Page 121 of The Atlas Maneuver

“This is too easy,” she said.

Koger stopped and stared at her. “What are you thinking?”

“Billions in gold protected by these concealed panels? And Townley. The man’s facing prison, yet refused to do a thing to help himself? He just wished us luck.”

“You think this is a Trojan horse?” Citrone said.

Good question.

“There’s one way to find out,” Koger said.

And she agreed.

It took ten minutes for two soldiers to bring Wells Townley down to them, his hands still cuffed behind his back.

“We broke into your safe and found the controller,” Jeanne said. “Now we’re here. There’s nothing left to hide. Please open the door.”

Townley shook his head.

Koger grabbed the irritating little man and shoved him toward the door.

“No,” Townley screamed, trying to regain his balance as he stumbled toward the stainless steel. “I will not help you. I demand to be taken into custody. Take me away from here. Now.”

“That’s a strange request,” Jeanne said. “Rarely do we have offenders wanting to go to jail.”

“You are going to take me there anyway. Right? I prefer to get it over with.”

Jeanne paused for a moment, then said, “Maybe not. I can grant you full immunity.”

Townley seemed to consider the proposal. “I’ll need more than that. The bank has an enormous reach.”

“So do I,” Jeanne said.

“I would want full protection.”

“We can provide that. But you will have to offer sworn testimony that incriminates the bank, its officers and directors.”

The stout little man went silent for a moment. Then finally nodded. “All right. I can do that. I have the code that will open the door.”

Citrone moved forward. “Allow me.”

The big man stepped into the concealed passage and approached the keypad. The rest of them waited in the refrigerated room. Townley rattled off a series of numbers, which Citrone entered.

The panel beeped, then the red light changed to green.

An excitement tingled through her.

“It seems we have permission to enter,” Citrone said.

That it did.

Citrone reached for the door handle with his right hand, gripping it, ready to twist. Suddenly, his body went into violent convulsions, shaking uncontrollably. Spittle and a moan seeped from Citrone’s mouth, but the big man did not let go of the metal latch.

He just kept shaking as if in a seizure.

Cassiopeia reacted and lunged forward.

Koger stopped her with a grab from his hand.