Watching Acerbi come closer, the group saw that he was smiling. Apprehension turned to relief, and relief turned to joy when he walked right into their midst and began shaking hands all around.
“Good evening, my friends. I trust your flight across the Atlantic was comfortable.”
“It’s almost nine o’clock at night, Rene,” Thorn said. “And they didn’t give us anything to eat on the plane.” He sneered as he looked past Rene at the empty desert. “Where’s your usual entourage, Acerbi?”
Acerbi’s dark eyes narrowed as he maintained a tight smile. “We’re completely safe here. No need for guards. As for the crew’s failure to feed you on your flight over, please accept my apologies. They were just following my instructions. I’m sure you are all starving, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise dinner I had prepared in honor of your arrival. Come, please follow me.”
With that, Acerbi turned and began walking toward the darkened hangar. As if on cue, a few lights began switching on, infusing the area with soft light. Outside, those walking toward the hangar could see the outlines of men dressed like waiters lighting candles at a dozen tables spaced out over the concrete floor.
“Dinner in a hangar,” Thorn said. “How special. I would have thought we’d be dining in your new hacienda.”
“The house is being prepped for the ceremony tomorrow,” Acerbi said, keeping his eyes focused straight ahead. “We had to improvise. On a more positive note, you’ll be pleased to know that your rooms are ready and that you’ll all be joining me up at the hacienda later for cocktails.”
Dana Waters smoothed her short blonde hair back out of her face as she walked next to Acerbi. “This is most gracious of you Rene. I’m starved.”
“Thank you. You’re looking beautiful this evening, Dana.” Acerbi smiled. “At least I’ve been able to make some people happy.”
“We’re all happy, Rene. Don’t pay any attention to Alan. He’s been like this for weeks … business problems.”
“Oh, but I’m afraid I do have to pay attention to him, as well as some others.”
Dana’s face became a white mask. “You mean …”
“Yes, it appears that some of our guests will not be joining us at the ceremony tomorrow. My security people have informed me that a few of our trusted friends have been discussing business with outside interests.”
“Outside interests? What outside interests?”
“Does it matter? They’ve broken a sacred bond.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Let’s just say that they’ve thrown away a very bright future.” Acerbi could see the fear in her eyes as her pace began to slow.
“Come now, Dana. Our core group must be completely trustworthy, especially now that our plan is beginning to come together. We can’t afford to overlook mistakes of this magnitude, because if we falter, everything we’ve worked for all these years will collapse overnight because some idiot had too much to drink and wanted to impress.”
“I know, Rene. It’s just that …”
“It’s just that what? That these people are friends of ours? That it’s easier to eliminate someone when you don’t have to look at their face and pretend that you’re not making plans to destroy them?”
“Yes … that’s exactly what I’m saying. Take Alan for instance. He could be a great asset to us someday.”
“No. His days are over. He’s the worst of the lot … his fate was in his hands, and he let it all slip away.”
Acerbi took her by the arm as they continued walking toward the hangar.
“How do I know I’m not next?” The question was posed in an offhand manner, as though she were making small talk.
“Have you been talking to anyone outside our little group?”
“No.” Her eyes blazed. “Of course not.”
“Then you have nothing to fear. It’s as simple as that. I’m about to send a very clear message to those who think they can betray me and get away with it.” Acerbi kept walking with a strange smile on his face. He seemed almost happy, but there was an edge to his mood. Something about him was different. Looking sideways as they walked, she studied his features. What was beneath that smile?
“Why is it that a handsome man like you never married, Rene?”
“I see you’re in a subtle mood tonight, Dana.”
“No, really … you’re good-looking, bright, ambitious … rich. You’re the perfect catch.”
“Are you interested?”
Dana stopped, her eyes wide with surprise. “You never cease to amaze me, Rene.”
“Why is that?”
“Why? Because you’re an enigma. You’re one of the most ruthless and cunning men I’ve ever known, but you can also be very charming at the same time. That’s a very dangerous combination, especially to those who don’t understand you the way I do.”
“So, you understand me?”
Dana began to laugh. “No, you’re probably right. I don’t think anyone really understands the great Rene Acerbi. Anyway, in answer to your question, just what did you have in mind … a date?”
Rene began to laugh out loud. “A date? What … you want me to pick you up in my?57 Chevy and drive you to some hamburger joint?”
Dana paused, her lips pinched together in a mischievous pout. “Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, I don’t have a ’57 Chevy. I have a Ferrari.”
Rene’s thin smile disguised the look in his eyes as he watched her throw her head back in laughter. Too bad she would be joining Alan Thorn tonight, he thought to himself, for he had discovered that she too had been discussing matters of confidence with outsiders.
Together they walked arm and arm toward the hangar, while up in the sky, a dark star ruled by a dark force was looking down on them. It was a star never before seen by astronomers, for on this night it had just blossomed in the heavens in a prelude of what was to come.
CHAPTER 58
Jack Beck opened the door and stepped from the wavering heat into the cool interior of the mobile home. “Why all the glum looks?”
“Colonel Wilson and his men are pulling out,” Alon said. “They just received orders.”
“Not good. I just found out these new drones are equipped with satellite-guided auto-pilots. They can fly anywhere you want … they just can’t land without a pilot guiding them.”
“They won’t be landing,” Alon said with a straight face.
Beck blinked back at him with a sudden realization. “Decoys?”
“You got it.”
“When do you want them?”
“Tonight,” Lev said.
“Whoa … that’s a tall order. I’ll ask their tech guys if it’s possible on such short notice.”
“You know where we’re going, don’t you, Jack?”
The squat CIA officer looked back at Lev and hesitated for a moment before opening the door and disappearing into the darkness outside.
“Think we can trust him?” Leo asked. “Acerbi has spies everywhere. How do we know this Beck guy is who he says he is?”
“Because I called Danny. Turns out Jack has worked with us before in the Middle East. Apparently, he’s one of the best in the business.”
“I wonder what he’s up to now,” John said, glancing out the window. “Hey, the lights are on in the hangar across the field.”
“They must be working on the drones,” Leo said, peering through the glass. “Why do I have the feeling our CIA friend has been working behind the scenes for us all along?” Leo looked at his watch. “It’s almost midnight. Let’s head over to the hangar next door and see if Ben and his men are ready to go.”
Alon stood and strapped on his pistol. “Drones or no drones, we’re going in anyway. Ben’s team won’t be able to wait any longer. Radar just picked up a passenger jet landing at Acerbi’s airstrip.”