The Eye of Shiva

CHAPTER 50

Stephanie and Elizabeth were in Steph's office when her computer beeped. "Cobra is using his phone," she said.

She turned on the speaker. They listened to the call ringing. Someone answered. Rao began speaking.

"Hindi, again," Elizabeth said.

The conversation lasted about a minute. When it was over, Elizabeth called Nick.

"Yes, Director."

"Nick, Cobra just made a call. Put Selena on and I'll play it for her."

"She's right here."

Selena came on the line.

"Cobra made a call," Elizabeth said. "I need you to tell us what he said."

"Okay."

Stephanie played the call.

In Srinagar, Selena said, "Run it one more time."

Stephanie did.

"He's talking to the same man as before," Selena said, "Ijay. Is Afridi on the move?"

"Yes."

"Cobra is waiting to hear exactly where Afridi is going. Once he knows, he's sending Ijay after him."

"Waiting to hear from whom?"

"He didn't say."

"What will he do if they catch him?" Elizabeth asked.

"He didn't say that either. But my guess is he wants to kill him."

"Let me speak with Nick."

When Nick took the phone, Elizabeth said, "Afridi has left his compound. He's traveling in a convoy headed for Afghanistan. Selena will brief you on the call from Cobra. We'll watch Afridi from here. Once we know where he's going or what he's doing, I'll let you know. There's not much you can do at the moment."

Nick said, "There are troops everywhere and the Indians are moving heavy armor. The desk clerk said that the roads out of town are packed with people leaving the city. What's happening?"

"India and Pakistan are about to get into it," Elizabeth said. "It looks like the curtain's going up any time and Srinagar is stage center. War between those two always seems to kick off in Kashmir."

"You know," Nick said, "when I was a kid I read about the Vale of Kashmir. It sounded like one of the most beautiful places in the world. Magical, like a fairy tale for real. I always wanted to go there."

"Well," Elizabeth said, "it looks like you got your wish."

"Yeah. But in the descriptions I read people were admiring the scenery, they weren't getting ready to kill each other."

"Did you hook up with Langley's asset?"

"Yes."

"You don't sound enthusiastic."

"He's an old guy," Nick said. "It's hard to think he'll be much use if we get into it with Afridi or anyone else."

"Hood says he's one of the best," Elizabeth said. "He got a Navy Cross in Vietnam. They almost gave him a CMO."

"That makes me feel a lot better knowing that. You'd never guess by looking at him."

"You know I don't like to tell you how to do your job," Elizabeth said.

"That means you're about to," Nick said. "What is it?"

"I want you to wait and see what happens between Cobra and Afridi. There's no need for you to get mixed up in the middle of that. One of them is going to come out on top. Wait and see which one and go from there."

"Where is Afridi now?"

Elizabeth looked at the monitor and the image of Afridi's convoy.

"He's in the Khyber Pass, about to cross into Afghanistan."