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“So what—I’m bait?” she asked sweetly.
“We’re not sure yet,” the CIA man admitted.
Michelle Hunt nodded her head and smiled. “You don’t know my son’s father,” she said. “To him, people are like properties to be used and disposed of as need be—threatening me will do you no good.”
“Do you have a better idea?” the CIA man asked.
Michelle Hunt thought about the question.
STEALING THREE TRUCKS on New Year’s Eve had been an easy operation. The trucking district outside London had been nearly deserted. A single freight yard that serviced the cargo carriers had been open, and it was manned by a crew of one. The remaining team from the Free Enterprise had merely waltzed in, tied up the attendant and taken the keys they needed. No one would check on the man until morning.
By then the cargo would be moved and the trucks discarded.
SCOTT THOMPSON, THE leader of the Free Enterprise crew, had showed a steely resolve up to now. He remained defiant until the orderly on the guided-missile frigate strapped him to a table and made sure his arms were secure.
“I demand to know what’s happening,” Thompson said as dots of sweat began breaking out on his forehead.
The orderly simply smiled. Then the door opened and Dr. Berg walked into the sick bay. He was clutching a valise. He walked over to the sink and began to wash his hands. Thompson strained to see the man but he was tightly bound and could barely move his neck. The sound of the running water was like a knife to Thompson’s heart.
THE THREE TRUCKS pulled into the parking lot of Maidenhead Mills and then drove around to the rear of the buildings, where the loading docks were located. Backing up to the bay doors, the men shut off the engines and climbed out.
Halpert and Hornsby were assigned to the rear of the building, with Barrett and Reyes watching the front. Other than a Rolls-Royce and a Daimler sedan in the parking lot near the front door, the mill appeared deserted. Halpert waited until the men went inside the mill and then whispered into his radio.
“We’re moving closer,” he said, “to see what we can see.”
“We’ll move on the front,” Reyes replied.
INSIDE THE MILL, Roger Lassiter was sitting in the front office, staring at Hickman. “Of course, because of the holiday I couldn’t verify the funds being transferred.”
“You knew that when you took the job,” Hickman said. “You’ll just have to trust me.”
The box containing the meteorite was sitting on the desk between the two men.
“I’m not much for trust,” Lassiter said, “but you must be.”
“I can assure you,” Hickman said, “you’ll be paid.”
“Where’s the meteorite headed?” Lassiter asked.
Hickman wondered if he should answer. “The Kaaba,” he said quickly.
“You’re rotten to the core,” Lassiter said, rising, “but then again, so am I.”
Lassiter walked from the office and out the front door. And as Lassiter climbed into the Daimler, Reyes secretly took photographs.
WALKING ONTO THE mill floor carrying the meteorite, Hickman saw two of the men from the trucks approaching from the back of the building. They met halfway across the expanse.
“Did you see the shipping containers?” Hickman asked.
“The three by the door?” one of the men asked.
“Yes,” Hickman said, walking closer to the docks with the men now following. “After I prep them, I want you to load them on the trucks and take them to Heathrow.”
Hickman was almost at the rear door now.
“Here’s the coating you ordered,” one of the men said, holding it aloft.
“Perfect,” Hickman said, reaching the milling machine. “Hand it to me.”
