A shot popped and Fair's chest exploded from a direct hit.
Werner Lindauer apparently could shoot.
Malone dove right, seeking cover behind another column, knowing Dark would take only a nanosecond to recover. A swift blast of automatic fire and bullets pinged off the stone a few inches from his head. He glanced across the nave at Werner, who was safe behind a column.
Dark hissed a string of obscenities, then screamed, "I'm going to kill them both. Right now."
"I don't give a damn," he called out.
"Really? You sure?"
He needed to force a mistake. He motioned at Werner that he intended to advance forward, down the transept, using the columns for cover.
Now for the true test. He motioned for Werner to toss him the gun.
The man lobbed the weapon his way. He caught it and signaled to stay put.
Malone swung left and darted across the open space to the next column.
More bullets streaked his way.
He caught a glimpse of Dorothea and Christl, still tied to their column. Only two rounds remained in the gun, so he grabbed a softball-sized rock and hurled the stone toward Dark, then crossed to the next column. The projectile crashed into something and thudded away.
Five more columns remained between him and Dorothea Lindauer, who was tied on his side of the nave.
"Take a look," Dark said.
He risked a glance.
Christl lay on the rough pavement. Ropes dangled from her wrists but they'd been cut, freeing her. Dark kept his body hidden, but Malone spotted the end of the rifle pointed down.
"You don't care?" Dark called out. "You want to watch her die?"
A burst of bullets ricocheted off the pavement just behind where Christl lay. Fear sent her scrambling forward across the lichen-infested flooring.
"Stop," Dark yelled at her.
She did.
"Next volley and her legs are gone."
He paused, attuning his senses, wondering about Werner Lindauer. Where was he?
"I guess there's no way we can discuss this?" he asked.
"Toss your weapon away and get your ass out here."
Still no mention of Werner. The gunman surely knew there was someone else here. "Like I said. I don't give a damn. Kill her."
He pivoted right as he spoke the challenge, his angle better now that he was closer to the altar. In the unearthly greenish light that filtered in from the fading afternoon, he saw Dark drift a couple of feet back from his column, seeking a better shot at Christl.
Malone fired but the bullet missed.
One round left.
Dark retook cover.
Malone darted to the next column. He spotted a shadow approaching Dark from the row of columns that spread to the back of the nave. Dark's attention was on Malone, so the shadow was free to scoot ahead. Its shape and size confirmed its identity. Werner Lindauer was gutsy.
"Okay, you've got a gun," Dark said. "I shoot her, you shoot me. But I can take the other sister without giving you a crack at me."
Malone heard a grunt, then a thud as flesh and bones pounded something that had not given way. Malone peered around the column and saw Werner Lindauer on top of Dark, a fist raised. The two struggling men rolled out into the nave and Dark shoved Werner away, both hands still gripping the weapon.
Christl had sprung to her feet.
Dark started to stand.
Malone aimed.
The crack of a rifle reverberated across the cavernous walls.
Blood poured from Dark's neck. The gun dropped from his grip as he realized he'd been shot and reached for his throat, struggling to breathe. Malone heard another crack-a second shot-and Dark's body stiffened then fell, landing hard, spine first.
Silence engulfed the church.
Werner lay on the ground. Christl stood. Dorothea sat. Malone glared to his left.
In an upper gallery above the church's vestibule, where centuries ago a choir may have sung, Ulrich Henn lowered a scoped rifle. Beside him, grim and defiant, gazing down from her vantage point, stood Isabel Oberhauser.
FIFTY-SEVEN
RAMSEY WATCHED AS DIANE MCCOY OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND slipped into the passenger seat. He'd been waiting outside the administrative building for her to arrive. Her call fifteen minutes ago had signaled alarm.
"What the hell have you done?" she asked.
He wasn't about to volunteer anything.
"Daniels ordered me into the Oval Office an hour ago and reamed my ass."
"You going to tell me why?"
"Don't play that coy crap with me. You leaned on Aatos Kane, didn't you?"
"I spoke with him."
"And he spoke with the president."
He sat patient and quiet. He'd known McCoy for several years. He'd studied her background. She was careful and deliberate. The nature of her job demanded patience. Yet here she was outright mad. Why?
His cell phone, resting on the dashboard, lit up, signaling an incoming message. "Excuse me. I can't be unavailable." He checked the display, but did not respond. "It can wait. What's wrong, Diane? I simply asked for the senator's assistance. Are you telling me that no one else has made contact with the White House trying the same thing?"
"I'm telling you that Aatos Kane is a different animal. What did you do?"
"Not all that much. He was thrilled that I communicated with him. He said that I would make an excellent addition to the Joint Chiefs. I told him that if he felt that way, then I would appreciate any support he could show."
"Langford, it's just you and me here, so cut the speeches. Daniels was flaming mad. He resented Kane's involvement, blamed me. Said I was in league with you."
He screwed his face into a frown. "In league for what?"
"You're a piece of work. You told me the other day that you could deliver Kane and you damn well did. I don't want to know how or why, but I do want to know how Daniels tied me to you. This is my ass here."
"And a nice ass it is."
She exhaled. "How is that productive?"
"It's not. Just a truthful observation."
"Are you going to offer anything to help? I've worked a long time to get this far."
"What exactly did the president say?" He needed to know.
She slapped away his question with the back of her hand. "Like I'm going to tell you that."
"Why not? You're accusing me of something improper, so I'd like to know what Daniels had to say."
"Mighty different attitude from when we last talked." Her voice had dropped.
He shrugged. "As I recall, you thought I'd make a fine addition to the Joint Chiefs, too. Is it not your duty, as national security adviser, to recommend good people to the president?"
"Okay, Admiral. Play the part, be a good soldier. The president of the United States is still pissed and so is Senator Kane."
"I can't imagine why. My conversation with the senator was most pleasant, and I haven't even spoken to the president, so I can't understand why he's angry with me."
"You going to Admiral Sylvian's funeral?"
He caught the subject shift. "Of course. I've been asked to participate in the honor guard."
"You've got balls."
He threw her his most charming smile. "I was actually touched to be asked."
"I came because we needed to talk. I'm sitting here in a parked car, like a fool, because I got myself entangled with you-"
"Entangled in what?"
"You know damn well what. The other night you made it clear that there was going to be a vacancy in the Joint Chiefs. One that didn't exist at the time."
"That's not what I recall. You're the one who wanted to speak to me. It was late, but you insisted. You came to my house. You were concerned about Daniels and his attitude toward the military. We spoke of the Joint Chiefs, in the abstract. Neither of us was aware that any vacancy would arise. Certainly not the next day. It's a tragedy that David Sylvian died. He was a fine man, but I fail to see how that has entangled us in any way."