Countdown - Iris Johansen [125]
“I suppose you’re right,” he said slowly as he started down toward the pier. “I don’t want to worry anyone.”
“Then don’t do this.”
He didn’t reply as he moved down the path.
No, he didn’t want to worry anyone, but he was willing to throw a stick of dynamite into the mix, Jane thought as she moved toward the chalet.
Okay, don’t let her concern and nervousness show. Stay out here for a little while longer and by then it would be time to go to bed. She cast a quick glance at the car parked beside the chalet. Someone was bound to hear them when they left in the early-morning hours.
Well, by that time it would be too late to stop them.
She had to ignore the surge of panic the thought brought. At least they were doing something toward finding Reilly. Jock had promised her that she could bring in help as soon as they reached their destination.
Yeah, and he’d also promised her she’d be safe. Not likely. Jock would be focused on getting Reilly and not on protecting her.
Then she’d have to protect herself. What was different about that? She’d taken care of herself all her life. Jock probably wouldn’t have been much help anyway. He was like a bell that sometimes rang crystal clear and sometimes exploded in a cacophony of thunderous sound.
She just had to concentrate on keeping that explosion from killing her.
Lakewood, Illinois
The four smokestacks of the nuclear plant pierced the horizon.
Grozak pulled to the side of the road. “We can only stay here a minute. There are security patrols cruising the entire area every thirty minutes.”
“I didn’t have to see this,” Carl Johnson said. “All you have to do is tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
“I thought it wouldn’t hurt.” And Grozak wanted to see Johnson’s reaction to the place where he was going to meet his death. When he’d picked Johnson up at the airport, he’d been shocked. The man was young, clean-cut, and good-looking, and spoke with a Midwestern twang. Of course, that all-American look was good, but it made Grozak uneasy. He couldn’t see Johnson driving the truck through that gate. “The truck is a catering van and it visits the plant at noon every day. It’s security-cleared but it’s searched as soon as it gets to the checkpoint.”
“Is the checkpoint close enough?”
“There’s enough firepower to take down the first two towers. After that, the entire plant will blow.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Johnson stared thoughtfully at the smokestacks. “Reilly told me that the radiation would take out Illinois and Missouri. Is that right?”
“That’s right. Probably more than that.”
“It has to be worthwhile, you know.”
“I assure you that it will be—”
“If it’s not, Reilly will tell me. He said he’d call me.”
“Then I’m sure he will.”
“May I go to the motel now? Reilly told me to go to the motel and stay there.”
Grozak started the car. “I just thought you should see—”
“You wanted to see if I’m afraid.” Johnson gazed at him without expression. “I’m not afraid. Reilly taught me to control fear. You can’t be afraid and win. And I will win, and all those bloodsucking bastards will lose.” He leaned back and closed his eyes. “Just make sure that blast will do the job.”
Three Days
Don’t start the engine,” Jock said in a low voice as Jane got into the car. “Take off the brake and I’ll push you down to the road. We may get enough distance so that they won’t hear us.”
“Not much chance.” The night was very still and icy cold so that her breath plumed with every word. “We can try.” She disengaged the brake. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t have to tell him twice. She felt the car move sluggishly on the ice beneath the tires as he pushed the car carefully and laboriously toward the road.
No sign of stirring from the chalet.
She was half hoping that someone would hear them.