Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(83)

"I do not know," he replied, his eyes betraying worry. "I have no one left. Baikov saw to that."

"This is so f*cked up," I mumbled.

"It is certainly that. Cabbage, we will go. And we will destroy him."

"He'll expect us to try."

"I know that. He does not know all we are capable of."

"True."

Madam President, Auggie, the Vice President and two Secret Service agents walked through the door, interrupting our conversation.

*

"Cori, this is the last thing I would have agreed to," Auggie said. He'd asked for a few minutes alone with Rafe and me. The others had left the room to give us privacy.

"I know that," I said. "I don't think anybody here really wants that. I just worry that this won't be enough."

"That is also my concern," Rafe said.

"And mine. This is a slippery slope, and nobody can see the bottom of the pit we've dropped into," Auggie agreed. "That's why I've brought this." He handed each of us a small capsule. I'd never seen one before; nevertheless, I knew what it was—a means to commit suicide.

"Absolute last resort," I turned to Rafe.

"Agreed."

"We have to leave in a few minutes," Auggie said, and his voice broke. "Cori, I love you. Not the way Rafe loves you—you're the daughter I never had. Be safe. Please. Stay in contact with me as long as you can."

"I will." I wanted to weep. One shouldn't meet the enemy while one is crying; I worked to keep my vision clear. We walked out of the room together, my hand held firmly in Ilya's, my eyes on Auggie's broad shoulders as he led the way.

*

"Those four in Canada," I spoke as Auggie dropped back beside Rafe and me, "They wanted to facilitate the apocalypse," I explained. "They called themselves the four horsemen. Took on those names to describe themselves. Thought they'd been given divine instruction to do that."

"What the hell would make them think that?" Auggie exploded.

"You'd be surprised what some people will believe," I said. "If it fits well in the beliefs they already hold. Provide some smoke and mirrors and presto—you have a man-made apocalypse. Of course, it never hurts to have so much money you can make just about anything happen, including a war in the Middle East."

"And someone to rely on who can make those things happen without leaving even a trail of smoke behind," Auggie muttered.

"Remember that same someone ended up betraying them," I said.

"I remember."

*

Madam President and her Chief of Staff, Hal Prentice, walked ahead of us. I only saw the backs of their heads as we made our way through underground passageways beneath the White House.

I'm sure the President kept her Chief of Staff informed—as much as she could—that was his job. I'd just never seen him in person. Well, there was no time for proper introductions now. Our time was winding down and we were nearing our destination.

Rafe walked beside me, his face set and so silent I barely heard his footsteps. Yes, I was seeing the spy who'd worked for the Soviet Union for so many years, and even beyond the days after the cold war ended.

They'd coerced him. I knew it; I'd merely waited for him to volunteer that information. After the next few minutes, that opportunity might never come. Reaching out, I gripped his fingers with mine and squeezed. I love you, I sent to him. He lowered his chin in acknowledgment.

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

A war raged within me. I wanted to grip the throats of the ones forcing us to give up Corinne and Rafe, so I could squeeze the life from them. I would enjoy watching the light leave their eyes as they died. This is how anyone might feel when they are faced with such helpless feelings—when someone they care for is in danger.

Rafe would go down fighting—I had no doubt of that.

Poor Corinne didn't stand a chance. She'd see exactly what they were, and if they didn't kill her outright, would attempt to force her to do unspeakable things.

A heavy door loomed ahead of us, with a keypad glowing softly at its center. On the other side of that door lay disaster. I glanced at Corinne. She was pale. Shaking already. I offered a silent prayer to anyone listening as the President reached for the keypad and entered her private code.

*

Corinne

When the door swung open, we saw nothing except a narrow, concrete entrance sloping upward, and beyond that, ornamental shrubs and trees, hiding the entrance. In the distance I could hear sounds of traffic—people going here and there on their daily journeys, unsuspecting that the fate of the world might hang upon the next few minutes.

"What time is it?" Madam President asked.

"We have two minutes," Chief of Staff Hal Prentice replied. "We're not late." He stood next to the President, blocking her from any attack that might come from the greenery above as he spoke.

"Where are they?" Madam President betrayed her nervousness by rubbing her arms.

Rafe reached out and pulled me against him. I knew his shield was up, but Madam President was too far away to include in his protection. I wondered in a distracted fashion if she realized that. Auggie, on the other hand, was close enough to be included in Rafe's protective bubble.