Balance of Power

FORTY-SEVEN

“You took one of the bulletproof vests,” Aideen said as she ran toward McCaskey.

“Never travel without it,” McCaskey said. He winced as she helped him to his feet. “I put it on before I came here. After he shot me — I figured I’d lie low and wait for something like this.”

“Glad I didn’t just kick out the goggles,” Aideen said.

Ferdinand ran past them to the priest. Father Norberto was standing just inside the doorway, staring down at the body of General Amadori. He knelt and began to say a prayer over the dead man.

“Father, he doesn’t deserve your blessing,” Ferdinand said. “Come. We must go.”

Norberto finished praying. Only when he made the sign of the cross over the general did he rise. He looked at Ferdinand. “Where are we going?”

“Away,” Ferdinand said. “The soldiers—”

“He’s right, Father,” Aideen said. “We don’t know what they’re going to do. But we should be somewhere else when they do it.”

McCaskey held onto Aideen’s shoulder while he drew several painful breaths. “We’ve also got to let the boss know what’s going on as soon as possible,” he said. “Where’s the team?”

“They encountered some resistance after the flush-out,” she said. “They withdrew.”

“Can you get to them?”

Aideen nodded. “Can you walk?”

“Yes, but I’m not going with you,” McCaskey said. “I can’t leave María.”

“Darrell, you heard what Amadori said,” Aideen declared. “More soldiers are on the way.”

“I know,” McCaskey said. He smiled faintly. “All the more reason I can’t leave her.”

“He won’t be alone,” Father Norberto told her. “I’ll stay with him.”

Aideen regarded them both through her mask. “There isn’t time to argue. I’ll get the word out. You three take care.”

McCaskey thanked her. As she turned and ran toward the grand staircase, McCaskey hobbled toward the priest.

“I’m sorry about this,” he said in English, pointing to Amadori’s body. “It was necessary.”

Norberto said nothing.

Ferdinand put his gun in his waistband. “I’m going to look for my friend Juan,” he said. He regarded McCaskey. “Thank you, sir, for ridding Spain of this would-be caudillo.”

McCaskey wasn’t exactly sure what Ferdinand had said, but he got the gist of it. “¡De nada!” he said. “You’re welcome.”

Father Norberto suddenly put his hand around Ferdinand’s neck. He squeezed hard.

“Padre?” Ferdinand said, confused.

“Your friend is in there,” Norberto said. There were tears in his eyes as he pointed toward the music room. “He’s dead.”

“Juan dead? Are you certain?”

“I am certain,” Norberto said. “I was with him when he died. I was with him when he confessed his sins. He died absolved of them.”

Ferdinand shut his eyes.

Norberto squeezed harder. “Everyone has the right to absolution, my son, whether they have slain one or they have slain millions.”

The priest released Ferdinand and turned away. He walked toward McCaskey, who had limped past them and was peering cautiously out the door. McCaskey didn’t know what the exchange had been about, but it didn’t sound pleasant.

“What should we do?” Norberto asked.

“I’m not sure,” McCaskey admitted.

He watched the soldiers as they watched him. The reinforcements were just arriving from an entrance further along the courtyard. It looked to McCaskey as if they were carrying gas filters. They must have been part of the group that went after Striker.

Once again McCaskey felt helpless. The Interpol spotters might not realize that Amadori was dead, that a show of force from local police units might be enough to shut the heart of the revolution down. Especially if it came before the soldiers could rally behind a new leader.

“What if I go and speak with them,” Norberto asked. “Tell them that there is no longer any reason to fight.”

“I don’t think they’d listen,” McCaskey said. “You may put some fear in some of them — but not all. Not enough to save us.”

“I’ve got to try,” Norberto said.

He stepped around McCaskey and walked out the door. McCaskey didn’t try to stop him. He didn’t believe the soldiers would hurt the priest. And if he could buy them an extra minute or two, it was worth a try. At this point, he was willing to try anything.

McCaskey had no idea what was going to happen to the movement with Amadori dead. But from the way the three dozen or so soldiers were massing along the southern side of the courtyard, he had a good idea what was going to happen to him and María and all the prisoners who were being kept here.

They would become pawns in one of the most significant and dangerous hostage dramas of this century.