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“How did you find out?” Marco demanded, cutting him off.
“Steph watched the video of the meeting and spotted Oleg taking it off and told me about it. She found it beneath the fern on that table just outside the meeting room.”
Rolling his eyes, Marco took a long breath.
“Boss? Are you there?”
“I’m here,” he replied, still trying to wrap his brain around Benny’s alarming news. “How can a fucking cufflink disable the house?”
“It’s a cube. I got the back off and looked at the workings, and the thing is, uh, I can’t be sure, but it looks like some kind of miniature EMP bomb,” Benny replied. “I had no idea a device like that could be made this small. It has to be a military application.”
“EMP? What are you talking about?” Marco demanded, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead.
“EMP—electromagnetic pulse. Think of a lightning strike in a bomb. It disrupts all kinds of shit. That’s a really simplistic description, but you get the idea.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Sorry, boss, I may be wrong, but whatever it is, Oleg planted it for a reason.”
“Can’t you break it?”
“I’m afraid to touch it and detonate the damn thing! But boss, I think you should come back.”
“I wish I could,” Marco said brusquely. “That’s why I called. I hit something on the road and blew out a tire. Joe and I are sitting ducks here, but we passed a thicket about half a mile back. Can you pinpoint where I am?”
“In a heartbeat,” Benny replied, his fingers flying across his keyboard. “What about the paramedics and backup agents? Can’t you get to them?”
“Not a chance, they’re past the farmhouse. I need to hunker down and get the fuck out of here.”
“Okay, I’ve found you. Which direction is the thicket?”
“South. Send a car, and put Steph in the safe room. I’ll call you again when we’ve found a good position.”
“Uh, boss… the Zeppelins might have other crazy-ass equipment. I’d recommend turning off your phone. I’ll tell the boys to flash their lights so you’ll know it’s them when they arrive.”
“Got it. Get them here yesterday, and prepare to defend the compound.”
“If we have no electricity it won’t be easy,” Benny said grimly.
“What about the generators?”
“I don’t know if they’ll work under an EMP attack, but I’ll do my best to figure this out. One quick thing. That flash drive from Max’s computer, no problem. I’ll fill you in later.”
* * *
Standing in the security room and listening to Benny’s conversation with Marco, Steph’s stomach churned.
“Did I hear right? You’re sending a car? Is Marco stranded?” she asked, trying to control her panic.
“Yeah, he has a flat tire, but don’t worry, I’ll get him out,” Benny declared, punching his keyboard. “Great! I’ve found a much faster route.”
Impatiently pacing, Steph watched as he contacted Brent and ordered him to the security room.
“Okay, Steph, here’s what’s going to happen,” Benny said, swiveling around in his chair. “Brent and Stu will be picking up Marco, and he wants you in the safe room. Look for a black button at the back of the middle pinball machine. Push that, and a panel will slide open. There’s another button inside the room to close it. That same button will open it up again.”
She nodded, but didn’t move.
“Steph, you need to go now,” Benny barked. “The shit could hit the fan any minute.”
