Tom Clancy – Op Center 5 – Balance Of Power

Maria was also convinced that more than vanity had brought him to this spot. No outside force could attack the general without coming through the prisoners. The detainees formed a thick and very effective human shield.

A sergeant stepped from the room. He shouted for the new group to enter. The line began to move. When Maria reached the door, she stopped and turned to the sergeant.

“I must see the general at once,” she said. “I have important information for him.” “You’ll get your turn to tell us what you know,” the gaunt soldier said. He grinned lasciviously.

“And maybe we’ll get a turn to thank you.” He grabbed her left arm just above the elbow and pushed her. Maria took a step. forward to regain her balance. At the same time she turned slightly and slapped her right hand hard on the backs of the fingers that were holding her. The shock of the slap caused the sergeant’s grip to loosen momentarily. That was all the time Maria needed. Grabbing the fingers in her fist, she spun around so that she was facing the soldier. At the same time she turned his hand palm up, bent the fingertips back toward his elbow, and snapped all four fingers at the knuckles. As he shrieked with pain, Maria’s left hand snaked down. She snatched the 9mm pistol from his holster. Then she released his broken fingers, grabbed his hair, and yanked him toward her. She put the barrel of the pistol under his right ear. His forehead was against her chin and his legs were shaking visibly.

The entire maneuver had taken less than three seconds. A pair of soldiers who were standing just inside the hall started toward her. But she backed against the doorjamb, her body shielded by the sergeant. There was no way to get at her without killing the sergeant.

“Stop!” she snapped at the soldiers.

They did.

The prisoners who had been shuffling along behind Maria froze. Juan was among them. Several prisoners cheered. Juan appeared confused.

“Now,” Maria said to the sergeant, “you can listen carefully or I’ll clean your ears for you.” “I-I’ll listen,” he replied.

“Good,” Maria said. “I want to see someone on the general’s staff.” She didn’t really. She wanted to see the general. But if she demanded that right away she’d never get it. She had to give someone more information than they could handle so that she was moved along the chain of command.

A door opened a short way down the wide corridor. A young captain with curly brown hair stepped from a room on the other side of the detention area. As he emerged, his expression quickly shaded from puzzlement to annoyance to anger. He began walking toward her. He wore a.38 on his hip.

Maria looked at him. His green eyes held hers. She decided not to say anything to him; not yet.

Hostage negotiations were the opposite of chess: whoever made the first move was always at a disadvantage. They gave up information, even if it was just their tone of voice telling an opponent their level of confidence in a situation. Quite often that information was enough to let you know whether they were ready to kill you, ready to negotiate, or hoping to delay things until they could decide their next step.

The officer’s tan uniform was extremely neat and clean. His black boots shone and the fresh soles clicked sharply on the the floor. His hair was perfectly combed and his square jaw was closely shaved. He was definitely a desk officer. If he had any field experience, even in war games, she would be surprised. That could work in her favor: he wasn’t likely to make an important decision unless he checked with a superior officer.

“So,” he said. “Someone does not wish to cooperate.” His voice was very strong. Maria watched his hand. She didn’t think he was going to reach for his gun. Not if he were a desk officer who’d never had to look into someone’s eyes while he pulled the trigger. On the other hand, he might want to impress his soldiers and the prisoners by making an object lesson of her.

If he did, she’d shoot him and head toward the staircase.

“To the contrary. Captain,” Maria replied.

“Explain,” he snapped. He was less than three yards from her.

“I’m with Interpol,” she said. “My ID is in my pocket. I was working undercover and was accidentally rounded up with the rest of this familia.

?”‘ ” ‘Working undercover with whom?”‘” he asked.

“With Adolfo Alcazar,” she said. “The man who destroyed the yacht. He was murdered this morning. I was on the trail of his killers when I was apprehended.” That much was true, of course. She didn’t say she was looking for information about Amadori.

Maria had spoken loudly and, as she’d planned, Juan had overheard.

“jEl traidor!” he shouted, and spat. “Traitor!” The captain motioned to a soldier, who struck Juan in the small of the back with his truncheon.

Juan groaned and arched painfully but Maria didn’t react. The captain had been watching her.

” “You know who committed the crime?”‘” the captain asked.

“I know more than that,” Maria replied.

The captain stopped just a few feet from Maria.

He studied her for a long moment.

“Sir,” she said. “I’m going to release the sergeant and turn over his weapon. Then I have a request to make.” Maria didn’t give the officer time to think. She lowered the gun, pushed the sergeant away, then handed the pistol grip first to the captain. He motioned for the sergeant to accept it. The man took the gun and hesitated before returning it to his holster.

The captain’s eyes were still on Maria. “Come with me,” he said.

He’d bought it. He turned and Maria followed him toward his office. She’d moved up the ladder. They entered the Hall of Columns, which was exactly that.

Desks, chairs, telephones, and computers were being moved in. The large room was being turned into a command center. As soon as they were inside, the captain turned to Maria.

“What you did out there was very bold,” he said.

“My mission demanded it,” she replied. “I can’t afford to be stopped.” “What is your name?” he asked.

“Maria Comeja,” she replied.

“I had heard that the bomber was dead, Maria,” the captain said. “Who killed him?” “Members of the familia,” she replied. “But that’s a small problem. They weren’t in it alone.” “What do you mean?” “They are being supported by the United States,” she said. “I have names and I have details of what they’re planning next.” “Tell me,” he said.

“I will tell you,” Maria said, “at the same time that I tell the general.” The captain sneered. “Don’t haggle with me. I could turn you over to my interrogation group and have the information myself.” “Perhaps,” she replied. “But you’d be losing a valuable ally. And besides. Captain, are you so sure you’d get the information in time?” The sneer remained on his face as he considered what she’d just said. Suddenly, he motioned to a soldier who was carrying in a pair of chairs. He set them down, ran over, and saluted.

“Stay with her,” the captain said.

“Yes, sir,” the young soldier replied.

The captain left the room. Maria lit a cigarette and offered the soldier one. He declined, respectfully. As she inhaled, Maria considered what she’d do if the captain said the general wouldn’t see her. She’d have to try to get away. Let Luis know somehow where the madman-who-would-be-king was hiding. Then hope that someone could get in here and dethrone him.

Try to get away, she thought. Let Luis know somehow. Hope that someone could get in. There were a lot of “maybes” in all of that. Perhaps too many on which to hang the fate of a nation of over forty million.

She wondered what her chances would be of getting the captain’s gun, making her way through the detention room, forcing herself into the throne room, and putting a bullet in Amadori’s forehead.

Probably not very good. Not with twenty or so soldiers between here and there. Somehow, she had to get in there legitimately and talk to the general. Tell him something that would slow him down. Then get back to Luis and help figure out some way of toppling the bastard.

The captain returned before Maria had finished her cigarette. He strode through the doorway of the Hall of Columns and stopped. He smiled sweetly and she knew then she’d won.

“Come with me, Maria,” he said. “You have your audience.” Maria thanked him-always thank the messengers in case you need a favor later-and lifted her shoe.

She extinguished the cigarette on her sole. As she walked toward the captain she slipped the cigarette back in the pack. He gave her a curious look.

“It’s a habit I picked up in the field,” she said.

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