Tom Clancy's Op-center Balance of Power - Tom Clancy [104]
As water continued to sprinkle down on her, María stuck the pistol in her waistband. Then she waddled over on her knees and relieved the writhing soldiers of their weapons. The knee wounds pleased her. There wouldn't be a day in the lives of these men that they didn't think of her. The pain and disability would be a constant reminder of their brutality.
She pulled off the soldiers' neckties and quickly bound their wrists. Then she stuffed unburned sections of her shirt into their mouths. The bonds and gags weren't as secure as she'd have liked, but there wasn't a lot of time. She used the jamb to help her stand. As soon as she was sure her legs would hold her, she started shuffling quickly down the hall in the opposite direction from which she'd come. The corridor enclosed the main floor in the center of the palace. Continuing in this direction would bring her back to the Hall of Halberdiers and the throne room.
As she released the safeties of the two pistols in her hands, she vowed that this time she would have her audience with Amadori.
* * *
TWENTY-NINE
Tuesday, 9:03 a.m.
Madrid, Spain
Luis García de la Vega strode into the commissary. With him was his father, retired General Manolo de la Vega of the Spanish Air Force. Because Luis couldn't be sure who on his staff might be sympathetic to the rebel faction, he wanted someone behind him he knew he could rely on. As he'd told McCaskey, he and his tall, white-haired father rarely agreed on political issues. Manolo leaned to the left, Luis to the right.
"But in a crisis," he said, "where Spain itself is at risk, I trust no one more."
The room was empty except for the seven Strikers, Aideen, and McCaskey. The Interpol officer walked over to Darrell McCaskey, who was helping Aideen put together her grip. The Strikers had already packed their gear and were marking and examining tourist maps of the city.
"Anything new?" McCaskey tiredly asked Luis.
"Yes," Luis said as he pulled McCaskey aside. "A fire bell went off at the palace approximately ten minutes ago."
"Location?"
"A music room in the southern wing of the palace," Luis said. "The palace called the fire department to say it was a false alarm. But it wasn't. One of our spotters used heat-goggles and found the hot spot. The fire was extinguished, according to the spotter."
"Whoever's running things in the palace took quite a risk," McCaskey said, "considering all the treasures in there. I don't assume that's standard operating procedure."
"Not at all," said Luis. "The bastards didn't want anyone coming in. A half hour before, they also turned away a Civil Guard patrol when it attempted to make its daily inspection of the grounds."
"If Amadori is there, they won't turn away Striker," McCaskey vowed. "Hell, they won't know what hit them. What does the prime minister's office have to say about the situation?"
"They're still not acknowledging, officially, that Amadori has effectively seized power," Luis replied. "What about unofficially?"
"Most of the top government officials have already sent their families to France, Morocco, and Tunisia." Luis frowned. A moment later the frown became a smirk. "You know, Darrell-I'll bet my family and I could get a table at the best restaurant in town tonight."
"I'll bet you could," McCaskey said, smiling weakly. He walked back to the table where Aideen was checking the equipment Interpol had provided for her. These included a camcorder-which was linked to a receiver in the communications office-a first-aid kit, a cellular phone, and a gun.
Aideen made sure the camcorder battery was fully charged. As she did, McCaskey checked the clip of the 9X19 Parabellum Super Star pistol she'd been issued. Aideen had already inspected it. But she realized that McCaskey was probably anxious and needed to keep busy. After examining the weapon he returned it to her backpack.
As the Strikers pulled on their backpacks, McCaskey studied Aideen to make sure that she looked like a member of a tour group. She wore Nikes, sunglasses, and a