The Last Second (A Brit in the FBI #6)(84)

There was the roar of the engines, then a downright whoop of joy as the jet roared into the sky.

Nicholas said, “I daresay my pilot is a nutter.”





CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT


T-MINUS 16 HOURS

Aquarius Observatory

Sri Lanka

The incessant ringing of her sat phone awoke her. Nevaeh rolled over to pick it up, annoyed since she’d made it clear all were to remain silent. A surprise, it was Alys.

She turned on the sat phone and ran the scrambling program. When she was certain she was secure, she said, “Yes, Alys? What is it?”

“I have the most wonderful news. Monsieur Broussard has been found alive. It is on the television.”

“What?” Nevaeh’s heart hammered in her throat. How was this possible? Jean-Pierre Broussard was dead, dead and gone, she’d even paid that terrorist to go against Al-Asaad to kill Broussard at Galactus.

Kiera said, “What is it?” and Nevaeh shook her head and held up a finger. She said to Alys, “They found The Griffon? I thought it had sunk.”

“It did, it went down completely, but Monsieur Broussard and most of his crew were able to get to lifeboats, and were rescued. Is this not the most wonderful news? I knew you would want to know right away.”

No, it was not wonderful frigging news. What had happened? How had he escaped?

But she said aloud, “Yes, of course it is. Where is he?”

“He is here, in Lyon, at the hospital.”

“Jean-Pierre is in Lyon?” She lied cleanly. “But how is this possible? I thought The Griffon was somewhere near Malaysia. What was he doing in Lyon? At headquarters?”

Kiera stiffened next to her, then frantically began tapping on her phone.

“I do not know the whole story, Dr. Patel. I only know he was saved, and escorted back by his close protection team. There was a break-in at Galactus, terrorists, shooting. An explosion. They are saying the terrorist known as Khaleed Al-Asaad is responsible. Many people are dead, though not our people. They were all safe, at home, as you wished. You were right to close headquarters. But why would terrorists attack Galactus?”

“It is an excellent question, Alys. We shall have to work with the authorities on an answer.”

“Dr. Patel, as soon as I heard, I knew I needed to call you. Mr. Broussard is in surgery and Claudette won’t disclose anything else to me. What should I do? The media wants a comment from the company.”

“I will speak to Claudette myself. Put me through.”

Kiera put a warning hand on Nevaeh’s thigh, said quietly, “We don’t know what’s happening. They might be tracing this call.”

Nevaeh waved her hand at the high canopy of trees out the bedroom window. “We are safe. No one can find us here. And I scrambled the call, as always.”

Broussard’s secretary came on the line. “Dr. Patel? Where are you?”

“I’m at the spaceport, of course, handling the next launch. Is it true what Alys said? Jean-Pierre lives?”

Claudette’s voice was cool. “Really? You’re at the spaceport?”

“Yes, I took the Quints jet here as planned.”

“We need you back at headquarters, Dr. Patel, immediately.”

“You didn’t answer me, Claudette. Is Mr. Broussard alive or not? Alys said the media is reporting he’s in Lyon, in the hospital.”

Another small pause. “Yes, he is alive.”

Nevaeh tried to sound as delighted as possible. “It is wonderful news. I’ve been worried sick.”

“When can you return, Dr. Patel?”

“As soon as possible. Our pilots are not here. Please send the plane for me, Claudette. With luck, I will be home by nightfall. And Claudette, thank you for calling Alys and having her contact me. Now, a statement must be coordinated. The release should say—”

“Mr. Broussard has already drafted the statement for me, Dr. Patel.”

Why hadn’t he called her himself? Well, he was in surgery, but why did he pick Claudette?

“Very good. Again, I will try to be back to Lyon by this evening. You can coordinate anything else through Alys until my return.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She clicked off. Alys came back on the line.

Alys said, “Do you have any instructions for me? Headquarters is a disaster, someone will have to coordinate a cleanup and renovation.”

“Feel free to start discussing a solution with Claudette. In the meantime, I am going to call the hospital and see if I can speak to Jean-Pierre. I will be in touch.”

She clicked off and sat back, stared at Kiera. She shook her head back and forth, she struck her fist against her open palm. “I can’t believe it. He’s alive. The son of a bitch somehow managed to survive Devi’s drug and our missile. He even managed to escape the attack at Galactus.”

Kiera said, “I gave Devi the correct dosages. Devi mustn’t have given them enough. She was weak.”

Nevaeh took a breath, forcing back the rage. Her first instinct was to lash out at Kiera, but she needed her. Nevaeh knew a time would come when a decision would have to be made about Kiera Byrne, but for the next several hours, she could put it off.

“Do not make excuses, Kiera. Threatening the life of Devi’s sister should have ensured her complete cooperation. Perhaps you didn’t give her enough ketamine to do the job. Evidently many of them awoke from the drug before The Griffon went down and managed to get off safely.