“Jakarta Branch, Immari Security Select Forces.”
“No, where are you from originally?”
“What?” The young mercenary seemed confused by the question.
“Where did you grow up?”
“Colorado. Fort Collins.”
David could see that Cole was coming out of the haze. He would be dangerous soon. He needed to find out if Cole Bryant fit the bill.
“Got a family back there?”
Cole took a few steps away from David. “Nope.”
It was a lie. Very promising. Now David needed to make him believe.
“They go trick-or-treating in Fort Collins?”
“What?” Cole edged toward the door.
“Stop moving.” David’s voice was harder. “That feeling at your back, that tightness. You feel that?”
The man touched his lower back, trying to slide a hand into his armor. Confusion clouded his face.
David walked to a duffel bag in the corner of the room and threw the flap open, revealing several square and rectangular brown blocks that looked like Play-doh wrapped in Saran wrap.
“You know what this is?”
Cole nodded.
“I put a small row of this explosive up your spine. This wireless trigger controls it.” David held his left hand out, showing Cole a small cylinder about the size of two double AA batteries put end-to-end. The top had a round red button that David’s thumb held down. “You know what this is?”
Cole froze. “A dead man’s trigger.”
“Very good, Cole. This is a dead man’s trigger.” David stood and slung the duffel bag around his shoulder. “If my thumb slips off this button, those explosives will go off, and it will turn your insides into a gelatinous goo. Keep in mind, there’s not enough explosive to hurt me, or even penetrate your body armor. I could be standing right next to you, and if I were shot or came to any harm, the explosion would liquefy your insides, leaving your hard outer shell, just like a Cadbury Cream Egg. You like Cadbury Cream Eggs, Cole?” David could see he was really scared now.
Cole shook his head slightly to the side.
“Really? They were my favorite when I was a kid. Loved getting those things at Easter. My mom used to even save some to give me at Halloween after I got through trick-or-treating. Couldn’t wait to get home and crack one open. The thick chocolate shell, gooey yellow inside.” David looked away, as if remembering how delicious they were. He glanced back at Cole. “But you don’t want to be a Cadbury Cream Egg, do you Cole?”
CHAPTER 34
Immari Jakarta Headquarters
Jakarta, Indonesia
Martin stepped out of the elevator onto the helipad. The sun had almost set. The sky was red and the wind at the top of 80-story building blew in from the sea, carrying the smell of saltwater. Ahead of him, Dorian Sloane waited with three of his men. When he saw Martin, he turned and motioned for the helicopter pilot to start the take-off sequence. The engine fired, and the rotor blades started to turn.
“I told you she wouldn’t talk,” Sloane said.
“She needs time.”
“It won’t help.”
Martin straightened. “I know her far better than you do—”
“That’s debatable—”
“Say another word, and I’ll make you sorry.” Martin stepped toward Sloane, now almost shouting over the roar of the helicopter. “She needs time, Dorian. She will talk. I urge you not to do this.”
“You created this situation, Martin. I’m just cleaning it up.”
“We have time.”
“We both know we don’t — you said it yourself. And I was quite amused at the other things you said. I assumed you hated me because you hated my methods and plans.”
“I hate you because of what you did to her—”
“Which wasn’t a tenth of what she did to my family.”
“She had nothing to do with that—”
“Let’s agree to disagree, Martin. And let’s focus on the task at hand.”
Sloane grabbed him by the arm and led him away from the helicopter where it would be easier to talk. And, Martin thought, where Sloane’s men couldn’t hear him.
“Listen, Martin, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll delay Toba Protocol until we find out if this can work. You let us work on the girl, we’ll get what we need in one, maybe two hours tops. If we leave now for Antarctica, we’ll have the information by the time we land. We could test a true Atlantis Gene Retrovirus within 8 hours. I know you’re looking for an entrance.” Martin began to speak, but Dorian waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t bother denying it, Martin. I have a man on the team. Within 24 hours, you and I could walk through the gates of the tombs together. No Toba. This is the only play you have, we both know it.”
“I want your word that she will not be harmed… permanently harmed.”
“Martin. I’m not a monster. We just need what she knows, I would never permanently harm her.”