Atlantis

Chapter 28

“We need to know what this thing does.” Bones looked like a kid on Christmas morning as he looked over the Atlantean weapon. “Let me and Maddock take it out into the middle of the Gulf and give it a shot. Pun intended.”

“I don’t like it. What if it you set off some sort of natural disaster?” Tam gritted her teeth. She hated not knowing what this device could do, but was averse to the risks inherent in testing it.

“Why didn’t you interrogate the old man and learn from him how it worked?”

“You didn’t meet him,” Maddock said. “I can read men, and this one was as stubborn as they come. We would have had to torture the information out of him, and he didn’t deserve that.”

“Tell that to the families of the men who lost their lives in those storms he cooked up,” Tam snapped.

“It doesn’t matter now. We didn’t extract the information from him, and we need to know how this thing works.” Maddock softened his voice. “Obviously, Daisuke experimented with the weapon before he used it against anyone, and he didn’t set off any natural disasters — only small, localized events. I give you my word we’ll exercise caution.”

Tam sighed. What Maddock said made sense, and a good leader didn’t ignore reason just because it came from and underling. Like her grandfather used to say, “Sooner or later, a stiff neck breaks.”

“All right. I’m relying on you to keep the big dummy,” she pointed at Bones, “under control.”

“Great. We’ll need Corey.”

“I can’t spare him. You can break in our two new team members. Don’t argue with me!” she added sharply. “I’ve heard all I’m going to hear about Ihara and Professor. I have my damn good reasons for wanting them on board, and I didn’t tell you before because I don’t want to listen to your hissy fits. You’re on the team; she’s on the team. Deal with it.”

“How long until my debt to you is paid in full?” Maddock’s tone was perfectly polite and nothing more.

“When the Dominion is finished. Now you two get this contraption out of here before I change my mind.”

Maddock hefted the device and carried it out of the room, Bones following with the bag of crystals.

“Lord, don’t let them sink Havana,” she muttered. Behind her, Kasey leaned against the wall, gazing thoughtfully at Tam. “Do you have a question?”

“What’s the story with Maddock and Ihara?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Because we’re a team, and if there’s an issue between them that could affect the way we work together, I want to know about it.” Kasey grimaced. “I’m not questioning your choice. I just want to know.”

“They used to be an item, but Maddock dumped her in favor of Bones’ sister.”

“Awkward,” Kasey said.

“Very. But Ihara is an asset. I’ve profiled her thoroughly, and she’s smart, tough, and resourceful. She’s got a lot of what Maddock has, and I know for a fact she’s not hooked up with the Dominion. In fact, she wants to see them done in as much as I do.”

Kasey frowned.

“Don’t ask why. That’s her story to tell.”

“Fair enough. Any word from Avery?”

“They found their target and are proceeding as planned.” Tam’s cell phone vibrated. “It’s a text from Matt.” She read the message twice. “Do you know anything about caves in Naica, Mexico?”

“No. Hold on.” Kasey moved to a nearby computer and performed a quick search.

“It’s a small city in Chihuahua, about a hundred and fifty miles south of the border. Not much there except for mining operations.” Kasey paused as she scrolled down the page. “The only cave I see mentioned is one that houses the biggest crystals in the world.”

“Crystals?” Tam’s blood turned to ice. Her eyes snapped to the crystal skull resting on a table, and then to the machine they’d recovered from the Cuban temple. “Lord Jesus, if they’ve found a way to power their tsunami machine…”

“Every city on the coast is in danger.” Kasey’s eyes went wide.

“I need boots on the ground in Naica as soon as possible. Call Maddock back, and tell Greg to scare up weapons and transportation. I want you three there as soon as humanly possible.”

“You realize what this means?” Kasey said as she headed for the door. “Bones is going to try out that weapon without adult supervision.”

“One battle at a time, sweetie. One battle at a time.”