Gary Ponzo - A Touch of Deceit

Nick nodded at McKenna, who watched Kelly creating sparks against the cement wall.

“What are you doing?” Nick asked.

“You said the detonator would be down here. We’ve gone through most of the basement. My guess is that baby’s inside this wall safe.”

Nick rushed over and grabbed the chisel from Kelly’s hand. Kelly looked to McKenna for instructions.

“What are you doing, Bracco?” McKenna asked.

Nick stared at Kelly, looking straight through him and thinking like a chess player, four moves ahead. There was a long silence and just when McKenna was about to speak, Nick said, “There’s no time for this.”

“If you’re suggesting we use explosives,” Kelly said, “I think there’s a good chance that will set off the detonator.”

“I know,” Nick said.

McKenna looked at his watch and bristled, “Listen, Agent Bracco, we have exactly thirty-five minutes to get inside this safe and try to diffuse this thing. You’re wasting valuable time.”

Nick made eye contact with Silk and nodded. Everyone watched as Silk smiled and rolled up his sleeves. “I thought you’d never ask,” Silk said.

Kelly backed away as Silk cracked his knuckles and wiggled his fingers like a concert pianist about to begin his sonata. He leaned close to the safe door and let out a mock laugh, “Shit, a Haussman 8000. It’s older than my grandfather. I used to wind these suckers open when I was just a-” he stopped when he realized everyone was staring at him. He looked at Nick. “Should be less than two minutes.”

McKenna said, “What the-”

Nick put his finger to his lips and everyone watched quietly as Silk gleefully twisted the knob back and forth with practiced skill. After a minute there was a click and Silk broke into an all out smile. He pulled down on the handle and opened the safe door.

McKenna shook his head in disgust. “Not exactly by the book.”

When the door of the safe swung open, Nick’s mouth went dry. In the tunnel-like opening a red digital timer beamed its fatal number. The time read 33:18 and diligently worked its way toward zero. The timer was attached to a band of multicolored wires that wound its way to a small metal box, then to something that looked like a miniature car battery.

“Shit,” McKenna murmured.

Kelly bent over and spread open his black bag. Everyone gave him room as he pulled out a high beam flashlight to illuminate the interior of the safe.

Nick motioned to Carl Rutherford to take a look. Rutherford was the team’s bomb expert and was the only one in the room who knew more about bombs than Nick. Kelly sensed his presence and moved slightly, allowing Rutherford to inspect the device with him. Everyone in the room jumped when Rutherford clicked open the metal box. It squeaked as it swung up and Kelly and Rutherford seemed to generate a mutual concern over the discovery inside.

“I don’t see the transmitter,” Kelly said. “How is this thing sending its signal across the continent?”

Rutherford beamed the flashlight into the back of the safe. He pointed to a clear plastic line that seemed to disappear through a narrow opening in the back corner. “I’m guessing it’s a wireless system.”

Nick felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He looked down and saw that it was Walt Jackson. He looked at his watch and realized that the President was due for his press conference in less than two minutes.

“I’ve got the President on conference call with us, Nick. What have you got?”

Nick searched for the proper words. He knew Merrick would be making a colossal mistake if he gave in to Kharrazi’s demands. Nick also knew that in the next thirty minutes, he was the only person on the planet who could prevent that from happening.

“Mr. President, Sir,” Nick said.

His crew stood up straight and circled around him. He felt the weight of their stares. Matt stood next to Steele, holding her hand. All of them seemed anxious to hear Nick’s exchange.

“I don’t like the sound of that greeting, Nick,” President Merrick spoke with tension thick in his voice.

Nick saw a Marine enter Kharrazi’s private quarters from the communications room and brief McKenna on the status of the cabin. Nick pulled his ear from the phone to overhear the Marine tell McKenna the cabin was completely secure. All KSF soldiers were either dead or captured. No Kharrazi.

“Nick,” Walt said. “Are you there? We’re holding up this press conference for your report. The President feels the only option is the withdrawal of troops from Turkey.”

Kelly and Rutherford seemed to be in complete agreement on the assessment of the detonator. They turned to Nick and waited for him to get off the phone.

“Hold on,” Nick said, and covered the tiny mouthpiece with his thumb. He looked at Rutherford, who was shaking his head.

“We’re screwed,” Rutherford said, in exactly the language Nick expected from him. “It’s a Rashid special.” He turned and pointed to the metal box between the battery and the timer. “There’s a surge monitor. If we disconnect any of the wires from the battery that support the detonator-” Rutherford flipped open his fingers in an explosive manner. “Auto destruct. The missiles fire immediately.”

“Then Kharrazi had no way of ever stopping the detonation, even if the President acquiesced?” Nick said.

Rutherford shrugged and reached into the safe to show Nick something. Nick heard Walt’s voice booming from the earpiece of his phone, “Nick! Answer me!”

Rutherford held up a square plastic board with at least twenty pegs that appeared to look like switches of some sort. It was connected to the other three devices with the same wires, but was hidden behind them. Kelly handed him a small forceps allowing Rutherford to hold the board with his hand aside, giving Nick a better view.

“What is it?” Nick asked.

“Twenty four dummy switches and one kill button,” Rutherford said. “I’m sure only Kharrazi knows which button would shut the device off. The other twenty four simply detonate it early.”

“Nick!” Walt’s voice gained in volume and pitch.

Nick stared at Rutherford and put the phone to his ear. “I’m here, Sir.”

“Damn it, Nick, what the hell’s going on over there? The President has a nation waiting for him.”

“Hold on, Sir,” Nick put the phone down again and looked at Rutherford. “But Kharrazi’s not here, so he can’t disarm it."

Rutherford nodded. “Like I said, we’re screwed.”

Nick brought the phone to his ear just in time to hear Walt muttering his name.

“Yes, Sir. I understand, Sir. I have the information you’re looking for.” Nick stamped his thumb over the mouthpiece again and pulled the phone down. “What about draining the battery?” Nick asked Rutherford. “Can’t you drain its power slowly without creating any surge in energy loss?”

Rutherford turned to Kelly to discuss the possibility. As they exchanged headshakes and discouraging murmurs, Nick returned the phone to his ear. He interrupted a barrage of cursing so harsh that Nick could actually see Walt Jackson’s face twisted with aggravation. “I’m here, Sir. I was just getting a last minute brief.”

“You leave this phone again and I swear I’ll-”

“Sir,” Nick interrupted. “There’s no need for any news conference. At least not one that announces any withdrawal.”

There was a pause. Nick found it hard not to stare at the timer. Thirty-two minutes.

Finally, Nick heard the dejected voice of President Merrick. “Why do you say that, Nick?”

“Because, Sir. .” Nick thought carefully about his words. Rutherford made eye contact with Nick and shook his head with disheartened expression. “I’m looking at the detonator right now-”