“Sorry about that,” he replied guiltily.
“Don’t be. I understand why you made the choices you did, and your plan was flawless.” Her gaze shifted to Connelly and Metzger. “Gentlemen, I can’t thank you enough.”
The colonel smiled warmly. “No need for thanks, Kira. We’re a team now, after all.”
“Judging from the past twenty-four hours,” said Desh, “we’re about as formidable a team as you could want.”
“Hard to argue with that,” said Connelly cheerfully. “But it does help that your alter ego had it all figured out ahead of time,” he said to Desh.
As Metzger freed the two prisoners and tore a piece of Alan’s shirt to wrap around Kira’s arm where the letter-opener had entered, Desh reflected on the enormity of all that had happened.
The colonel was right—for the most part. Desh’s enhanced mind had solved the puzzle. He had correctly guessed what had happened in Iran and why. He had guessed Alan Miller was behind it all, and that he had chosen Desh because he was someone whose integrity his sister would respond to, and who she would therefore attempt to recruit.
But ironically, even after having realized the nature of his own feelings for Kira, his enhanced self had completely missed that those feelings were reciprocated. A warm glow came over him at the thought, along with a smile that refused to leave his face.
Desh wished he could freeze this moment forever. He had never felt this way about a woman before. And never in his life had he felt so relieved. Or triumphant. Or hopeful.
They had done it. Against incredible odds they had prevailed.
They had been charging ahead at a dizzying pace; so busy fighting for their lives and struggling to peel back the onion it had seemed as if this state of affairs would never end: or would end, inevitably, with their deaths. But they had battled their way to victory, and in the process they had earned themselves a future. A future in which Kira’s discoveries could be harnessed to better mankind, rather than being used by a psychopath to become the most powerful and dangerous man in history.
Desh could only imagine the elation Kira must be feeling now that her long ordeal was finally over. She had faced these powerful, shadowy forces for an eternity longer than he had, and utterly alone.
Desh pulled himself from his reverie. He was now standing beside the steel gurney to which he had been strapped, and Metzger had just finished wrapping Kira’s arm. “Is Matt okay?” he asked.
“He’s fine,” said Connelly. “I gave him the keys to the RV and told him we’d meet up with him later at a location I gave him. After the fireworks at Putnam’s house, when I took out the men who were holding him and the major hostage, he didn’t look so hot.” Connelly smiled. “Not that we would have brought him on this little raid anyway,” he admitted.
“How are you doing, Colonel?” asked Kira in concern.
“Great,” he said happily. “Your treatment is unbelievable. I was able to direct my body’s autonomous functions and greatly accelerate the healing process.”
“I hate to spoil the party,” said Metzger soberly, “but we need to go. As isolated as this place is, we have to assume we attracted some attention. We need to lay low for a while. As soon as Matt is up to it, we can give him a gellcap and let him clean up behind us.”
Desh raised his eyebrows. “Can I assume you have a strategy in mind?”
“Of course,” said Metzger. “Step one: Enhanced Matt alters secure military databases to show that Alan Miller was in league with terrorists on an imminent attack. Step two: he plants secret orders, backdated to yesterday, calling on me to take out Miller using any means necessary.”
Desh was impressed with the simplicity but effectiveness of the plan. This would instantly legitimize Metzger’s appropriation of the helicopter from Bragg and the carnage at the mansion. “That should do it,” he said. “You’ll probably earn a medal.” Having a member of the team capable of subverting the most secure computer systems in the world did have its advantages.
“Kira,” said the major, “you and David stay here for a few minutes. The colonel and I will make certain we didn’t miss any hostiles and start the chopper.”
Connelly looked puzzled. “Shouldn’t we all leave right now?”
“They’ve been through a lot,” explained Metzger. “Let’s give them a few minutes alone.”
The colonel still looked confused, but didn’t argue.