Operation Mockingbird (26 page)

“Enough,” Rabin barked. “I just need to know if a virus has been inserted into the system.”

“Not possible,” he replied. “But I’ll start a virus scan to confirm,” he continued when he received a glare from Rabin.

The technician leaned in close and began to tap on the keyboard. Several seconds later he leaned back as the computer monitor in front of him kicked into action.

“So, Matt, your little bluff seems to have bought you and Alex a few more minutes,” Rabin crowed. He looked over at Matt, but the younger man was still assessing his wounds and didn’t respond.

“Actually, a thorough examination will take about twenty minutes,” the computer technician corrected.

Rabin checked his watch and scowled.

“What’s your hurry, Rabin?” Matt asked. “You got some place else to be? Something better to do than manipulate the American people?”

Rabin glowered down at him. “No, Matt. Right now, I have nothing more important to do than manipulate the American people.”

“You see,” Rabin continued. “As we speak, our Congressional leadership is voting on a spending bill that allocates $100 billion for the recovery and stabilization of the Middle East. If I’ve done my job right …” Rabin leaned down closer to Matt. “And I can assure you, I’ve done my job right. Congress will approve that bill. And after that, the spigot of money flowing to private military companies, including my clients, will be turned back on. And my job will be done.”

Rabin checked his watch again.

“How are we doing, geek?” He yelled back toward the computer technician.

“Fifteen more minutes.”

“Call me when this is done,” Rabin barked to Harrison. “I have to finish that call.” He looked over at Matt. “I have to advise our employers that everything is under control and on schedule.”

“Harrison, you stay here,” Rabin demanded. “And keep your eye on them this time.”

He left the room without another word.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MATT WATCHED THE COMPUTER count its way toward completion of the virus scan and possibly toward what could be Matt’s execution by these men. 24% complete. He noticed that Harrison and Alex were also watching the monitor closely. 26%. The other guard couldn’t see the monitor so instead watched Harrison, likely waiting for instructions. 29%. 31%.

“Harrison, what are you doing mixed up in this?” Matt said, interrupting the silence.

“You’re making a big mistake,” he continued when he received no response. “The game is over. People are starting to figure out about your little project.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harrison responded without taking his eyes off the computer screen.

“There’s going to be a big shake-up over this and I think you can guess who’s going to take the fall,” Matt said several seconds later. Harrison was completely focused on the computer and ignored Matt. 42%. 45%. 47%.

“Why don’t you make it easier on yourself by letting us go?”

“Matt’s right, Cole,” Alex piped in. “I can speak to the right people. I can put in a good word for you.” 50%. 53%. 57%.

At this, Harrison looked up.

“You can help me out, Alex?” Harrison sneered as he stepped toward Alex. “You?” He was towering over her. “You think you can help me?”

He had his back to Matt as he leaned down to within millimeters of Alex’s face. But Matt felt the rancor coming off him like scorching sun off new asphalt. “You’d better think about what you can do to help yourself, Alex, because as I see it, you’re in for a world of hurt.”

Alex looked away from Harrison and didn’t respond. Harrison turned his attention back to the computer monitor. 65%. 70%. 74%.

Matt looked over at the computer. 78%. 82%. It was time. He shook the knife free from his sleeve, almost dropping it as it slipped past his cuff. He winced as he caught the knife by the blade. He looked around. No one was watching him. 89%. 91%.

Matt rose quickly from the seat, faltering momentarily but then dismissing the pain that radiated throughout his body. The guard behind Alex saw it happening first, but he couldn’t move fast enough. Alex was sitting in a chair between Matt and the guard. Alex saw Matt make his move and hesitated only a moment before she pushed her chair backward and into the guard. Alex and the man tumbled to the ground.

Harrison turned just in time to see Matt tackle him. Matt’s shoulder hit Harrison hard on the left side of his
body. The collision caused Harrison to drop the assault rifle he was holding. The impact also spun them both around and they fell heavily toward the floor.

Matt hit the ground hard on his back. Harrison collapsed on top of him. Matt winced from the pain radiating up into his shoulder, but he reached out quickly with his left arm and grabbed Harrison around the neck. Harrison grabbed Matt’s forearm and began to struggle. Matt held the knife in his right hand and pressed it against Harrison’s neck. The man’s body stiffened, then stopped moving when he realized the cause of the pressure.

Matt looked over and saw Alex on her hands and knees on the floor behind the desk. The guard was nowhere in sight. Harrison started to move again. Matt pressed the knife harder against Harrison’s neck and the man stopped struggling.

Through the legs of desks and chairs, Matt could see the computer technician. He was across the room on the floor and underneath another work station. Cowering beneath the desk, the once confident computer god had his eyes squeezed shut while his lips moved frantically in a silent prayer.

Matt placed his left hand over Harrison’s mouth and pressed the knife harder against his neck. The guard was nowhere to be seen. Turning his head from side to side, Matt scanned the limited view from his position. He looked over at Alex who was doing the same. Then he saw a gun appear from above the desk in front of him.

“Come out!” the guard yelled. “Both of you.”

The guard continued to inch forward and the gun moved farther past the desk. With each step, Matt felt increasingly vulnerable. He was shielded somewhat by Harrison’s body, but much of him was still exposed. At this distance, any shot fired would likely penetrate Harrison before hitting Matt. Matt was trapped. He wanted to make a move for Harrison’s gun but knew that as soon as he released his grip on the knife, Harrison would be all over him. Without the element of surprise, Matt wasn’t so sure he could win a fight against Harrison.

The gunman’s movements grew more hesitant as he likely recognized that he himself was becoming more exposed the farther forward and past the barrier of the desk he moved. Little did the man know, Matt was powerless to do anything from his position.

Suddenly, Harrison started kicking and thrashing against Matt’s body. The gunman standing above heard the commotion and hesitated. Matt watched as the man started to point the gun downward. The gun was now pointed directly at Matt and Harrison. Harrison was struggling frantically now.

“Come out where I can see you!” the guard demanded. “I’ll shoot, goddammit!”

Matt began to release his hold on Harrison. But first, he slashed Harrison across the cheek with the knife. When Harrison howled in pain and instinctively reached for his face, Matt quickly grabbed the gun from the man’s holster.

Still holding his hands to his face and starting to roll off Matt, Harrison shouted to the guard. “Shoot, dammit, shoot!”

The guard tightened his grip on the gun. Matt dove under the desk, but at the same time reached his hand above the desk and fired two shots blindly. Matt heard a shot come from the other side and then a thump as something fell to the ground.

After several seconds, Matt slowly rose. Harrison’s gun was still in his hands. He quickly turned it on Harrison who was holding his cheek and starting to rise. With the gun pointed at Harrison, Matt walked to the other side of the desk and looked at the man he had just killed.

“Matt,” he heard Alex say.

It took a moment for Matt to draw his eyes away from the man on the floor.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” she said urgently, breaking his reverie.

He nodded. He reached into his pocket with his left hand, still using his right hand to point the gun at Harrison. He pulled out the flash drive and handed it to Alex. “Here, load the virus.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

ALEX SLID INTO THE chair in front of the computer. Matt pushed Harrison down into a chair and stood over him while both men watched Alex at the computer. The virus search initiated by the computer technician had finished. 100%. No virus had been detected. But more important for their purposes, the computer was still logged on and waiting for instructions.

“What are you doing?” the computer technician asked urgently.

Alex inserted the device into the UBS port, and the computer waited for instructions to upload Patrick’s greatest hits.

“Wait! Stop!” the computer technician shouted.

From underneath the desk the technician crept forward and then leapt to his feet. Before Matt could react, the man lunged at Alex, grabbing her from behind. He wrapped his left arm across her neck and tried pulling her away from the computer.

Matt quickly stepped behind the technician without taking his eyes off Harrison. Matt tried to pull the man
away from Alex with one arm while at the same time pointing the gun at Harrison with his other. But the technician’s hold was firm. Alex clawed at the technician’s forearm, which was firmly wrapped around her neck. Finally, Matt hit the technician on the side of the head with the butt of the gun. The technician groaned and fell to the ground.

Matt quickly turned his attention back to Harrison.

He was too late. Harrison kicked Matt, causing him to fall forward on top of the technician. Matt scrambled and then rolled over, the gun extended toward where he had previously placed Harrison.

But Harrison was now standing behind Alex, his arm stretched across her neck. The knife was clenched in Harrison’s hand and pressed firmly against Alex’s throat. The pupils of Alex’s eyes were huge and dark. Her fingers gripped his forearm, her gun sitting impotently on the side of the desk where she had left it.

The flash drive was in the hard drive but the program had not yet begun to run. The computer continued to wait for instructions.

“Put down the gun,” Harrison said calmly as his eyes hardened.

“Don’t, Matt,” Alex pleaded as Harrison pressed the knife tighter against her neck.

Matt looked from Alex to Harrison and back to Alex again. Harrison pressed the knife harder against her neck. He drew blood. But Alex mouthed firmly, “Don’t.”

“Matt, don’t be stupid. Put the gun down.”

Matt hesitated for a moment and then slowly started to lower the gun. Upon seeing this, Alex fell to her knees, pulling down hard on Harrison’s forearm as she did so. She tucked her head low as her knees hit the floor. Harrison tumbled over the top of her and directly toward Matt, who quickly jumped out of the way.

Harrison rolled completely around and rose easily onto his feet. He was still holding the knife, but now Matt was holding a gun and pointing it at Harrison. The man paused momentarily before speeding toward the door. Matt fired off a shot. The bullet pierced the wall of an office cubicle as Harrison raced out the door.

Matt turned back to Alex and saw her sitting at the chair in front of the computer for the server.

“We haven’t got much time,” Alex said as her fingers flew across the keyboard with a few commands. Matt stood over Alex as he watched the door.

“Are you finished?” Matt said after a moment.

“Yes.” She pushed herself away from the computer. “It’s done.”

“Then, let’s get the hell out of here.”

Matt hurried back to the technician and ripped the keys and pass card off the man’s belt.

Matt handed Alex her gun, and they raced toward the rear exit. He cautiously opened the door. A shot rang out and slammed into the cement wall within inches of Matt’s face.

“Back,” he shouted as he jumped back and slammed the door closed. Matt gestured to a steel file cabinet against the wall and together they pushed it against the door.
Pounding immediately ensued. Instinctively, Matt and Alex backed away. The cabinet began to sway under the assault. Their efforts wouldn’t keep anyone out for long.

“Now what?” Alex said.

Matt turned in a full circle and scanned the room. He strode over to the computer technician. He knelt down and grabbed him roughly. He slapped him awake.

“How do we get out of here?”

“I have no idea.” The technician said rubbing his head.

“Yes, you do,” Matt said pointing the gun at the man’s face. “Where is it?”

The man’s eyes widened. “Don’t, please, don’t,” he begged.

Matt pressed the gun closer. “Tell me.”

“Behind the old server,” he said quickly, gesturing to the back of the room. “There’s a door. It leads to a hurricane shelter underneath the complex.”

Alex was already headed over to the old server. He watched as she struggled to pull it away from the wall. From across the room, Matt could see a small space beginning to appear between the server and the wall. He could barely make out the outline of a door.

“How do we get in?”

“You already have the key,” he stammered, gesturing to the keys Matt was still holding.

Matt ran to the back of the room. Alex had been able to move the server a few inches from the wall. He handed her the keys, took her spot and pulled the server the rest of
the way. He stepped aside and Alex moved in to unlock the door.

She hit gold on the third key and opened the door just as the cabinet slid far enough away from the entrance to reveal a shoulder pushing its way through the small space. Matt shoved Alex through the entryway. He shot one quick look over his shoulder before he started through the door himself. Harrison was forcing himself into the room. Matt stepped through the door out of the room just as Harrison raised his gun and fired off a shot.

Matt slammed the door shut. They were plunged into darkness. He fumbled for the handle. No lock. His fingers frantically ran along the length of the door and located a deadbolt above the handle. He quickly slid it into place. Groping blindly, he continued to explore the edges of the door. He found two other dead bolts to seal the thick steel door. One bolt slid into the concrete block ceiling and still another slid into the floor. He quickly slammed each of them into place.