Death Minus Zero

“Sharp as ever, Agent Valens, but just as you say. I’ll deal myself in. I’m closer to Saul’s lodge than you people are. I do remember where it is, too.”

“Joshua, stay in touch. If I can give you any backup I will. Use my name if you need to. Let me know if you find anything. But for now, keep it between us.”

Valens sent the data to Riba’s cell.

“Okay, got it,” Riba said. “Hey, you watch your back, Agent Valens. The way this has gone down, we’ve got some serious people out there.”

“I will, and for the record, it’s Claire. Drop the ‘Agent Valens,’ okay? I think you’ve earned that.”

“Okay. You can call me Josh. I hate the full-on Joshua. Makes me sound old and serious.”

“You’re a funny guy, Josh.”

“Got to redress the Hollywood version of solemn, hatchet-faced Indians. And don’t start me on the ‘Native American’ deal. Listen, I’ll be in touch soon as I have anything.”

CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_fece247f-c86f-5f70-b173-b59d4bb985a2)

Phoenix Force made contact with the Zero base a short time later. The credentials they carried got them inside the Zero Command Center. The isolated base, created solely for the operation of the Zero Project, was purpose-built. It stood in a wooded tract of land in rural Virginia and had a complement of around thirty, which comprised the Zero operating team and a rotating security force of Air Force personnel. A small number of highly vetted civilian personnel also worked on the base.

Even with their official Stony Man–provided IDs, McCarter’s team was well aware it was on site under sufferance. That made no difference whatsoever to the Stony Man squad; they had a job to do and territorial marking wasn’t about to stop them.

Colonel Rance Corrigan, the base commander, came out to meet them. In his late forties, Corrigan was a bluff, iron-gray-haired man who matched David McCarter in height and general build. His uniform fit him perfectly and was so neat it looked as if he’d had it dry-cleaned overnight while he was still wearing it. The perception the man might just be a poster boy for the Air Force faded quickly for McCarter. He could see behind the outward vision and recognize a true military character; Corrigan would match every word he spoke with dedication to his position in the Air Force of the United States.

“Colonel, we’re not the enemy,” McCarter said. “Right now finding Saul Kaplan is the only thing that concerns me. Run up the chain of command all you want. When you reach the highest level—and I mean the highest—you can make your feelings known. In the meantime we’ll go right ahead and see if we can figure out what happened. It’s why we’re in your face.”

“You’re a Brit,” Corrigan said, not disrespectfully. It was simply a statement of fact.

“Yes, Colonel. Hope you won’t hold that against me.”

Corrigan’s shoulder went back a fraction. “I’ve known a few RAF guys.” His expression didn’t change. “They can hold their own in a fight, and they respect the chain of command. So just explain what a Brit is doing in this outfit.”

“I work for the same government you do. Doing what I’m ordered,” McCarter said. “Whatever it takes. The same goes for my men.”

Corrigan scanned the rest of Phoenix Force. He saw a tight group who looked as if they would take no shit from anyone.

“We need to talk in my office,” he said. “I’ll have your equipment secured.” Corrigan called over a waiting sergeant. “Blaney, see to it.”

Corrigan turned and led the way to the main admin building, Phoenix Force falling in behind him. He took them through to his office, past a main area that held desks, computers and half a dozen Air Force personnel. He paused at one of the desks.

“Sergeant Ryker, call Agent Valens and have her report to my office immediately. And arrange coffee for us all.”

“Could you add one Classic Coke to that order, Sergeant, please?” McCarter said.

The colonel’s office was sizable, the main window looking out across the base. On an outsize, neatly arranged desk, there was a large-screen computer angled in one corner. A number of office chairs were ranged in front of the desk. It appeared that Colonel Corrigan favored regular meetings with his staff. Considering what went on at the base, McCarter realized it was not surprising; the Zero initiative was, to say the least, unusual, and its existence ranged well beyond what the Air Force would normally handle.

“Sit down, gentlemen,” Corrigan said. He took his own high-backed swivel chair and composed himself before he spoke. “I assume you’ve been brought up to speed on Zero and the current incident?”

“We had a briefing before we shipped out,” McCarter said. “I’m hoping you can add to what we know. Which is still coming in as we speak.”

Before Corrigan could say any more, there was a knock on the office door. Corrigan told the visitor to enter. The door opened and the Phoenix Force operatives were treated to Agent Claire Valens in the flesh. They had seen photographs of her at Stony Man, but without a doubt, they didn’t do her justice.

In the photos, Valens had worn her dark hair long; now she favored a shorter style that accentuated her open, strong-featured face and generous mouth. The eyes that surveyed Phoenix Force were sharp and showed the intelligence that lurked behind them. Her supple, toned figure was clad in a white shirt under the regulation black pantsuit. The jacket was open, exposing the Glock pistol holstered at her waist. The young woman was beautifully efficient. An interesting combination.

A man, Valens’s partner, McCarter presumed, followed her through the door.

She nodded to everyone in the office and crossed to take one of the chairs closest to Corrigan’s side of the desk. The man chose a seat set back where he could see everyone.

“Agent Valens,” McCarter said. “Good to meet you at last.”

“And you, Jack Coyle.” She smiled.

McCarter made quick introductions of his partners, using their cover names. “This is Roy Landis.” He nodded at James and then at Manning, Hawkins and Encizo in turn. “Samuel Allen, Daniel Rankin and Fredo Constantine.”

“This is Larry Brandon, my partner.” Valens sent a nod toward the back of the room. “It appears you already know who I am,” she said.

“You come highly recommended,” Manning said. “We’ve seen the file on your earlier dealings with Zero and Saul Kaplan. Impressive, Agent Valens.”

“Not such a glowing file this time around.” Valens held up the manila file she was carrying.

“Agent Valens feels this incident is down to her,” Corrigan told them.

“Happened on my watch—I won’t deny that,” Valens said. “Saul is missing and one of Colonel Corrigan’s men is dead.”

“Has there been anything to warrant higher security recently?” Encizo asked. “Activity to make you suspicious?”

“Nothing. Everything was running normally. Saul was collected from his home and driven to the base each day. Returned home each evening, unless there was a need for him to remain here. He has assigned quarters on the base. Often stayed here due to some involved operation he was running. Saul is constantly upgrading Zero. He is determined to improve the way it functions.”

“And this has been running for...?” James queried.

“The current arrangements have been in place for well over two years.”

“During that time,” McCarter asked, “have there been any security concerns?”

“None. Ever since the initial incident, Zero has been kept low-key,” Valens advised. “No one has ever been suspected of planning anything. We try to keep our business and our presence under the radar as much as we can.” She cleared her throat. “Obviously not as under the radar as we thought.”

“What about Jui Kai?” McCarter said. “The information she has sent through about Colonel Chan?”

Valens hesitated for a few seconds. “You know about her involvement with Chan?”

“We’ve been brought up to speed about her. Look, Agent Valens, our intel comes from a secure source. Us becoming involved is no good if we’re not kept in the loop one hundred percent.

“We know Kai is an asset planted in China. That she has established one hell of a cover. We also understand she’s been maneuvered into a close relationship with Chan and his group. Seems they have a vested interest in Zero.”

McCarter leaned back in his seat. “Let’s get the cards on the table, here. I told Colonel Corrigan we are here to help. Not pointing fingers and labeling people. I can understand your reluctance to pull us all the way in—this mess has caught everyone on the hoof. So let’s start from scratch. We each tell what we know and try to get a grip on it.”

Corrigan said, “Agent Valens may have been a little slow in telling all, but in her defense I have to say that she has a restrictive brief on certain matters. One of those being able to reveal information about Jui Kai. Understand, gentlemen, Kai is operating within China. An extremely difficult assignment and one we have, so far, kept under wraps. It is difficult for her to send us information, and the little we have has simply let us in on the fact that the Chinese have been looking at Zero again.”

“The fact that they made the move to kidnap Saul,” Valens interjected, “was not expected at this stage. From what we had learned, the Chinese were simply looking at developing their own platform. This sudden advancement even caught Jui Kai off guard. It’s a big step, from a committee having weekly meetings, to putting into action an actual body snatch in broad daylight on American soil. Kai is sending us anything she can learn about the incident.”