Absolute Damage by Jack Mars

Author:Jack Mars [Mars, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jack Mars
Published: 2024-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“How long until the summit ends?” Jake asked.

“Three-and-a-half hours,” Art replied. “We’re heading to the airport thirty minutes after that. Do I want to know why you asked?”

“I think you already know.”

Art cracked a smile. “All right. Miss Topaz, do we have more drones?”

“They’re already on their way,” the CIA operative replied, wearing a smile of her own. “Be careful, Jake.”

“I’m always careful,” Jake replied.

Jess didn’t say anything. She stared at her screen, her lips thin, shoulders bunched. Jake respected her silence despite the pain in his heart.

He issued quick commands to his team leaders to be prepared to evacuate the President at his command. “Drag him out if you have to,” he said, “Tell him it’s my order, and he can take his wrath out on me once he’s safely home.”

“You can be absolutely sure I’ll do that,” Preston replied.

Jake chuckled as he strapped himself into the car. “Topaz, how soon until your drones reach the Louvre?”

“Five minutes. We’ll have a good half hour to look around before you get there.”

"Good. We know how the virus is spread now. I don't know if the drones would be able to detect nanobots, but if you see any suspicious baggies or small cartons containing a powdery substance, you can bet those are the nanobots. Look for anyone headed away from the scene who isn't displaying symptoms of panic or who is displaying signs of false panic."

“You got it,” she replied. “Can I convince you to stay outside of the Louvre?”

“Oh yes,” Jake said, “I have no desire to get myself killed. I just want to find the asshole responsible for this. Jess?”

“Yes.” Jess didn’t sound quite so wary anymore. That was good. When this was over, they could talk, and he could explain why he felt he had no choice with Hans.

No time to dwell on that now, though. “We need to find St. Clair. We’re putting out small fires, but we need to find the flamethrower. He has to transfer the virus to his carriers. That means that he or at least the virus stockpile are somewhere in or near Paris. Start giving me options.”

"Should we pass this information along to the Republican Guard?"

“Pass it on to me,” Topaz interjected. “We’ll take care of hunting the terrorists. You focus on keeping the President safe.”

Jake felt a slight sting at that. Hunting terrorists was exactly what he was doing right now, rather than staying at the President’s side, which is where duty demanded he be.

But the President was well-protected, and Jake was tired of putting out small fires. “Tell me where you find St. Clair too,” he said. “I want to talk to him before the Agency takes him away.”

“Just as long as you leave us enough to take away,” Topaz said drily.

Jake didn't reply to that. He reached the Louvre a few minutes later and once more was forced to park nearly a mile away due to the police cordon. Jake walked around as he had before, surveying the situation and looking for anyone or anything suspicious.

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