Page 83 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

“What about the Army?”

“The Indigenous people are especially skeptical of the military. I can’t show up surrounded by armed soldiers. Not only will it frightenthem, it will make me look like another hated tinhorn Latin American dictator.”

“If I were the head of your security, I’d tell you to reschedule the event. There’s no way to guarantee your safety, and your children need you now.”

“A reasonable suggestion, Mr.Cabrillo. But canceling is not an option. My country has just emerged from decades of such violence, and my people are still traumatized by haunting memories of this kind of terror inflicted on their families. My family is no more important than theirs. The whole nation will hear of this attack soon, and perhaps already have. If I retreat back into mycastillo”—Olmedo gestured at his mansion—“behind a wall of armed guards, what message am I sending? If the wolves scare away the shepherd, the sheep will be slaughtered.”

Juan nodded with admiration, but said nothing. He was weighing his options.

“If you can’t come with me, I’ll understand,” Olmedo said. “You’ve already done more than enough.” The president flashed his winning smile. “But you did say, ‘Don’t hesitate to ask.’ ”

“Yes I did, didn’t I? Excuse me for a moment, sir.”

“Of course.”

Cabrillo pulled MacD and Linda aside and lowered his voice.

“No word from Linc or Raven?”

Linda shook her head. “Not yet.”

“What’s your opinion, Mac?”

“I’d assault the gates of hell for that guy.”

Juan smiled. He felt the same way. If there was ever a servant leader, this was him.

Overholt was clear about Olmedo’s strategic importance to the United States and the rest of Latin America. Several other presidents were planning on following Olmedo’s criminal reforms in their respective countries. The region was shackled by violence and corruption preventing healthy economic development, which, in turn, fueled the immigration crisis streaming across America’s borders. If Olmedowere suddenly killed by his enemies, those other presidents would likely waver and Central America would remain locked in poverty and violence.

Juan knew if he asked Langston’s opinion he’d tell him to provide security until other arrangements could be made. The risk was relatively minimal. It was highly unlikely the opposition could put together another attack plan on such short notice.

But Cabrillo was first and foremost the captain of theOregon. His primary responsibility was to his ship and his crew. He wouldn’t jeopardize them without just cause. Overholt had been shooting them from mission to mission like a steel ball in a pachinko machine. Their luck was due to run out sooner rather than later, and that meant somebody getting hurt—or worse.

But what could be a more just cause than covering the six of a man like Olmedo?

Cabrillo turned back to the president and stuck out his hand.

“We’d be honored to join you, sir. We’ll need to get back to our ship and make arrangements.”

“Please text me the number of the event coordinator,” Linda said. “There’s about a million details we’ll have to figure out.”

“I’ll text you a list of contact numbers as soon as I get back to my home office,” Olmedo promised. “Thank you all again.”

45

Colombia

Rafael Vargas, La Liga’s senior enforcer, hovered over a large computer monitor studying the split-screen image of a man in two different poses.

His boss, Amador Fierro, stepped into the darkened room. “Any news of the operation?”

“Unfortunately, I must report that Operation Arrow Heart was a failure.”

“How? I thought your men had everything under control.”

“They made excellent preparations, and key members of Olmedo’s security team were compromised with cash and drugs. The breach was properly executed, and the operators well-trained.”

“And?”