldier who’d been wounded but refused to believe it and was determined to keep going. It was one of those snapshots that stayed in the soul and came back from time to time, as vivid as the moment it happened.
“Emotional malaria,” Op-Center psychologist Liz Gordon had once called it when they were talking about failed relationships.
She got that right.
McCaskey gave up trying to keep his eyes shut. As he lay staring up at the fluorescent lights, Luis came running in. He hurried to a phone on one of the four round tables in the dining room. He snapped his fingers and motioned for McCaskey to pick up another one.
“It’s Maria,” Luis said. “On line five.
They’re under attack.” McCaskey swung from the sofa and rushed to the nearest table. “Are they okay?” “They’re in a car,” Luis said. “Maria said she thinks it best to stay where they are.” He scooped up a phone.
McCaskey did likewise and punched line five.
“Maria?” Luis said. “Darrell is on the phone and Raul is checking on the helicopters.
What’s happening now?” McCaskey decided not to ask for an update.
If he missed anything Luis would fill him in.
“Two of the helicopters are circling low over the factory grounds,” Maria said. “The other two are hovering just above the roof. Troops are climbing out.
Some of the soldiers are taking up positions on the edge of the roof. Others are using aluminum ladders to climb down toward the doors. All of them are armed with submachine guns.” “You said they already shot two men-was “They shot at two members of the Ramirezstambb7)a, Juan and Ferdinand,” Maria said. “Both men had taken part in the retaliation for the yacht attack. But they hit the ground and surrendered-I think they’re all right.” Her voice was calm and strong. McCaskey was proud of her. He had a deep desire to take back those stupid, selfish words he’d once uttered to her.
“We were meeting with the men when the attack began,” Maria continued. “I don’t know if the troops targeted them specifically or if the helicopters opened fire on the nearest target.” “The sentry-was Aideen said.