Tom Clancy's Op-center Balance of Power - Tom Clancy [101]
Nonetheless, she was startled by the relative ease with which she'd been able to bully the captain. Either he was inexperienced or far more clever than she gave him credit for.
He turned to the left. María stopped.
"I thought we were going to see the general," she said.
"We are," the captain replied. He extended his arm down the hallway-away from the Hall of Halberdiers.
"Isn't he in the throne room?" she asked.
"The throne room?" The captain laughed loudly. "Wouldn't that be somewhat presumptuous?"
"I don't know," she replied. "Isn't being in this palace somewhat presumptuous?"
"Not when the king returns to Madrid and we need to protect him," the captain said. "We intend to secure both of the royal palaces."
"But there were guards-"
"Protecting the chamber from the prisoners." The captain bowed his head in the direction of his outstretched hand. "The general is in the state dining room with his advisors."
María looked at him. She didn't believe him. She didn't know why; she just didn't.
"But the question is not where the general is located," the captain continued. "The question is whether you have something to tell him or not. Are you coming, Seńorita Corneja?"
María looked down. For now, she had no choice but to do what she was told. "I'm coming," she said, and walked toward the captain.
The officer turned and strode briskly along the brightly lit corridor, and then around the corner. María walked a little slower, remaining several steps behind him. Other soldiers moved quickly along the corridor. Some of them had prisoners, others were on field phones. A few were carrying computer equipment into rooms. None of them was paying her any attention.
This didn't feel right but María had to play it out. Yes, she was coming-but not without precautions.
"Would you like a cigarette?" she asked the captain. She was already reaching into the breast pocket of her blouse. She removed the pack and took one of the cigarettes out. She tore a match from the book of matches.
"Thank you, no," said the captain. "Actually, we'd appreciate it if you didn't smoke here. So many treasures. A careless flick-"
"I understand," she said.
The captain had said exactly what María had expected him to say. She began to replace the pack but first palmed the cigarette. Because the captain was facing forward he didn't see her poke the match into the tobacco of the palmed cigarette. Then she put the cigarette down the front of her pants, into the crotch, and put the pack back in her blouse pocket.
Now, at least, she had a weapon.
The state dining room was on the other side of the music room overlooking the Plaza Incógnita. On the other side of the plaza was the Campo del Moro, the Camp of the Moors. The park marked the site where the troops of the powerful emir Ali bin-Yusuf camped in the eleventh century during the Moorish attempt to conquer Spain.
They reached the door of the music room and the captain knocked. He looked at María and smiled. She reached his side but she didn't return his smile. The door opened.
The captain extended a hand inside. "After you," he said.
María took a step toward it and looked in.
The windowless room was dark and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Something moved toward her from the shadows to the right. She backed away only to bump into the captain, who was standing directly and solidly behind her. Suddenly, he pushed her inside. At the same time, two pairs of hands grabbed her forearms. She was pulled off her feet and landed facedown on the floor. Boots were planted firmly on her shoulder blades.
A light came on, casting a soft amber glow throughout the room. María looked out at a pastoral mural as a third set of hands groped her legs, waist, arms, and chest, searching for concealed weapons. Her belt and watch were removed and they took the pack of cigarettes.
When the search was finished, the extra set of hands suddenly pulled back on María's