“Mr. President,” the colonel said in his usual taunting tone, “I have given you some leeway on your deadline, but no more! If you do not remove your troops immediately, I’ll-”

“You won’t do a thing,” President Kyler interrupted, “and we both know it. You’re not the forgiving type, colonel. If you had the ability to launch a missile, you would’ve already done it. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I have to assume that one of my operatives succeeded in his mission and took down your petty little terrorist operation. And just in case you’re wondering, yes, we know Secretary Rybicki was helping you. It won’t happen again.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” the colonel fumed. “I can detonate your missiles at-”

“Yeah, sure you can. Now listen up, Colonel, and listen good. Our troops are going into your country, but they’re going in for two purposes only: to rescue the people who went down in that helicopter, and to wrest control of Benzai. You are not going to occupy that territory, and you are not going to exterminate its people. If you stay out of our way, we’ll accomplish our mission and go. If you try to interfere in any way-any way whatsoever-we will not stop until we have seized control of your entire nation, pulled you off the throne, and put you under arrest. I’m sure the entire world would rejoice to see you standing trial for crimes against humanity. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen if you don’t stay out of our way. Do you understand me?”

Several seconds passed before he replied. “I understand. But-”

“Good.” Kyler made a slashing gesture across his neck. Zimmer cut off the communications line.

“That was absolutely brilliant,” Cartwright said. “You have my congratulations. I wonder what that sick buzzard will try next.”

“Let’s hope nothing. Is he trying to reconnect, Zimmer?”

The agent shook his head. “He seems to be done. I think you put him in his place but good, sir.”

“Let’s hope this means the crisis is over. I think we could all use a breather.”

Ben couldn’t have heard happier words. “Does that mean we can leave the bunker? Make a phone call?”

“Not just yet,” Zimmer said. “I need an official all-clear from the CIA and the military task force investigating the missile crisis.”

“How long will that take?”

“I don’t know, Ben. But I’d rather keep you down here too long than not long enough.”

A valid point. “I think I’ll visit Secretary Rybicki. I still have a few questions I’d like to ask him.”

“He won’t talk.”

“I’ve heard that before. You never know.”

Ben crossed the room, opened the door, and entered the small adjoining room.

And gasped.

Agent Gioia was lying on the floor. A slow trickle of blood flowed from the side of his head.

Secretary Rybicki was gone.

Secretary Rybicki slowed as he approached the gateway to the north rear parking area. He didn’t want anyone to know he had been running. But he knew that if he didn’t get off the premises before the boys downstairs noticed he was gone, then he never would.

The 17th and Pennsylvania vehicle entrance was restricted to a limited few with clearance, and then only after passing through a series of gateposts and checkpoints. Of course, as a cabinet member, he had the magic blue sticker on the dash of his car that meant he didn’t have to put up with any of that.

He smiled at the two marines stationed at the door without stopping. Just as he always did. Friendly, but not too friendly. Recognizing that they were there, but not too much. He was the secretary of defense, after all. Marines were under his supervision, not the other way around.

He had texted ahead so that they would bring round his car. As he walked down the steps, he saw an attractive redhead walking toward him.

Could it possibly be…?

Someone up there must love him after all.

“Ms. McCall?”

Christina looked up.

“I’m Albert Rybicki. Secretary of defense? We met at the Press Club-”

“Of course.” She smiled. “I’m sorry. My mind was elsewhere.”

“That’s understandable. This has been a very trying day. For everyone.”

“I’ll bet. Were you down in the bunker?”

“I was, yes.”

“Can you get me in? I want to see Ben.”

“Oh, Ben.” His brain was racing. “Well, that’s just the thing. He isn’t there anymore.”

“He’s not?”

“No. He was released about a hour ago. To a… secret location.”

“And he didn’t call me?”

“I doubt they would let him.”

She looked put out, but it was probably more worry than anything else. “Is there any way I can see him? Or at least get a message to him? There’s something I really wanted to tell him. It’s important.”

“Maybe I could take a message.”

“No. I want to tell him myself.”

He snapped his fingers. “Well, I’m headed to the safe house right now. I don’t think anyone would object if I brought you with me.”

“Really?”

“You’re married to a member of the White House staff. You already have provisional clearance, don’t you?”

“How else could I be here?”

“Exactly. Hop in my car. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“I could just follow you in my car.”

“Um, no. If someone saw you tailing me, they might send a fighter plane to take you out.”

“That would be bad. Which one is your car?”

He watched as she clambered into his car, resisting the desire to smile. This was almost too easy. And too delicious. Another minute and he would be free. Then he would pick up his little parcel. And he and his newfound friend would travel together to their destination.

But only one of them would leave.

Good thing he had thought to take Agent Gioia’s gun.

They might’ve stopped the missiles, but they couldn’t stop him. He would fulfill his final mission.

And he would take his revenge against Kincaid, too.

“Zimmer!” Ben shouted. “He’s missing!”

Barely a second later, Agent Zimmer was inside the small briefing room. “Where’s Rybicki?”

“Exactly.”

Zimmer crouched down beside his fallen comrade. “Gioia’s not dead. Just unconscious. Rybicki must’ve had some kind of weapon. Or improvised a blunt instrument. Picked up a paperweight or something. Probably what he used on the breaker box, too.”

Zimmer opened another door and entered the small foyer that led to the elevator. “He must have gone topside.”

“You’ve got men up there, don’t you?”

“Yes. But they don’t have any reason to stop the secretary of defense. He has clearance to pass through the building as he wishes.” Zimmer barked orders into his headset. Ben was impressed once more at how levelheaded Zimmer was. Even a snafu of this magnitude didn’t faze him.

“He’s left the premises,” Zimmer updated him. “I’m sending people after him. There’s not much he can do now that Zuko has lost control of the missiles.”

“Unless he gets his hands on that nuclear suitcase.”

“Wasn’t he planning to use that in the Persian Gulf?”

“He was. But he can’t do that now. God knows what he might try instead.”

Zimmer frowned. “I’ll double the detachment looking for him. Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”

And Ben knew they would find him. Eventually. The question was whether they would find him in time.

President Kyler entered the room. “What’s going on? Where’s Rybicki?” He saw the bloodstained body on the floor. “What in the name of-?”

Ben filled him in as best he could as Zimmer continued to receive updates over his headset.

“We have to find that madman,” President Kyler said.

Ben agreed. “But our first priority has to be the recovery of that suitcase.”