“No deal,” Strathmore fired back. “I want the pass‑key.”
“I don’t have any fucking pass‑key!”
“Enough lies!” Strathmore bellowed. “Where is it?”
Hale clamped down on Susan’s neck. “Let me out, or she dies!”
* * *
Trevor Strathmore had done enough high‑stakes bargaining in his life to know that Hale was in a very dangerous state of mind. The young cryptographer had painted himself into a corner, and a cornered opponent was always the most dangerous kind‑desperate and unpredictable. Strathmore knew his next move was a critical one. Susan’s life depended on it‑and so did the future of Digital Fortress.
Strathmore knew the first thing he had to do was release the tension of the situation. After a long moment, he sighed reluctantly. “Okay, Greg. You win. What do you want me to do?”
Silence. Hale seemed momentarily unsure how to handle the commander’s cooperative tone. He let up a bit on Susan’s neck.
“W‑well . . .” he stammered, his voice wavering suddenly. “First thing you do is give me your gun. You’re both coming with me.”
“Hostages?” Strathmore laughed coldly. “Greg, you’ll have to do better than that. There are about a dozen armed guards between here and the parking lot.”
“I’m not a fool,” Hale snapped. “I’m taking your elevator. Susan comes with me! You stay!”
“I hate to tell you this,” Strathmore replied, “but there’s no power to the elevator.”
“Bullshit!” Hale snapped. “The lift runs on power from the main building! I’ve seen the schematics!”
“We tried it already,” Susan choked, trying to help. “It’s dead.”
“You’re both so full of shit, it’s incredible.” Hale tightened his grip. “If the elevator’s dead, I’ll abort TRANSLTR and restore power.”
“The elevator takes a password,” Susan managed feistily.
“Big deal.” Hale laughed. “I’m sure the commander will share. Won’t you, Commander?”
“No chance,” Strathmore hissed.
Hale boiled over. “Now you listen to me, old man‑here’s the deal! You let Susan and me out through your elevator, we drive a few hours, and then I let her go.”
Strathmore felt the stakes rising. He’d gotten Susan into this, and he needed to get her out. His voice stayed steady as a rock. “What about my plans for Digital Fortress?”
Hale laughed. “You can write your back door‑I won’t say a word.” Then his voice turned ominous. “But the day I think you’re tracking me, I go to the press with the whole story. I tell them Digital Fortress is tainted, and I sink this whole fucking organization!”
Strathmore considered Hale’s offer. It was clean and simple. Susan lived, and Digital Fortress got its back door. As long as Strathmore didn’t chase Hale, the back door stayed a secret. Strathmore knew Hale couldn’t keep his mouth shut for long. But still . . . the knowledge of Digital Fortress was Hale’s only insurance‑maybe he’d be smart. Whatever happened, Strathmore knew Hale could be removed later if necessary.
“Make up your mind, old man!” Hale taunted. “Are we leaving or not?” Hale’s arms tightened around Susan like a vice.
Strathmore knew that if he picked up the phone right now and called Security, Susan would live. He’d bet his life on it. He could see the scenario clearly. The call would take Hale completely by surprise. He would panic, and in the end, faced with a small army, Hale would be unable to act. After a brief standoff, he would give in. But if I call Security, Strathmore thought, my plan is ruined.
Hale clamped down again. Susan cried out in pain.
“What’s it gonna be?” Hale yelled. “Do I kill her?”
Strathmore considered his options. If he let Hale take Susan out of Crypto, there were no guarantees. Hale might drive for a while, park in the woods. He’d have a gun . . . Strathmore’s stomach turned. There was no telling what would happen before Hale set Susan free . . . if he set her free. I’ve got to call Security, Strathmore decided. What else can I do? He pictured Hale in court, spilling his guts about Digital Fortress. My plan will be ruined. There must be some other way.
“Decide!” Hale yelled, dragging Susan toward the staircase.
Strathmore wasn’t listening. If saving Susan meant his plans were ruined, then so be it‑nothing was worth losing her. Susan Fletcher was a price Trevor Strathmore refused to pay.
Hale had Susan’s arm twisted behind her back and her neck bent to one side. “This is your last chance, old man! Give me the gun!”
Strathmore’s mind continued to race, searching for another option. There are always other options! Finally he spoke‑quietly, almost sadly. “No, Greg, I’m sorry. I just can’t let you go.”
Hale choked in apparent shock. “What!”
“I’m calling Security.”
Susan gasped. “Commander! No!”
Hale tightened his grip. “You call Security, and she dies!”
Strathmore pulled the cellular off his belt and flicked it on. “Greg, you’re bluffing.”
“You’ll never do it!” Hale yelled. “I’ll talk! I’ll ruin your plan! You’re only hours away from your dream! Controlling all the data in the world! No more TRANSLTR. No more limits‑just free information. It’s a chance of a lifetime! You won’t let it slip by!”
Strathmore voice was like steel. “Watch me.”
“But‑but what about Susan?” Hale stammered. “You make that call, and she dies!”
Strathmore held firm. “That’s a chance I’m ready to take.”
“Bullshit! You’ve got a bigger hard‑on for her than you do for Digital Fortress! I know you! You won’t risk it!”
Susan began to make an angry rebuttal, but Strathmore beat her to it. “Young man! You don’t know me! I take risks for a living. If you’re looking to play hardball, let’s play!” He started punching keys on his phone. “You misjudged me, son! Nobody threatens the lives of my employees and walks out!” He raised the phone and barked into the receiver, “Switchboard! Get me Security!”
Hale began to torque Susan’s neck. “I‑I’ll kill her. I swear it!”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Strathmore proclaimed. “Killing Susan will just make things wor—” He broke off and rammed the phone against his mouth. “Security! This is Commander Trevor Strathmore. We’ve got a hostage situation in Crypto! Get some men in here! Yes, now, goddamn it! We also have a generator failure. I want power routed from all available external sources. I want all systems on‑line in five minutes! Greg Hale killed one of my junior Sys‑Secs. He’s holding my senior cryptographer hostage. You’re cleared to use tear gas on all of us if necessary! If Mr. Hale doesn’t cooperate, have snipers shoot him dead. I’ll take full responsibility. Do it now!”
Hale stood motionless‑apparently limp in disbelief. His grip on Susan eased.
Strathmore snapped his phone shut and shoved it back onto his belt. “Your move, Greg.”
CHAPTER 81
Becker stood bleary‑eyed beside the telephone booth on the terminal concourse. Despite his burning face and a vague nausea, his spirits were soaring. It was over. Truly over. He was on his way home. The ring on his finger was the grail he’d been seeking. He held his hand up in the light and squinted at the gold band. He couldn’t focus well enough to read, but the inscription didn’t appear to be in English. The first symbol was either a Q, an O, or a zero, his eyes hurt too much to tell. Becker studied the first few characters. They made no sense. This was a matter of national security?
Becker stepped into the phone booth and dialed Strathmore. Before he had finished the international prefix, he got a recording. “Todos los circuitos estan ocupados,” the voice said. “Please hang up and try your call later.” Becker frowned and hung up. He’d forgotten: Getting an international connection from Spain was like roulette, all a matter of timing and luck. He’d have to try again in a few minutes.
Becker fought to ignore the waning sting of the pepper in his eyes. Megan had told him rubbing his eyes would only make them worse; he couldn’t imagine. Impatient, he tried the phone again. Still no circuits. Becker couldn’t wait any longer‑his eyes were on fire; he had to flush them with water. Strathmore would have to wait a minute or two. Half blind, Becker made his way toward the bathrooms.