"Such as what?"
"It's technical," Kenner said vaguely. "We rely on the Japanese to spearhead that effort. They are the best at it in the world. And of course we extend our feelers in multiple directions at the same time. Based on what we've just learned at Weddell, we have lots of irons in the fire." Kenner had databases being searched. He had state organizations mobilized. He had inquiries into where the terrorists had obtained their academic credentials, their encrypted radio transmitters, their explosive charges, their computerized detonation timers. None of this was commonplace stuff and it could be traced, given enough time.
"Is there enough time?" Evans said.
"I'm not sure."
Evans could see that Kenner was worried. "So: What is it you want me to do?"
"Just one very simple thing," Kenner said.
"What's that?"
Kenner smiled.
III
ANGEL
LOS ANGELES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9
7:04 A. M.
"Is this really necessary?" Peter Evans said, with a worried look.
"It is," Kenner said.
"But it's illegal," Evans said.
"It's not," Kenner said firmly.
"Because you are a law-enforcement officer?" Evans said.
"Of course. Don't worry about it."
They were flying in over Los Angeles, approaching the runway at Van Nuys. The California sun shone through the windows. Sanjong was hunched over the dining table in the middle of the plane. In front of him lay Evans's cell phone, the back removed. Sanjong was attaching a thin gray plate the size of his thumbnail right on top of the battery.
"But what exactly is it?" Evans said.
"Flash memory," Sanjong said. "It'll record four hours of conversation in a compressed format."
"I see," Evans said. "And what am I supposed to do?"
"Just carry the phone in your hand, and go about your business."
"And if I get caught?" he said.
"You won't get caught," Kenner said. "You can take it anywhere. You'll go right through any security, no problem."
"But if they have bug sweepers..."
"They won't detect you, because you're not transmitting anything. It's got a burst transmitter. For two seconds every hour, it transmits. The rest of the time, nothing." Kenner sighed. "Look, Peter. It's just a cell phone. Everyone has them."
"I don't know," Evans said. "I feel bad about this. I mean, I'm not a stool pigeon."
Sarah came to the back, yawning, clearing her ears. "Who's a stool pigeon?"
"It's how I feel," Evans said.
"That's not the issue," Kenner said. "Sanjong?"
Sanjong took out a printed list, passed it to Evans. It was Morton's original sheet, now with additions to it:
662262
3982293
24FXE
62262
82293
TERROR
Mt. Terror, Antarctica 882320
4898432
12FXE
82232
54393
SNAKE
Snake Butte, Arizona 774548
9080799
02FXE
67533
43433
LAUGHER
Laugher Cay, Bahamas 482320
5898432
22FXE
72232
04393
SCORPION
Resolution, Solomon Is.
ALT
662262
3982293
24FXE
62262
82293
TERROR
Mt. Terror, Antarctica 382320
4898432
12FXE
82232
54393
SEVER
Sever City, Arizona 244548
9080799
02FXE
67533
43433
CONCH
Conch Cay, Bahamas 482320
5898432
22FXE
72232
04393
SCORPION
Resolution, Solomon Is.
ALT
662262
3982293
24FXE
62262
82293
TERROR
Mt. Terror, Antarctica 382320
4898432
12FXE
82232
54393
BUZZARD
Buzzard Gulch, Utah 444548
7080799
02FXE
67533
43433
OLD MAN
Old Man Is., Turks & Caicos 482320
5898432
22FXE
72232
04393
SCORPION
Resolution, Solomon Is.
ALT
662262
3982293
24FXE
62262
82293
TERROR
Mt. Terror, Antarctica 382320
4898432
12FXE
82232
54393
BLACK MESA
Black Mesa, New Mexico 344548
9080799
02FXE
67533
43433
SNARL
Snarl Cay, BWI
482320
5898432
22FXE
72232
04393
SCORPION
Resolution, Solomon Is.
"As you see, Sanjong has identified the precise GPS locations," Kenner said. "You've undoubtedly noticed a pattern in the list. The first incident we know about. The second incident will take place somewhere in the American desert--either Utah, Arizona, or New Mexico. The third incident will be somewhere in the Caribbean, east of Cuba. And the fourth incident will be in the Solomon Islands."
"Yes? So?"
"Our concern right now is for the second incident," Kenner said. "And the problem is that from Utah to Arizona to New Mexico there are fifty thousand square miles of desert. Unless we can get additional information, we'll never find these guys."
"But you have exact GPS locations..."
"Which they will undoubtedly change, now that they know of the trouble in Antarctica."