Page 73 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

“Any day now. But I have even better news. President Olmedo has expressed his extreme gratitude and has requested a personal meeting with thesoldados asombrososwho pulled off the mission.”

“Yeah, sure. Someday. Maybe.”

“He was hoping tomorrow.”

“We’ve got a lot on our plate right now. Still getting squared away from our last two missions. I’ll pass.”

“Consider it a diplomatic mission.”

“I’m expecting a call from Linc and Raven any minute now. I’ve got to be ready for the exfil.”

“President Olmedo will soon be an important strategic partner. He’s also a true visionary—the future of Latin America. Perhaps even a George Washington for his people.”

“Bad teeth, eh? That’s too bad.”

“I thought you were a fan.”

“I am, very much so. But I’m not much of a schmoozer.”

“Neither is he. I’ve only had one conversation with him. He’s no ordinary politician. Something of a philosopher king. I think you two will hit it off famously.”

“You sure I can’t take a rain check?”

“You’ve thrown a Hail Mary on this one, and now we’re just inches from the goal line with Olmedo. I need you to punch it through with a quarterback sneak and score the winning touchdown.”

“A football analogy? I thought you were into the pickleball thing.”

“A presidential escort will pick you and your team up at the airport at precisely ten a.m. tomorrow. You’ll be taken to Olmedo’s personal residence for brunch. It’s quite an honor.”

“It’s more like a pain in my keister. But you’re right, I actually would like to meet him.”

“Wonderful. I’ll confirm with his people.”

Overholt rang off.

“Champagne and pupusas with a president? Yeah, I can see why you’re dragging your feet,” Max said in a mocking tone. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

Max nodded. “Linc and Raven. Yeah, me too. You know if there was a problem, they’d reach out.”

“If they can.”

?

Murphy’s first mistake was to assume Linlin was not a threat to theOregon. The puppy dog devotion that flashed in his lovelorn eyes the moment he saw her destroyed any suspicions he may have entertained.

His second mistake was to assume she was as naive as he was. His childish emotions betrayed his brilliant mind. He should have known his lame explanation for why a man with his training and expertise was working on a civilian cargo ship wouldn’t hold up under modest scrutiny.

Murphy’s third mistake was failing to realize that hiding his true work on board the vessel was telling her the vessel itself must be hiding some larger secret. What could it be?

Murphy blocked her access to the ship’s computer. Why? Who in the world would want to steal the manifest of an insignificant cargo ship? Preventing her from accessing the vessel’s mainframe meant there was something valuable on it.

Mark Murphy had his many faults, but he was no criminal. She was certain he wouldn’t be involved in illegal activities. Whatever was valuable on that mainframe was something Murph wanted to protect, and despite his childish prevarications, nothing was more important to him than computer science. His brilliant paper on organoid computing alone proved that.

Could it be something as valuable as an organoid computer?

Linlin’s pulse quickened.Of course!