Vortex by Jon Land

Author:Jon Land
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2010-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

FIVE MINUTES LATER BANE called central dispatch from the Bat’s apartment and was channeled immediately to Arthur Jorgenson.

“Josh,” the DCO chief’s voice began, sounding strangely familiar after all the years, “I’m on my way to the White House right now. I’ve got a pretty clear picture of what happened but not why.”

“You send a removal team to the Center?”

“Just got their initial report. Three dead, just as you told central. We rerouted the rest of the personnel when they returned from lunch. Whoever was behind this had things timed perfectly. They knew the workings of the Center inside and out.”

Right up Chilgers’ alley, Bane thought. “Anything else?” he asked.

“I’m afraid not. It looks clean, Josh, strictly professional all the way. I’m just having trouble figuring why someone would hit a bureaucratic branch of the government.”

“Bring me in and we can discuss it over dinner tonight.”

“You read my mind, Josh, but it might turn into a late supper. Picking you up is going to take a while to set up and I don’t want to take any chances. We’ve got to hit every angle. Choose a spot.”

“Perm Station. I like crowds.”

“So do I.” Bane heard papers shuffling on the other end. “Now follow me closely, Josh. The Metro-liner leaves New York for Washington from Track 10 at 4:45. We’ll pick you up there.”

“How many men?”

“Four’s still the standard. Let’s keep it at that to eliminate confusion. Should be strictly routine from here.”

“How will I know them?”

“Newspapers under the arms too mundane?”

“Too easy to spot and too common at five o’clock in the afternoon, Arthur. Have your men dress in business suits with their shirt fronts out. White shirt fronts.”

“I like it. Makes spotting them from a distance a bit easier for you.”

“My point exactly.”

Jorgenson sighed. “I’m almost at the White House, Josh. If you listen hard enough you’ll be able to hear the wind ruffling the marines’ dress uniforms. I need to give the President more than we’ve already got. Why was the Center hit, Josh?”

“The people behind it have a long reach, Arthur. This line may be untraceable but that doesn’t mean somebody’s not listening.”

Jorgenson hesitated. “I understand. I’ll cover for you with the White House until we bring you home.”

“The President’s been informed?”

“The Watergate age is long over. He’s the first to learn everything now. You called the right people.”

“I hope so.”

“It’s just past one-thirty. We’ll talk as soon as my men pick you up at Penn Station.”

“Shirt front out.”

“Right. Stay on your toes, Josh.”

“Count on it, Arthur.”

There was no reason for Bane to arrive at Penn Station too early. In fact, doing that might prove the worst security measure possible because it would give the COBRA forces more time to spot him. A shootout between Jorgenson’s men and Chilgers’ was not what he had in mind. So he waited until four-fifteen to leave the Bat’s, allowing an extra fifteen minutes for rush-hour traffic and not worried about Harry because he had the best camouflage possible: the opposition thought he was dead.

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