The Ajax Protocol

CHAPTER 55

The tactical unit in black was part of an FBI SWAT team. Once things got sorted out, Nick called Harker.

"Nick. Are you all right?"

"Yes. Westlake and Martinez got away. Korov is dead."

"What?" she said, "Martinez? Who's Martinez? Korov is dead? You'd better start at the beginning."

Nick ran it down. When he was done, there was silence at the other end of the connection.

"You still there, Director?"

"I'm here. What's happening where you are now?"

"The team leader sent men after Westlake and the others, but I don't think they'll have much luck. How did the FBI know about this place?"

"Hood sent them. He gambled that the Bureau wasn't part of whatever was going on. He went to see Rice. Hood briefed him and got full authority. He knew where the underground entrances were and told the Feds where to go."

"They got here just in time. Westlake had us lined up against a wall and was going to shoot us. He's crazy, Director. When he escaped, one of his men kept us back and freed us. He thinks there's a back up plan. Selena brought down the satellite, but there might be another one, with a Greek code name. If there is, and Westlake gets to somewhere that lets him control it, he could still make a lot of trouble."

"Hood and the Bureau are tracking down officers who may have been involved. The DOJ is trying to sort it out but it's a snake pit. Rice has reassumed the duties of the Presidency. When Hood told him about the Ajax Protocol, he almost blew a gasket. He's pissed."

"I'll bet."

"He ordered Hood and the FBI to pull out all the stops. The Director of Homeland Security is under arrest, though it's not being called that. Officially, she's on administrative leave until it can be determined what role she played."

"What about Edmonds?"

"There's no evidence against him, but Rice has isolated him. He has no power. He couldn't order a cheeseburger in a fast food joint. We didn't know about Senator Martinez. I don't think Rice is going to like that when I tell him. The DOJ will follow up."

"There have to be other politicians involved," Nick said. "Look at all the preparations they made to take over. They've been getting ready for a long time. The new FEMA centers, the AFVs for Homeland Security, all that. It took political clout to do that and it can't be a coincidence. It's a long-standing conspiracy."

"The Ajax Protocol," Harker said. "They were really going to implement it."

"We have to find Westlake," Nick said.

"I'm still in Texas with Stephanie, but we're going back to Virginia. I want you and the others back as well," Harker said. "We can't do anything without more intel. You might as well be where we have resources."

"All right."

"I'm sorry about Korov," Harker said.

"Yeah," Nick said.

"I'll make the arrangements to send him home. I'll talk to Vysotsky after we're done here."

Selena saw him put his phone away.

"What did Elizabeth say?"

"She wants us back East. Nothing we can do until we get an idea of where Westlake went, or what he might do."

"I'll be glad to get back," she said. She paused. "What about Korov?"

"Harker is taking care of it."

"He saved my life, Nick. He jumped in front of me."

"I know."

"Why did he do that?" her eyes were moist.

"I don't know," Nick said. "I don't know why he did that. I don't mean this to sound cold, but I'm glad it's not you lying back there."

She put her arms around him. "Let's go home," she said.