The Project 05 - The Tesla Secret

jungles," he said.
    Selena's face was an unnatural white, her eyes slightly open. Her breasts rose and fell in labored gasps.
    Christ, I'm losing her.
    "Don't give up," he whispered. "You can do it, help's coming. You'll be all right. Don't give up."
    You forgot the vests. He waited for the sound of the helicopter, his mind black with guilt.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

    The atmosphere in Harker's office was depressing.
    "After we got her out." Nick stopped, began again. "After the chopper left, we climbed the steps. There was a temple at the top and a second room inside, sealed up a long time ago. Maybe when the Spaniards were coming. The bad guys broke it open. It took them a while. The walls were three feet thick, solid stone."
    Harker began tapping, impatient.
    "We found an altar in there, made of jade and inlaid with turquoise and gold. A round shaft goes right through the middle and down into the pyramid. I dropped a rock into it and never heard it hit bottom. There was a hole in the roof over the platform, same size, circular. Perfectly lined up with the shaft."
    "Go on."
    "Everything was black with mold and stained from the rains, but you could see where there'd been something on the altar, right over that shaft. One of the bad guys got away. He took whatever it was with him. There was a lot of gold, but they didn't bother with it."
    "I wonder what was more important than gold?"
    Ronnie said, "We got back to the truck and found it shot up. You're going to hear about it. The Consul wasn't happy."
    Harker's pen beat a nervous tattoo on her desk. Time to deal with the elephant in the room.
    "About Selena," she said. "She's stable, but the round clipped a vertebra. A bone fragment is pressing against the spinal cord. It has to be removed. She's been airlifted to Bethesda."
    "She's here?" Nick said.
    "Yes. They're going to operate today." She paused. "It's risky. They doctors say she could end up paralyzed from the waist down. They won't know until after the surgery."
    Nick felt something clench in his gut. "It's my fault."
    Ronnie shook his head. "Come on, Nick. She sneezed. They heard it." He shrugged. "Like they say, shit happens."
    "That doesn't help. I fucked up. I forgot to pack the vests. She'd been wearing one, she'd be all right."
    Harker's pen stopped moving. "Nick. I need to know you've got your head on straight."
    He took a deep breath. "Don't worry. I can handle it. I want to get the bastard behind this. Foxworth. And his Russian buddy, Ogorov. Who else could have provided those weapons?"
    "That's what I want to talk about today. You might get your chance. I met with General Vysotsky while you were in Mexico. We're considering a joint operation."
    "In Russia?"
    "Not yet. He has to be careful about moving against Ogorov."
    "If we don't have to go to Russia, why do we need Vysotsky?"
    "He needs evidence Ogorov is a traitor. Vysotsky still isn't convinced Ogorov is part of AEON."
    "What does he have in mind?"
    "Foxworth is in Italy. He always spends a month there this time of year. Vysotsky wants us to raid Foxworth's villa and he wants Major Korov to go with you. He's looking for proof. If Korov is with you, he'll trust whatever you find."
    Nick smiled for the first time since Selena had been shot. "Korov? That would work."
    Korov was part of Zaslon, under Vysotsky's command. Nick respected and liked him, even if he was technically an enemy. In Texas, he'd helped carry Ronnie out under heavy fire.
    "This isn't just another raid," Elizabeth said. "I should go to the President with it. Foxworth is too important, too powerful. It could backfire."
    "If you go to Rice he'll say no." Nick tugged on his ear. He thought of Selena. "He doesn't need to know about this. We can make Foxworth talk."
    The coldness in his voice made them all look at him.
    "What are you staring at? You know I'm right."
    They waited for Harker to think it over. After a moment she said, "All right, we'll do it. I'll set it up. Everyone go home and get some rest."
    "What are the rules of engagement?" Nick asked. "With Foxworth?"
    "We can't kill him. I'm warning you, Nick. This isn't about vengeance."
    "What if he resists? With deadly force?"
    "That's different."
    Nick smiled for the second time that day.

CHAPTER FORTY

    Major Arkady Korov was dressed in civilian clothes, but he would have been recognized as a professional soldier anywhere in the world. Korov's life had been spent in the military. He was just over six feet tall. His eyes were