Death Minus Zero
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“Pol, I’m sure I don’t need to go into sharp details. Suffice it to say that Miss Kai really has Colonel Chan’s attention.”
“She’s one brave lady,” Hawkins said. “From that picture, our Colonel Chan looks a pretty mean hombre.”
“Past history does show Chan has a suspect past with females,” Price said.
Brognola continued. “Phoenix Force will take a run out to Zero Command and make contact with Agent Valens. Pick up whatever you can from there. Intel is thin on the ground at the moment, but we have to make a start somewhere. Able Team can take a lead from the background data Aaron and his team have started to pull in from traffic cams in the area following the kidnap. We might get a lead from those according to what comes up. I wish we had more to go on, but for now that’s all she wrote. So let’s do it, people.”
The teams began to disperse, heading out to claim paperwork and travel gear. Stony Man transport would provide them with vehicles, and if any long-distance needs arose Price would, as usual, organize that.
Finally alone, Brognola sat back and considered what might lie ahead. The Zero Project was important. It offered America a degree of protection no other nation had, so he was not surprised that whoever was behind Kaplan’s kidnap had taken the step. If Kaplan could be persuaded, in whatever form, to spill what he knew about Zero, then trouble could be just on the horizon.
If the US lost Zero, it would lose a powerful security asset.
One that could not be replaced so easily.
Even the thought caused Brognola to shake his head in frustration.
Now it was down to the Stony Man teams to step up and be counted. If anyone could resolve what had happened, it was his collection of experts. He knew they would not let him down.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Joshua, have you heard from Saul Kaplan?” Claire Valens said.
Joshua Riba sensed the concern in her voice even over the phone. The Apache private investigator knew her well enough to sense a problem.
Riba’s initial connection with the Zero Project had come about when Doug Buchanan had survived the attack on the New Mexico facility that housed the fledgling operation. Partway through his treatment to turn him into the human component of Zero, Buchanan had managed to survive the hit. Sick and in pain from the implants in his body, he had been found by Riba’s uncle, who had run him down when Buchanan had suddenly stepped into the path of his truck.
Taken back to the Apache settlement, Buchanan had been looked after. Riba had become involved after Buchanan had taken off. His detective skills had brought him into contact with the people looking for Buchanan and Kaplan, and he had tracked the group to Albany, New York, where he had met Mack Bolan. After an explosive confrontation, the two had decided to team up and become fully involved in the Zero conspiracy.
“If you have to ask, then I guess something has happened.”
“Saul was taken from the Air Force car on his way to the Zero base. Taken by force, as far as we can figure out.”
“When did this happen?”
“Only a few hours ago.”
“Any signs he might have been hurt?”
“None we’ve found yet, but his Air Force driver took a bullet to the back of the head.”
“So Saul has been kidnapped.”
“Looks that way.”
“Nothing beforehand? Threats? Hints something might be going to happen?”
“You know the Zero operation, Joshua, from when you were involved before. It’s still being kept low-key. As covert as we can keep it. Which doesn’t always work out.”
“No suspects, then?”
“Suspicions, but no proof.”
“That the official take or just yours?”
Valens smiled. “No fooling you, is there.”
“It’s my heritage. Anything we can work on? That old man is special. He needs finding.”
“That sounds suspiciously like you want to help.”
“We were connected last time round, Agent Valens. Kind of makes us blood brothers.”
“We did make a good team.”
“What about Pinda Lickoyi who lives in Big Sky and sees all?” Riba said in a mock-solemn monotone.
“We checked with Zero. Told Buchanan. He’s no wiser than we are at the moment. He’s run all the checks he can via the Zero setup. No trace. He’ll keep looking and listening.”
“Listening?”
“Saul had an implant. A small receiver that gives out a traceable signal so his whereabouts can be tracked. Designed and built it himself. Had it surgically inserted at the back of his left shoulder. Idea is that it emits a permanent signal.”
“But it isn’t doing that?”
“No. The signal has gone silent. And so has the tracker fitted to the Air Force car.”
“What does that tell you?”
“That maybe we have an inside mole working for the kidnappers—someone capable of disabling the car tracker. That the kidnappers knew about the tracking device on the vehicle and put it out of action.”
“So you have something to work on. Also means you have a weakness in your security shield.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“What about the implant device?”
“I don’t see that being public knowledge. It was inserted just below the surface of Kaplan’s skin soon after Zero was launched. Like I said, it was Saul’s own idea.”
“Not easy to get at?”
“It would have to be cut out.”
“Anything else affect it?”
“If they had the equipment the signal could be interrupted. That suggests whoever took Saul would have had to have known about it. Joshua, as of right now, we are running in the dark here. Reaching out.”
“Okay, but if these kidnappers have something they can disable your tracking devices with, then they have to be more than a bunch of perps out looking for ransom. Last time, we came up against renegade government individuals—and a bunch of Chinese trying to get their hands on Zero.”
“Don’t think that hasn’t crossed my mind. All the files on the previous attempt are being reviewed and individuals looked at.”
“The ones still alive, you mean?”
Valens understood the reminder. People had died before the Zero affair had been concluded. She also recalled that some of the Chinese operatives had escaped. But they had run off with a considerable amount of Chinese cash and lost themselves somewhere in America.
She had to go through everything, no matter how vague or how dead-ending it might turn out to be. She had to look into all aspects of the matter.
“Is Cooper involved this time?” Riba said.
“His name hasn’t been mentioned so far. Could be he’s working on something else. But the people he works with have their teams involved.”
“You want me to do some snooping around?”
“Off-the-reservation kind of snooping?” Valens said.
“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.”
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