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"You mean it's just sitting there?" Burkow said.

"That's correct," Hood replied.

"Given Spain's history vis-ŕ-vis the Inquisition," Rodgers said, "I'm not surprised it hasn't been restored and opened to the public."

"Entering the dungeon will bring the Strikers right below the Hall of Tapestries," Hood continued. "From there, it's a short trip to the throne room."

"A short trip as the crow flies," Rodgers said, "though there are probably troops up and down the corridor. If they go in a three-cut mode, there'll definitely be casualties among the Spaniards."

"Three-cut mode?" Burkow said.

"Yes, sir," Rodgers said. "Cut through any resistance, cut down the target, then cut out. In other words, if they don't bother to obtain uniforms and sneak up on Amadori and take pains to minimize casualties-on either side."

"I see," Burkow said.

"We intended to wait and see if we hear from our person inside," Hood said.

"The Interpol agent who allowed herself to be captured," Burkow said.

"That's right. We don't know whether she'll try to reach us or try to take out the target herself," Hood said. "But we thought it best to give her time."

Burkow was silent for a moment. "While we wait, we run the risk of Amadori growing exponentially stronger. There's a point at which a usurper ceases to be regarded as a rebel and becomes a hero to the people. Like Castro when he overthrew Batista."

"That is a risk," Hood agreed. "But we don't think Amadori is at that point yet. There are still dozens of riot zones and Amadori hasn't been named as an interim leader in any of the newscasts we've monitored. Until a few major figures join him-not just politicians, but business and religious leaders-he's probably going to lay low."

"He's already started leaning hard on industrial leaders," Burkow pointed out. "The men on the yacht and the familia members he rounded up-"

"He probably will scare others into line," Hood agreed, "but I doubt that'll happen within the next hour or two."

"So you think we should wait."

"Striker's on alert and ready," Hood said. "The delay isn't likely to do much harm and it may give us some valuable onsite intel."

"I disagree that the delay isn't likely to do much harm," Burkow said. "General VanZandt believes that it may also give Amadori a chance to punch up his own security. And getting him is the primary objective."

Hood looked up at Rodgers. They both knew what Burkow was implying: this wasn't the time to be cautious.

Hood agreed, to a point. The blitzkriegs, purges, and murders seemed to put Amadori in a class with Hitler and Stalin, not Fidel Castro or Francisco Franco. He couldn't be allowed to rule Spain.

"Steve," Hood said, "I agree with you. Amadori is the primary objective. But the Strikers are the only resource we have. If we use them recklessly, that'll endanger their lives and also jeopardize the mission." He looked at the computer clock. His assistant Bugs Benet had programmed it to give him the local time as well as the time in Madrid. "It's nearly eleven a.m. in Spain," he continued. "Let's see what the situation is at noon. If we haven't heard anything from María Corneja by then, Striker will move in."

"A lot can happen in an hour, Paul," Burkow complained. "A few key endorsements could make Amadori unstoppable. Remove him then and you kill a world leader instead of a traitor."

"I understand that," Hood replied. "But we need more information."

"Look," Burkow pressed, "I'm starting to get pissed off. Your team is one of the best strike forces in the world. Don't sit on them. Let them loose. They'll collect their own intel as they proceed."

"No," Hood said emphatically. "That isn't good enough. I'm going to give María the extra hour."

"Why?" Burkow demanded. "Listen, if you're afraid to give the order to waste that son-of a-bitch general-"

"Afraid?" Hood snapped. "That bastard sat back and let one of my people die. I can eat what's on the plate. Gladly."

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is we've been so damned target focused we haven't worked out an exit strategy for