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Sexton set the sheets down on his desk and collapsed in his chair。 It had taken him only fifteen seconds to piece together everything he was looking at。 The implications of the images on the papers were crystal clear。 Anyone with half a brain could see what these photos proved。
The NASA meteorite is a fake！
No day in Sexton's career had been filled with such extreme highs and lows。 Today had been a roller…coaster ride of hope and despair。 Sexton's bafflement over how this enormous scam could possibly have been pulled off evaporated into irrelevance when he realized what the scam meant for him politically。
When I go public with this information； the presidency is mine！
In his upwelling of celebration； Senator Sedgewick Sexton had momentarily forgotten his daughter's claim that she was in trouble。
〃Rachel is in danger；〃 Gabrielle said。 〃Her note says NASA and the White House are trying to…〃
Sexton's fax machine suddenly began ringing again。 Gabrielle wheeled and stared at the machine。 Sexton found himself staring too。 He could not imagine what else Rachel could be sending him。 More proof？ How much more could there be？ This is plenty！
When the fax machine answered the call； however； no pages came through。 The machine； detecting no data signal； had switched to its answering machine feature。
〃Hello；〃 Sexton's outbound message crackled。 〃This is the office of Senator Sedgewick Sexton。 If you are trying to send a fax； you may transmit at any time。 If not； you may leave a message at the tone。〃
Before Sexton could pick up； the machine beeped。
〃Senator Sexton？〃 The man's voice had a lucid rawness to it。 〃This is William Pickering； director of the National Reconnaissance Office。 You're probably not in the office at this hour； but I need to speak immediately。〃 He paused as if waiting for someone to pick up。
Gabrielle reached to pick up the receiver。
Sexton grabbed her hand and violently yanked it away。
Gabrielle looked stunned。 〃But that's the director of…〃
〃Senator；〃 Pickering continued； sounding almost relieved that no one had picked up。 〃I'm afraid I am calling with some very troubling news。 I've just received word that your daughter Rachel is in extreme danger。 I have a team trying to help her as we speak。 I cannot talk in detail about the situation on the phone； but I was just informed she may have faxed you some data relating to the NASA meteorite。 I have not seen the data； nor do I know what it is； but the people threatening your daughter have just warned me that if you or anyone goes public with the information； your daughter will die。 I'm sorry to be so blunt； sir； I do it for clarity's sake。 Your daughter's life is being threatened。 If she has indeed faxed you something； do not share it with anyone。 Not yet。 Your daughter's life depends on it。 Stay where you are。 I will be there shortly。〃 He paused。 〃With luck； senator； all of this will be resolved by the time you wake up。 If； by chance； you get this message before I arrive at your office； stay where you are and call no one。 I am doing everything in my power to get your daughter back safely。〃
Pickering hung up。
Gabrielle was trembling。 〃Rachel is a hostage？〃
Sexton sensed that even in her disillusionment with him； Gabrielle felt a pained empathy to think of a bright young woman in danger。 Oddly； Sexton was having trouble mustering the same emotions。 Most of him felt like a child who had just been given his most wanted Christmas present； and he refused to let anyone yank it out of his hands。
Pickering wants me to be quiet about this？
He stood a moment； trying to decide what all of this meant。 In a cold； calculating side of his mind； Sexton felt the machinery beginning to turn…a political puter； playing out every scenario and evaluating each oute。 He glanced at the stack of faxes in his hands and began to sense the raw power of the images。 This NASA meteorite had shattered his dream of the presidency。 But it was all a lie。 A construct。 Now； those who did this would pay。 The meteorite that his enemies had created to destroy him would now make him powerful beyond anyone's wildest imagination。 His daughter had seen to that。
There is only one acceptable oute； he knew。 Only one course of action for a true leader to take。
Feeling hypnotized by the shining images of his own resurrection； Sexton was drifting through a fog as he crossed the room。 He went to his copy machine and turned it on； preparing to copy the papers Rachel had faxed him。
〃What are you doing？〃 Gabrielle demanded； sounding bewildered。
〃They won't kill Rachel；〃 Sexton declared。 Even if something went wrong； Sexton knew losing his daughter to the enemy would only make him more powerful still。 Either way he would win。 Acceptable risk。
〃Who are those copies for？〃 Gabrielle demanded。 〃William Pickering said not to tell anyone！〃
Sexton turned from the machine and looked at Gabrielle； amazed by how unattractive he suddenly found her。 In that instant； Senator Sexton was an island。 Untouchable。 Everything he needed to acplish his dreams was now in his hands。 Nothing could stop him now。 Not claims of bribery。 Not rumors of sex。 Nothing。
〃Go home； Gabrielle。 I have no more use for you。〃
125
It's over； Rachel thought。
She and Tolland sat side by side on the deck staring up into the barrel of the Delta soldier's machine gun。 Unfortunately； Pickering now knew where Rachel had sent the fax。 The office of Senator Sedgewick Sexton。
Rachel doubted her father would ever receive the phone message Pickering had just left him。 Pickering could probably get to Sexton's office well before anyone else this morning。 If Pickering could get in； quietly remove the fax； and delete the phone message before Sexton arrived； there would be no need to harm the senator。 William Pickering was probably one of the few people in Washington who could finagle entry to a U。S。 senator's office with no fanfare。 Rachel was always amazed at what could be acplished 〃in the name of national security。〃
Of course if that fails； Rachel thought； Pickering could just fly by and send a Hellfire missile through the window and blow up the fax machine。 Something told her this would not be necessary。
Sitting close to Tolland now； Rachel was surprised to feel his hand gently slip into hers。 His touch had a tender strength； and their fingers intertwined so naturally that Rachel felt like they'd done this for a lifetime。 All she wanted right now was to lie in his arms； sheltered from the oppressive roar of the night sea spiraling around them。
Never； she realized。 It was not to be。
Michael Tolland felt like a man who had found hope on the way to the gallows。
Life is mocking me。
For years since Celia's death； Tolland had endured nights when he'd wanted to die； hours of pain and loneliness that seemed only escapable by ending it all。 And yet he had chosen life； telling himself he could make it alone。 Today； for the first time； Tolland had begun to understand what his friends had been telling him all along。
Mike； you don't have to make it alone。 You'll find another love。
Rachel's hand in his made this irony that much harder to swallow。 Fate had cruel timing。 He felt as if layers of armor were crumbling away from his heart。 For an instant； on the tired decks of the Goya； Tolland sensed Celia's ghost looking over him as she often did。 Her voice was in the rushing water。。。 speaking the last words she'd spoken to him in life。
〃You're a survivor；〃 her voice whispered。 〃Promise me you'll find another love。〃
〃I'll never want another；〃 Tolland had told her。
Celia's smile was filled with wisdom。 〃You'll have to learn。〃
Now； on the deck of the Goya； Tolland realized； he was learning。 A deep emotion welled suddenly in his soul。 He realized it was happiness。
And with it came an overpowering will to live。
Pickering felt oddly detached as he moved toward the two prisoners。 He stopped in front of Rachel； vaguely surprised that this was not harder for him。
〃Sometimes；〃 he said； 〃circumstances raise impossible decisions。〃
Rachel's eyes were unyielding。 〃You created these circumstances。〃
〃War involves casualties；〃 Pickering said； his voice firmer now。 Ask Diana Pickering； or any of those who die every year defending this nation。 〃You of all people should understand that； Rachel。〃 His eyes focused in on her。 〃Iactura paucourm serva multos。〃
He could see she recognized the words…almost a cliché in national security circles。 Sacrifice the few to save the many。
Rachel eyed him with obvious disgust。 〃And now Michael and I have bee part of your few？〃
Pickering considered it。 There was no other way。 He turned to Delta…One。 〃Release your partner and end this。〃
Delta…One nodded。
Pickering took a long last look at Rachel and then strode to the ship's nearby portside railing； staring out at the sea racing by。 This was something he preferred not to watch。
Delta…One felt empowered as he gripped his weapon and glanced over at his partner dangling in the clamps。 All that remained was to close the trapdoors beneath Delta…Two's feet； free him from the clamps； and eliminate Rachel Sexton and Michael Tolland。
Unfortunately； Delta…One had seen the plexity of the control panel near the trapdoor…a series of unmarked levers and dials that apparently controlled the trapdoor； the winch motor； and numerous other mands。 He had no intention of hitting the wrong lever and risking his partner's life by mistakenly dropping the sub into the sea。
Eliminate all risk。 Never rush。
He would force Tolland to perform the actual release。 And to ensure he did not try anything tricky； Delta…One would take out insurance known in his business as 〃biological collateral。〃
Use your adversaries against one another。
Delta…One swung the gun barrel directly into Rachel's face； stopping only inches from her forehead。 Rachel closed her eyes； and Delta…One could see Tolland's fists clench in a protective anger。
〃Ms。 Sexton； stand up；〃 Delta…One said。
She did。
With the gun firmly on her back； Delta…One marched her over to an aluminum set of portable stairs that led up to the top of the Triton sub from behind。 〃Climb up and stand on top of the sub。〃
Rachel looked frightened and confused。
〃Just do it；〃 Delta…One said。
Rachel felt like she was moving through a nightmare as she climbed up the aluminum gangway behind the Triton。 She stopped at the top； having no desire to step out over the chasm onto the suspended Triton。
〃Get on top of the sub；〃 the soldier said； returning to Tolland and pushing the gun against his head。
In front of Rachel the soldier who was in the clamps watched her； shifting in pain； obviously eager to get out。 Rachel looked at Tolland； who now had a gun barrel to his head。 Get on top of the sub。 She had no choice。
Feeling like she was edging out onto a precipice overhanging a canyon； Rachel stepped onto the Triton's engine casing； a small flat section behind the rounded dome window。 The entire sub hung like a massive plumb bob over the open trapdoor。 Even suspended on its winch cable； the nine…ton sub barely registered her arrival； swinging only a few millimeters as she steadied herself。
〃Okay； let's move；〃 the soldier said to Tolland。 〃Go to the controls and close the trapdoor。〃
At gunpoint； Tolland began moving toward the control panel with the soldier behind him。 As Tolland came toward her； he was moving slowly； and Rachel could feel his eyes fixing hard on her as if trying to send her a message。 He looked directly at her and then down at the open hatch on top of the Triton。
Rachel glanced down。 The hatch at her feet was open； the heavy circular covering propped open。 She could see down into the one…seater cockpit。 He wants me to get in？ Sensing she must be mistaken； Rachel looked at Tolland again。 He was almost to the control panel。 Tolland's eyes locked on her。 This time he was less subtle。
His lips mouthed； 〃Jump in！ Now！〃
Delta…One saw Rachel's motion out of the corner of his eye and wheeled on instinct； opening fire as Rachel fell through the sub's hatch just below the barrage of bullets。 The open hatch covering rang out as the bullets ricocheted off the circular portal； sending up a shower of sparks； and sla