The Mark of the Assassin

finer
    moments."
    The goal of the Phoenix program had been to identify and eliminate
    communist influence in South Vietnam. Operation Phoenix was credited
    with capturing 28,000 suspected communists and killing 20,000 more. "You
    know what they say. Once a company man, always a company man, right,
    Michael? Why don't you run Vanden-berg's name through that fancy
    computer you have at Langley and see if anything comes up?"
    "You think the missile defense deal is somehow corrupt?"
    "I've seen the test data. The kinetic kill vehicles produced by Alatron
    were far superior to those built by the other major defense contractors.
    Elliott won the contract fair and square., But the program had only
    lukewarm support from the GOP and none from the Democrats. It wasn't
    going to be built. It took a dramatic appeal, set against a dramatic
    backdrop, to win the support of Congress."
    Michael hesitated before uttering his next words. Finally, he said,
    "What if I were to tell you that I don't think the Sword of Gaza shot
    down that airliner?"
    "I'd say you were probably onto something. Although I wouldn't say it
    too loudly, Michael. If the wrong person hears it, you might find
    yourself in a bit of hot water."
    The sun disappeared behind a cloud, and it grew suddenly colder. Cannon
    glanced at the sky and frowned. "Looks like rain," he said. "All right,
    Michael, you win. Prepare to come about."
    CHAPTER 12.
    St. Marten, the Caribbean.
    RED DUST ROSE from the narrow pitted track as the caravan of Range
    Rovers climbed the mountainside.
    The trucks were identical: black with reflective smoked windows to
    shield the identity of the occupants. Each man had come to the island
    from a different embarkation point: Latin America, the United States,
    the Middle East, Europe. Each would leave the following morning when the
    conference ended. It was the beginning of the high tourist season, and
    the island was jammed with Americans and rich Europeans. The men in the
    Range Rovers liked it that way. They liked crowds, anonymity. The
    caravan roared through a poor village. Barefoot children stood at the
    edge of the track and waved excitedly to the passing vehicles. No one
    waved back.
    THE VILLA WAS EXTRAVAGANT even by the standards of St. Maarten: twelve
    master bedrooms, two large living rooms, a media room, a billiards room,
    a large swimming pool, two tennis courts, and a helipad. It had been
    commissioned just six months earlier by an unnamed European, who paid an
    exorbitant price to have the work completed on time. Construction had
    been a nightmare, for the villa was in the middle of the island, atop a
    mountain, with sweeping views down to the sea on all sides. Except for
    the electrified fence, the forty acres of grounds were left in their
    natural state, covered by thick undergrowth and trees. A security team
    arrived a week ahead and installed video cameras, laser trip wires, and
    radio-jamming devices. For their command center they appropriated the
    billiards room.
    THE SOCIETY for International Development and Cooperation was a
    completely private organization that accepted no outside donations and
    no new members, except those it selected. Nominally, it was
    headquartered in Geneva, in a small office with a tasteful gold plaque
    over the austere door, though a visitor would find the office
    unoccupied, and a telephone call to the unlisted number would go
    unanswered. To those who knew of the group's existence it was known
    simply as the Society. Despite its name, the Society was not interested
    in making the world a more peaceful place. Its membership included rogue
    intelligence officers, politicians, arms merchants, mercenaries, drug
    lords, international crime organizations, and powerful business moguls.
    The executive director was a former senior officer in the British
    intelligence service, mi-6. He was known simply as "the Director" and
    never referred to by his real name. He oversaw the Society's
    administration and operations but had no additional decision-making
    power. That was in the hands of the group's executive council, where
    each member had one vote. The Society practiced democracy internally,
    even though most of its members believed it was a rather cumbersome
    concept in the real world. The Society's founding creed declared peace
    was dangerous. Its members believed constant controlled global tension
    served the interests of all. It prevented complacency. It maintained
    vigilance. It built national