Page 122 of The Atlas Maneuver

They watched as Citrone’s legs gave way and his bulky frame collapsed to the floor, finally letting go of the door, his body shaking for a moment before going still.

Koger crouched down and checked for a pulse. “He’s dead.”

Cassiopeia realized what had happened. “Electrocuted.”

They all glared back at Townley, who stood in the refrigerated room, beside the two soldiers, with a sly smile on his face.

“You didn’t think it would be that easy,” Townley said. “We are not something to be trifled with. I have no need for immunity.”

Bitterness and confidence laced the voice.

As if they truly were untouchable.

Koger stood. “You son of a bitch.”

“That gold is not America’s,” Townley said.

Koger reached for his gun.

She moved to stop him but was too late.

Koger brought the weapon up and planted a round right into Townley’s forehead. The bang rattled off the walls. The impact threw Townley back, off his feet, his cuffed hands unable to maintain any balance, the back of his head thumping the stone floor hard. The two guards reacted by reaching for their own weapons.

“No,” Jeanne ordered. “Stand down.”

“You feel better?” Cassiopeia asked Koger.

“Much. I hate smug pieces of—”

“I get it,” she said.

Jeanne walked over to Townley’s body. “This might be hard to explain. Especially with all these witnesses.”

“No explanation needed. I work for the CIA. We kill people. It’s part of the job.”

“You don’t actually believe that, do you?” Jeanne said.

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. Rob is dead. That prick is dead. And I want to see what’s behind that damn door. You like to tell me all the time how good you are. Then show me and make that happen.”

Cassiopeia was ahead of Koger. She’d already moved closer to the steel door and noticed that the red light had returned to the control panel.

“He just let Citrone walk right up and die,” Cassiopeia said.

“Another reason I shot him,” Koger muttered. “My bullshit tolerance level is right at zero.”

“You know who you sound like,” she said.

“I know,” Koger said. “I wonder how Captain America is doing too?” He faced Jeanne. “Any bright ideas?”

“The key you found might turn off the electricity to the door. Then again, there could be more traps. But I have a thought that should guard against that.”

CHAPTER 70

KELLY HAD EATEN LITTLE DURING DINNER AND PASSED ON THE CRUSTYalmond treats for dessert, but she was nursing a cup of sweet mint tea and considering her options. Katie had told her that Kyra Lhota would be near her daughter by tomorrow. Ready. No matter what was said to the contrary, she assumed having Kyra there was supposed to convey some sort of threat. But she was not intimidated. Far from it. She held all the cards and no amount of bravado would change that superior position. Without the bitcoin the bank could do nothing. The Atlas Maneuver would be totally impotent. But she reminded herself that desperate people did desperate things.

She glanced around at the dinner guests.

All were busy chatting and eating.