“Okay, thanks.”

  “Let me know what you’re going to do. I’ll keep you posted if anything changes on this end.”

  Hood ended the call.

  “What’s the word?” Ronnie asked.

  “Hood doesn’t think we can take them at the restaurant. He’s worried about collateral damage. The location means there’s no easy way to get out afterward. The good news is there are only four of them to deal with. Radu is out of the picture.”

  “Any bad news?” Lamont asked.

  “They brought lots of security. Hood counted over forty guards at the villa.”

  “So we need a new plan.”

  “Yup. Suggestions?”

  “How about we wait till they go back where they came from and go after them one by one?” Lamont said.

  “There’s not enough time for that. We have to stop them now, before they can release the virus. They’ll be gone by the end of tomorrow.”

  “If we can’t get them in town and we can’t attack the villa, there’s only one obvious place to go after them,” Selena said.

  “Which is?”

  “The road back to the villa, after they leave the restaurant.”

  “That could work,” Ronnie said.

  “That would solve the problem of collateral damage,” Nick said.

  “A map of the road would be nice,” Lamont said.

  “Better would be pictures.”

  “Steph can get us a satellite shot,” Selena said.

  “I’ll give her a call,” Nick said.

  Chapter 54

  The night was warm. Overhead, clouds obscured the stars. Showers were predicted for the morning. From where he sat, Hauser could see a half dozen oceangoing yachts anchored in the harbor. All that floating money gave him a good feeling, knowing he could buy any one of them if he desired.

  He picked a speck of lint from his shirt, an Armani creation in gray silk. Sergei Romanoff sat across from him. The Russian had put on weight. He wore an elegant white shirt open at the collar, revealing graying chest hair and a heavy gold chain. Black linen slacks and gleaming Gucci loafers completed his outfit.

  To Hauser’s right was Peter Crampton, looking every inch the English aristocrat in a cream colored linen suit. A discrete glint of gold came from a Patek Philippe watch on his left wrist.

  Breitenbach sat a little way off to Hauser’s left. He too had chosen a linen outfit for the evening, a combination of light green and black. The table was set with a white linen tablecloth. Candles cast a soft glow on polished glasses and gleaming silverware. With the yachts and harbor in the background, the scene could have been an advertisement for self-satisfied wealth.

  Gerhardt Strecker stood off to the side of the table where the four men sat, watching the street for potential threats. The other bodyguards had taken up positions around the restaurant, some sitting at tables, some standing. All were nicely dressed, as was expected in a good Italian restaurant. A careful observer would have noted the occasional telltale bulge of weapons under the tailored suits.

  Breitenbach had decided to let guards eat in shifts. He’d paid a considerable amount to secure exclusive use for the evening, and he wanted his money’s worth out of the kitchen.

  Nothing of consequence had yet been discussed between the conspirators.

  “It’s a shame Andrei couldn’t be here,” Romanoff said.

  “I, for one, am glad he’s not,” Crampton said. “I’ve always found him to be a rather common man, for all his wealth. And his breath! Every time he started talking, I had to choke back an urge to turn away and vomit.”

  “You won’t have to deal with his bad breath again,” Breitenbach said. “I’m assured he won’t survive the night.”

  “Whatever his flaws, he’s been of great service to our cause,” Hauser said. “His work has prepared the ground for the future. I propose a toast.”

  “If you insist,” Crampton said.

  They raised their glasses. “To Andrei. A man as devious as Machiavelli.”

  They drank.

  Breitenbach decided to bring up the subject they all had on their mind.

  “Let’s talk about the financial situation.”

  “Yes, let’s,” Crampton said. “I have lost almost a billion dollars in the last two days. This simply cannot go on. I am convinced someone is manipulating the markets against us.”

  Breitenbach said, “I’ve been looking into it. Not all of us have suffered losses. Sergei and Carl seem to be unaffected.” He turned to them. “ Perhaps you can tell us why?”

  Romanoff’s face, already flushed from the wine, grew darker.

  “Are you accusing me of something, Baron?”

  “Not at all, my dear Sergei. But you must admit it is rather odd that neither you nor Carl have been affected by these dramatic changes in our portfolios.”

  “It’s not Sergei or me you should be worried about, Baron. We’re not the ones behind this.”

  “Oh? Who is, then?”

  There was underlying menace in Breitenbach’s tone of voice.

  “I think you will agree that I have a certain expertise with the markets. When you told me of these unusual fluctuations, I decided to look into it. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to trace the source of the difficulties.”

  Hauser told the others what he’d found. The origin of their problems was something called The Harker Group.

  “Harker? Isn’t that the woman your man failed to kill?”

  Strecker overheard and flushed with anger.

  What the hell does he know about it?

  “The same. She’s still in the hospital. I intend to finish the job, soon. However, she’s not the problem at the moment. The man who took over for her used to run the CIA. He has a Cray computer at his disposal and someone who knows how to use it. These are the people responsible for attacking my laboratories in Germany and Romania. They’re the ones who have been interfering with your investments. I believe they deliberately ignored Sergei and myself in order to sow discord among us. They seem to have succeeded.”

  “You can prove this?”

  “Of course, Baron. Let’s be frank, gentlemen. We are all powerful men. None of us fully trust the others. It’s only appropriate, given what’s at stake. I wouldn’t dream of presenting this information without proof. When we return to the villa, you’ll find a full report in each of your rooms. Until you’ve had a chance to evaluate it for yourselves, I ask you to take me at my word.”

  “We must do something about these people,” Romanoff said.

  “In my opinion, we should eliminate them,” Hauser said. “I suggest we discuss possibilities tomorrow.”

  “Very well,” Breitenbach said. “We’ll add that to our agenda. In the meantime, let’s enjoy our meal.”

  Two hours later, they left the restaurant and got into their vehicles. Hauser settled back in his seat and thought about Andrei Radu. He wondered what the others would say if they knew he was responsible for Radu’s sudden coronary. Radu had always thought of himself as the leader of the group and had often opposed Hauser’s ideas. Well, he’d been mistaken.

  Tomorrow, he’d tell the others that enough vaccine would be ready in a week to protect themselves and key personnel. The virus was poised for distribution. A month after the release, deaths would begin to mount. In three months, there would be worldwide panic. By this time next year, Hauser and the others would be fully in control.

  It had taken years of planning and billions of dollars to bring things to this point, but at last the goal was in sight.

  One day, statues would be erected in his memory. Pleasantly high from the wine, Hauser contemplated the future, confident his place in history was assured.

  Chapter 55

  There was only one road to Portofino. From the village, the highway ran north until it came to the town of Santa Margherita Ligure. From there it led west to the SS1, a major highway following the coastline. Eventually it came to Genoa.

  Stephanie had sent satellite shots of the area. Breitenbach’s villa was several kilometers north of town. It was reached by a gravel and dirt road that made its way through the forest until it ended in a sparsely populated village three kilometers past the villa.

  Late at night, the only traffic on the road would be the cars carrying Breitenbach and his party. About a kilometer from the main highway, the road curved sharply to the right. The cars would have to slow to negotiate the curve. It was a good place for an ambush.

  Nick and the others sat drinking coffee in a café across the street from the restaurant. It was almost eight when Hauser and the others arrived in three black Land Rovers. Once Nick was certain they’d settled in, the team headed out of town.

  Selena turned onto the road to the villa. She drove until they were near the spot they’d chosen for the ambush and pulled off into the trees, where the car wouldn’t be seen. They got out.

  It was quiet under the trees. The loudest sound was the ticking of the Alfa’s engine as it cooled. Selena held a flashlight while Ronnie got the weapons from the car. He handed them out.

  “We caught a break with the clouds,” Nick said. “Makes it difficult to see us.”

  “Won’t be any problem knowing they’re coming,” Lamont said.

  “When we open up, take out the headlights. Watch out for your night vision.”

  “Yes, mother,” Lamont said.

  “Yeah, I know. Just the same, be careful.”

  “How you want to do it?” Ronnie asked.

  “We’ll walk up past the curve. Ronnie, Lamont, you take that side of the road, Selena and I will be on this side. Space yourselves out. Lamont, you let the first and second cars go by and hit the third. Ronnie, you’ve got the second. Selena and I will take the first one. That will block the others. Wait until you hear us start shooting.”

  “Sounds almost too easy,” Lamont said.

  “It always sounds easy before it starts. Don’t underestimate these guys. Their security is ex military, probably special forces. They’ll be stale, but they have the skills. I only saw pistols at the restaurant, but they’ve probably got more firepower stashed in the cars.”

  “I counted nine in the restaurant,” Ronnie said.

  “Hauser and the others makes thirteen total.”

  “Unlucky number,” Lamont said.

  “Only for them. Any questions? Okay, let’s do it.”

  Ronnie and Lamont moved to take their positions. Nick and Selena sat on a fallen tree trunk off to the side of the road and waited. After a few moments, Selena stirred.

  “I wonder if we’re doing the right thing,” she said. “Acting like judge and jury to execute these people.”

  “It’s a little late for second thoughts. There’s no way to get them into a court of law. Even if we could, no one would convict them. They’re too rich, too powerful. ”

  “I know. But this is different from anything we’ve done in the past. We’ve never planned an ambush in cold blood like this.”

  “If there was a better way, I’d take it,” Nick said.

  “I still don’t like it.”

  “I don’t like it either, but people like Hauser represent everything that’s bad about humanity. They have to be stopped.”

  “You don’t think shooting them down is a little uncivilized?”

  “Sure it is, but they gave up the right to be treated in a civilized way a long time ago. They don’t think the rules of civilized behavior apply to them. They have nothing but contempt for what we call civilized. Their actions prove that. What they’re planning makes Genghis Khan look like an amateur. They’re so blinded by the lust for power that nothing else matters.”

  “You know what really bothers me? It’s all so unnecessary. They have so much, but it’s not enough for them. What is it that feeds such hatred for life? Why pretend that destroying people’s lives is for their own good?”

  “I don’t have an answer for that without sounding like one of those phony talk show hosts on TV.”

  A sudden glow of light flickered through the trees. Nick clicked off the safety on his MP5.

  “Here they come.” They got up off the log. “Go for the lights and radiator. I’ll aim for the windshield.”

  The lights of the approaching cars cast long shadows through the trees. The lead vehicle slowed for the curve. It came into sight, followed closely by the one behind.

  “Now!”

  They fired at the front of the Land Rover, shattering the silence.

  The headlights went out with the first burst. The windshield disintegrated into thousands of pieces. The car swerved to the left and went off the road, dropping down into a ditch.

  Selena heard Ronnie and Lamont firing. She kept shooting. Her rounds punched holes in the Rover and smashed through the windows.

  Inside the car, Strecker ducked as the first rounds struck. He fumbled with the door handle and rolled out of the car as it went down into the ditch. He came up with a pistol in his hands and began shooting. His bullets passed by Selena.

  She slammed in a new magazine and aimed for the flashes coming from behind the wrecked vehicle. The sound of guns was increasing as more weapons joined in. The guards who had survived the initial attack were fighting back.

  Everything shifted to slow-motion. She was aware of Ronnie and Lamont firing, of the dull reports of pistols, of Nick standing next to her. The casings flying from her gun seemed to float through the air. Beside her, she heard Nick grunt with pain. Slowly, he went down on one knee.

  WHUMPF!

  The gas tank in the last car went up in a bloom of yellow and orange flame. The Rover lifted from the ground and crashed back to earth.

  The guns went silent. The car burned with fierce heat. Flames crackled and danced in the night air. Selena turned toward Nick. Time speeded up again.

  He was still on one knee, his hand pressed to his side. Blood seeped through his fingers. Fear rippled through her.

  “Nick. You’re hit.”

  “I’m all right. Same place as before. Maybe a little deeper.”

  He grimaced and got to his feet. Ronnie and Lamont walked toward them, carrying their weapons. In the flickering light of the flames, they looked like gods of war.

  “You okay?” Ronnie asked.

  “Yeah. Check the cars.”

  Lamont nodded at the burning wreck.

  “Nothing but crispy critters in that one.”

  Nick grasped his side, holding his weapon in his left hand. They went to the first vehicle. The driver was dead, slumped over the wheel. So was a passenger in the front seat. The rear doors were open. Peter Crampton sprawled in an impossible position across the rear seat, his mouth wide open, his face frozen in pain and surprise. Behind the car, a blonde man lay dead on the ground. A second man lay not far away. A trail of blood went a few yards into the trees and ended at another body. Lamont rolled it over with his foot. It was Breitenbach.

  “Where’s Hauser?” Nick said.

  The second car had come to a stop a few yards behind the first. All the glass had been shot out. Bullet holes scarred the metal panels.

  The front seat was soaked with blood. The driver was dead. A guard was dead in the passenger seat. In the rear seat, Romanoff slumped unmoving against the door, his white shirt stained red. Hauser sat next to him, his eyes open, struggling to breathe. Blood bubbled on his lips.

  He looked at Nick.

  “Who...are you?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Nick said.

  “You... I would have been...king...”

  Hauser coughed. Blood ran from his mouth.

  “You lose, Hauser,” Nick said. “The game’s over. Anything you want to say while you still can?”

  Hauser looked at his tormentor and laughed, setting off a terrible spasm of coughing.

  “You...fool...too late.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Hauser grinned, his teeth red with blood. It sent a chill down Nick’s spine.

  “Too...late.”

  He began laughing. The laughter turned to choking, a hoarse, wet sound. His eyes stared at Nick.

  “Hauser. What do you mean?”

  There was no answer.

  “He’s gone, Nick,” Ronnie said.

  “What the hell did he mean?” Nick said.

  Then he pitched forward onto the hard packed gravel of the road.

  Chapter 56

  Selena and Ronnie dressed the wound by the light of the burning car. Then she drove them back to Genoa. Ronnie called ahead. Hood’s Gulfstream was ready to go by the time they reached the airport. Fourteen hours later, they were back in Virginia.

  Selena called Hood while they were in the air and briefed him. When they landed, an ambulance was waiting. The bullet that brought Nick to his knees was a through and through. It left a nasty wound on the way out, but missed everything serious. He’d lost a lot of blood, but his luck had held once again. After a day in a private hospital with tubes pushing fluids into him, Nick went home.

  The next day found everyone sitting on the couches in Nick and Selena’s loft. They had the place to themselves. The twins were off to the park with Anna.

  Valentina had been released from the hospital. She was late to the meeting. She came in and sat down next to Lamont on the couch. The hair had been shaved from one side of her head where the surgeon had gone into her skull.

  “How you doin’, Val,” Lamont said.

  “I am very good, Lamont. I am glad to be out of hospital.”

  “We missed you,” Ronnie said. “I’m glad you’re okay. Nice haircut. I like the punk look.”

  “You are so funny, today,” Valentina said

  “You and I have a lot to talk about after the meeting,” Selena said.

  “I look forward to this, sister. We have drinks, no?”

  “Let’s start,” Hood said.

  “What’s the fallout so far?” Nick asked.

  “The Italians are asking a lot of questions. Nobody can figure out what happened. The official line is that it was an act of terrorism. So far nobody has claimed responsibility, but you can bet someone will. I don’t think its going to come back on us.”