Page 92 of The Secret of Secrets

“Sir,” Chinburg said, “we believe the tech’s info is wrong. He has shared no specific details, so we have no idea if he’s even on the right track.”

“Have you spoken to your penetration team?” Finch demanded.

“Yes, sir. Just now. They assured me the hack was clean.” Chinburg hesitated. “They did mention, however, that because the operation was carried out under such tight time restraints, they were forced to prioritize speed and efficiency over redundant anonymity measures.”

“I’m sorry? They took shortcuts?”

“No, sir, they performed the best possible operation feasible in the window provided them. They assure me confidence is high.”

“Confidence is high?” Finch snapped, his tone like ice. “In my experience, that phrase is used only by those whose confidence is lacking.” There was a full three-second pause on the line. “Find out what this tech knows…and contain it immediately. However you deem necessary.”

The call went dead.

Chinburg looked shaken. “Shit.”

Auger looked amused. “Confidence is high?”

“Don’t be an asshole.”

Auger glanced across the street into the lobby of the towering skyscraper. “If Finch wants intel, we’ll have to get inside.”

Ascertaining how much the tech knew should have been as simple as remotely activating the microphone on Faukman’s phone and listening to the conversation he was about to have with the tech. Unfortunately, the editor had performed his first security-savvy move of the evening, and his phone was now resting on the bottom of the Hudson River beneath the George Washington Bridge.

Seeing no other option, Auger packed several items into the compartments of his black tactical jacket and backpack. The technology-assisted portion of the evening had just concluded, which meant it was time to get their hands dirty.

Chapter 59

In Prague, U.S. Ambassador Heide Nagel stood at her office window and gazed wearily at the Alchymist Hotel across Tržiště Street. Having just finished briefing Dana Daněk on the covert operation she had unwittingly stumbled upon this morning, the ambassador had sent the media liaison back to her office to await further orders. Not surprisingly, Dana had been frightened by what she had learned.

Good, Nagel thought. Fear may be the only way to control her.

A quiet knock at the door drew Nagel’s attention. She turned to see a U.S. Marine standing at attention in his traditional blue-white dress uniform. An eight-man Marine Corps embassy security group was part of the team that secured U.S. embassies and key diplomats around the world.

“Madam Ambassador,” the Marine said. “We have a situation.”

The more the merrier…I’ve already got a goddamned situation, she thought, but waved him in.

The man stepped into her office. “Ma’am, ÚZSI Captain Janáček has issued a public alert for an American citizen.” He checked a note card. “His name is Robert Langdon.”

Nagel closed her eyes, incredulous that her threat to expose Janáček had not stopped the captain in his tracks. Janáček is going all in on Robert Langdon? Shit. Clearly, she had not been as persuasive or intimidating as she had imagined.

“And the APB is a Blue Alert,” the Marine added, “meaning ÚZSI is claiming Langdon killed one of their own.”

“What!” she exploded. “That’s a goddamned lie!”

“If we don’t find Langdon right away…” the Marine said quietly, “someone’s going to take him down.”

Nagel took several breaths and gave him a tight nod of thanks. “I’ll have orders for you shortly. Please close the door on your way out.”

The Marine spun and departed.

Nagel immediately placed a Signal call to Mr. Finch.

“Go ahead,” he said, answering on the first ring.

Nagel gave him the rundown on the deteriorating situation in Prague:

ÚZSI is pursuing Robert Langdon with lethal force.