The Project 02 - The Lance

Elizabeth stripped off her crumpled clothes and headed for the shower. She stood for a long time with the hot water streaming down the front of her body. It washed away some of the stress and tiredness of the day, but she was exhausted. She turned around and let the water soak her hair and back, feeling some of the tightness go out of her shoulders.
    She dried off and pulled an old shirt and pair of jeans from the closet. She dressed and lay down on the bed. She was drifting off when the phone signaled. It was Nick.
    "Director. You know about the bomb?"
    " We watched it live. Good work with the President."
    " They broadcast it all?"
    " Yes. You've got your fifteen minutes of fame."
    " Director, Rice wants you to find out who did this. He told me to 'get her on it'. I'm flying back with him today."
    " We're already doing that. Tell the President he'll be first to know if I find something to nail Dysart or anyone else."
    " What happens when I get to Washington?"
    " That's up to Rice. Assume you'll be watched. Use the email protocol or the sat link to keep me up to speed."
    "Roger that, Director."
    " Good luck, Nick." But he was already gone.
    Elizabeth set the phone down on the nightstand and lay back on the bed. Her eyes closed and she slept.
    She dreamed she was being buried alive and woke gasping for breath.

    ***

    The Grand Master watched a rerun of the explosion for the fourth time. For the fourth time he smiled as the Mosque crumbled into ruin. But then came the part where the President was rescued by that woman's operative. It was irritating. Now he'd have to find another way to get rid of Rice. Harker and her agents were proving to be an obstacle that needed to be eliminated.
    Perhaps he could turn things to an advantage. Rice would have to be killed here in America. It could add fuel to the fire he had started. Proof could be found of Iranian involvement.
    Yes, that would fit nicely. He knew just the person for the job. Nothing would stop PARSIFAL.
    Nothing.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

    T he rhythmic tramp of Nick's military escort echoed on the tiled floors of the hospital ward. The ward supervisor looked up from her station by the elevators. She was stout and dark haired. She reminded Nick of his old drill instructor at Pendleton.
    " Could you tell me where Rivka Stern is?"
    The nurse was pretty in a hard way, around thirty, which meant she'd done her time in the army. She gave the soldiers a once-over and studied the tall American. She ignored the weapons. Everyone in Israel saw weapons all the time. It was part of daily life, along with the random, lethal explosions marking the reality of terror. By contrast, the drive-by violence of America's inner cities looked almost peaceful.
    " She's in 1438, down the hall on the right. Please have your escort wait outside the room."
    " Yes, Ma'am," Nick said. "Thank you."
    Ari Herzog was there. He put his phone away, ready to leave. Rivka sat propped up in bed in a blue hospital robe, her left arm strapped across her chest. She sipped something red from a clear plastic glass held in her good hand. There were dark circles under her eyes. An IV was taped to her good arm.
    Ari looked haggard and tense.
    " Your call saved the President, Ari."
    " No, Nick, you saved him. I only gave the warning. Anyway, he's safe. But Ascher is dead. In hours Israel will be at war."
    "It can't be stopped ?"
    " No. I just got a call. A Jewish group has claimed credit for the bombing. They've been a problem for years, calling for the demolition of the Dome of the Rock and construction of a new Temple on the Mount. They released an announcement to all the major networks, starting with Al-Jazeera."
    " Is it authentic?"
    " Maybe. I don't know, yet. We've already detained the leaders of the group. They deny any knowledge or participation. Even if the announcement is a phony, the damage is done. The entire Muslim world now believes a group of fanatical right-wing Jews desecrated one of the holiest sites in Islam. We're on full alert. The reserves are being called up as we speak."
    " That's bad news."
    " A masterpiece of understatement."
    "I'm leaving with t he President," Nick said. He thought for a moment. This man was a friend. "How can I help?"
    "K eep an open channel for me. I'd like to know what's going on. I don't expect you to betray confidences, but…"
    " I'll do what I can."
    "G ood enough." Ari took out a card, scribbled on it. "This number will reach me any time of the day or night." Nick