Among the business rivals were some fairly vicious men, and one of them, Hans Willem Vaughan, of Sansome Petroleum, was particularly nasty. They had clashed more than once over the years, and finally c.o.x had grown tired of allowing it to happen without a response.

To attack him directly would have been dicey. But Vaughan had a weakness. He was extremely proud of the fact that his best people were beyond reproach; they were morally upright, none of them had ever been arrested, all were absolutely squeaky clean, honest, and loyal.

That was about to change. Or at least, it would seem to change, which was just as good.

Eduard had obtained the fingerprints of a third-level functionary in Vaughan's organization. The man was an a.s.sistant to an a.s.sistant, a n.o.body, but he had access to certain sensitive material, and, like Caesar's wife, needed to be above suspicion.

In a few days, this functionary, a married man with children, was going to be revealed as a s.e.x addict, and not only that, a bis.e.xual one who slept with dozens of men and women on a regular basis, who had somehow managed to divert funds from somewhere into his personal accounts, and who was living much larger than he legally could.

It was a carefully crafted lie, of course; as far as c.o.x could tell, the man was as honest and faithful as the Arctic summer nights were long. To no avail.

Eduard would have seen to every detail-he was like that, niggling to a fault-and a trail would have been laid that, once seen, could be followed by a nearsighted blood-hound with no sense of smell. Large cash deposits to a secret account, hotel and restaurant bills, visits to private clubs wherein hetero- or h.o.m.os.e.xual liaisons were the main business, visits to known brothels, records at call-girl organizations, ma.s.sage parlors, the works, would all come to light. Some of it might be explainable to sympathetic ears, perhaps, but the entry and exit records on security computers vouched for by the man's own fingerprints? It would be hard to explain those away.

How is it, sir, that computer records showed you entered Fifi's House of Pleasure at three in the afternoon and stayed until three in the morning? Does somebody else have your thumbprint, sir? Using your name? Fitting your description, right down to the mole on your thigh, sir? Sir?

The weight of the evidence would be very heavy.

Eduard had been very careful about faking this man's attendance at these places only during times when the man had no reasonable alibi to show he had been elsewhere.

In the end, the target of these machinations would be ruined, and too bad for him, but that was not the point. He was within the group of Vaughan's workers known as the Incorruptibles. And obviously as corrupt as all get-out.

At this level of the game, the appearance was more important than the reality. It would not be a fatal, or even particularly damaging, blow; Vaughan's business would not be affected, save for a point or three dip in the price of his corporate stock for a few hours, if that. But that wasn't the goal. The goal was to wound the b.a.s.t.a.r.d where he was the most smug. To show the world that he wasn't infallible. A c.h.i.n.k in the armor, however small, would do that.

Like a single drop of black paint in a vat of white, not even visible to the human eye, Vaughan's organization would henceforth forever be ever-so-slightly gray gray. And he, c.o.x, would know that he had been responsible. He would never let on. Gloating over his rival's misfortune? Never-not in public, at least. He would be sympathetic in the extreme if it ever came up. What a shame. Nothing is sacred anymore, is it? What's the world coming to? Tsk, tsk.

c.o.x leaned back in his chair and smiled at the image of Vaughan being interviewed on national television, defending himself for the actions of an employee that he likely couldn't remember, if he had ever even met met him. him.

Of course, c.o.x had his own worry, and it was much worse than some flunky he employed being caught with his pants down, but Eduard was on that, and Eduard was his man, to the bone. Somehow, c.o.x had always won the day, and he was beginning to feel as if he was going to win this day, too.

Net Force Shooting Range Quantico, Virginia Abe Kent found his way to the shooting range. It was late, but the range was open until 2200.

"Good evening, sir," the range officer said. He did not salute-they didn't hold with that indoors and uncovered unless the setting was deliberately more formal, but the man did straighten up to what might be called attention.

"At ease, Master Sergeant. I haven't had a chance to get by sooner, but I wanted to introduce myself and see how your operation is set up here."

"Sir. Pretty standard stuff. We have twenty lanes, back-stops are tank-grade armor plate behind fire-resistant treated polywood baffles, the armor angled to kick spent rounds down into a steel trench filled with fire-r.e.t.a.r.dant. We can handle small arms, pistol, subgun, and rifles, as long as they are non-armor-piercing and in calibers less than .50 BMG. Our targeting computer system is an Ares Mark V, full-spectrum holographics with positional sensors. Runs pretty well most of the time. We use the Martin Ring system for all issue arms. Is that your personal sidearm, sir?"

Kent shook his head. "Not likely I would be hauling it around if it wasn't, is it, Sergeant?"

The man grinned. "An old slabside like that, I know it's not issue."

"It was when my grandfather carried it."

"Regulations say you have to keep your carry arm coded to the ring, Colonel. I can issue you a Beretta in nine or four-oh and a matching broadcast code-ring, or, if you want, I can convert the Colt for you."

"I think I'll stick with the forty-five."

"Yes, sir. You going to shoot while you're here?"

Kent considered that for a moment. "Yes, I believe I will. It's been a while."

"Sir." The man produced a box of forty-five hardball. "You want headphones or the plugs?"

"Headphones will be fine."

"Take lane five. It's quiet this time of night, only a couple other shooters here. If you leave the Colt with me when you go, I'll have it ready tomorrow. You can take a loaner-I've got a SIG in .45, if you like the caliber."

"That would be fine, Top."

"Everybody still calls me 'Gunny,' sir."

Kent headed for the lanes, donning his headphones to block out the noise before he stepped through the soundproof door.

He walked down to lane five.

In lane six was Lieutenant Fernandez. The younger man saw him, nodded, and kept firing until his gun clicked dry.

"Evening, sir."

"Lieutenant. You're here late."

"Sir. My wife took my son to visit an old friend, and she's out of town for a few days. Since I got married, I lost interest in my own cooking, so I figured I might as well get some practice in before I stopped for Chinese take-out."

Kent nodded. His wife had died six years ago, and he had never really thought about getting remarried. He'd had a few dates, but being single suited him okay-n.o.body would ever be able to replace Christine.

There was a pause. Fernandez said, "You pretty good with that old Colt, sir?"

"I manage to qualify pa.s.sing scores now and then."

Fernandez grinned.

"Something funny, Lieutenant?"

"Well, sir, in my position as General Howard's good right arm, I had occasion to view the Colonel's personnel file when it came through."

"I see."

"Just the public record stuff, sir."

"And your point, son?"

"You and General Howard have something in common. He carries a sidearm whose design was old before he was born, too, though I finally managed to get him to upgrade a little. Your comment about your shooting ability sounds a lot like a pool hustler's setup, sir, since I happen to know you qualified 'Expert' with that antique you carry."

Kent couldn't help but smile a little at that one. He said, "And as your new commanding officer, I also had occasion to read your file, Lieutenant-all of it, including the nonpublic material. I know you can shoot that Beretta at 'Expert' level, as well."

"I guess that makes us even, sir."

"Only on paper, Lieutenant." He nodded downrange.

Fernandez grinned real big at that. "I wouldn't want to embarra.s.s the Colonel his first time at the range, sir."

"I wouldn't worry about that, son, not in the least. Let's see what you got."

"Yes, sir."

8.

Net Force HQ Quantico, Virginia Thorn sighed and stared into s.p.a.ce. It looked as if today was going to be one of remedial education. He'd had two visitors so far, and both of them had more or less made him feel stupid-something to which he was not the least bit accustomed.

First, it had been the CIA liaison Marissa Lowe, who had dropped by to check on Jay's progress with the Turkish thing. The conversation had started off fine, he really liked her, but then he had ventured to say something that, in retrospect, wasn't particularly bright.

He had mentioned that his gripe with Senator Herumin of New Jersey, who had been blathering on that morning on the news about something to do with computers, was that the man was unable to see the big picture. This was a problem he had run into before, he told her.

Folks didn't understand that it was something of a curse to be able to see such things, as Thorn himself could. It really wasn't easy at times.

He was half-joking as he said it, but only half, and she picked it up like an oyster cracker dropped into the middle of a flock of hungry ducks.

"Are you complaining about being smart and fore-sighted, Tommy?"

Surprised, all he could think of to say was, "No."

She sighed. "Yes, you are." She shook her head.

"Marissa . . ."

"Let me tell you a story, Commander. One of my study partners in college got into your business, sort of. He was a brilliant dude, sharp, funny, majored in English lit, became a professor at an Ivy League school, wrote a couple of well-received textbooks, was doing okay. Let's call him 'Barry.' "

"Okay," Thorn said, though he wasn't sure where this was going.

"So, Barry got married, had a couple of kids, a dog, and was living a solid middle-cla.s.s life. When he was about thirty-five, Barry discovered he had a talent for coming up with video game scenarios. One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, he's quit his job teaching, moved to Texas-Austin used to be a real hot-bed for that kind of thing-and he started making big bucks coming up with things like Death Eater and Moon Fighters."

Thorn blinked. He knew those old games, he'd played them in college. He didn't recall the creator's name, but he did seem to remember there was something about the guy . . .

"All of a sudden, within the s.p.a.ce of a year, he goes from being a dull young college professor, to a hot, rich computer whiz. He and the old spouse split-he's way too cool for her-so now he's on his own. He turns around in a few months and marries a gorgeous high-maintenance trophy wife. He starts buying other toys-big house, fast cars, home theaters. Thinks nothing of dropping a couple hundred bucks on lunch, he's blowin' and goin', partying all night, sleeping half the day, working an hour or two in the afternoon. He's a golden boy, and can't do wrong."

Thorn nodded. He'd met plenty of guys like that.

"We kept in touch, Barry and I. He was basically a nice guy, but he had this one little flaw that used to drive me crazy: He was a whiner."

She shook her head, frowning. "I'd get a call from him whenever somebody opened a car door in a parking lot and put a scratch in the side of his new Ferrari. Or if the idiots at the game company wanted him to do some little thing that was beneath his talent. His Christmas bonus was only a hundred grand and he was expecting two two hundred. And you know what he'd say after he'd lay this on me? 'Why is my life so much harder than everybody else's?' " hundred. And you know what he'd say after he'd lay this on me? 'Why is my life so much harder than everybody else's?' "

Thorn stared at her.

"I mean, here's Barry, he's clearing better than half a million a year, six, seven times what I'm bringing home before before taxes. He's got a sultry young wife who steams up every room she walks into. He's got a Ferrari, a Viper, a Porsche, and a Rolls in his garage-and room for two more cars. He has a pool and a maid and gardeners and personal trainers coming to his home gym, he's got every toy he ever wanted. He plays stupid taxes. He's got a sultry young wife who steams up every room she walks into. He's got a Ferrari, a Viper, a Porsche, and a Rolls in his garage-and room for two more cars. He has a pool and a maid and gardeners and personal trainers coming to his home gym, he's got every toy he ever wanted. He plays stupid games, games, and makes more money than the President of the United States." and makes more money than the President of the United States."

Thorn had to smile at that one.

She continued: "I've been in third-world countries where the average wage was twenty dollars a month. I know people in this country who would kill for any one one of Barry's perks, and he's got 'em of Barry's perks, and he's got 'em all all, but he's whining and complaining about how hard his life is." She let that sink in.

When nothing else was forthcoming, Thorn said, "All right. So he didn't really have anything to complain about. So?"

"So? Right after he turned thirty-nine, he started having trouble breathing. Turned out he had developed some rare form of emphysema-and he never smoked a single cigarette. Six months later, he couldn't move without having to wheel around a bottle of oxygen. The game industry had another revolution and the stuff he was writing went into the toilet. He couldn't come up with any new ideas that worked. He lost his big house, the cars, the hired help. His high-maintenance wife bailed without a backward look. Barry wound up filing for bankruptcy. Moved back in with his parents. So here he is, on his fortieth birthday, and he's gone from being rich and on top of the world, to he can't walk to the mailbox without having to stop and rest. He's broke, he's alone. And the kicker is-none of it is his fault. He couldn't control any of it."

She shook her head again. "The point, Tommy? The point is, now now he's got something to whine about. Now his life he's got something to whine about. Now his life is is harder than everybody else's." harder than everybody else's."

"Yeah."

"You don't want to tempt fate, Tommy. You never know but that G.o.d might be taking a coffee break and He will hear you complaining and give you something to show you the difference between nice Italian shoes and no feet."

Thorn smiled and nodded. "Point taken."

"Good. Maybe there's hope for you. Listen, I hate to slap your hand and then run, but I have to go. You take care, all right?"

After she had gone, Thorn had thought about what she'd said. She wasn't an intellectual, but despite the fact that he probably had twenty IQ points on her, she had nailed him dead on. Which made you stop and think.

Then, not five minutes later, Colonel Kent had stopped by, and because that bored deity must still have been hanging around, G.o.d had helped Thorn put his foot back into his mouth again. There were a few problems, the colonel had said, but he was working on them.

He had finished his report, and was about to leave. Thorn said, "Don't worry, Colonel, I know you haven't had time to bring in your own people yet and get up to cruising speed. I know you have to work with the tools you have, and sometimes they just won't cut it."

The ex-Marine blinked and looked at him as if he had just turned into a giant beetle. "No, sir, that's not valid."

Thorn shook his head. What had he said? He was just trying to give the guy a way to save face, and now the man was busting his chops? "I'm not sure I take your meaning, Colonel."

"Sir, with all due respect, a man who blames his tools is a poor workman. You recall that sniper in Colorado a couple years back? Shot sixteen people in the s.p.a.ce of a couple of days?"

"I remember."

"Do you recall how he was stopped?"

Thorn searched his memory. "Shot by a civilian, wasn't he? A farmer?"

"Yes, sir. Only the civilian was Duane Morris, a retired Marine, a twenty-year man, and a former member of the USMC pistol team. He drove his pickup truck into Denver to collect a relative at the train station, so he was across the street when the killer got out of his car with his a.s.sault rifle.

"Soon as he saw the shooter, retired Master Sergeant Morris jumped back into his car and pulled out a Thirty-eight Special snubnose revolver he kept under the seat there. This gun has c.r.a.ppy sights, no more than a groove on the top strap, a two-inch barrel, and is generally thought to be ineffective past across-the-table range by a lot of folks. Outside of five yards, they say, you might as well throw throw it as shoot it, because you will more likely hit your target that way. It would not be the weapon of choice in a long-range gun duel. it as shoot it, because you will more likely hit your target that way. It would not be the weapon of choice in a long-range gun duel.

"Sergeant Morris stepped out of his vehicle just as the shooter cranked off his first round, taking a fourteen-year-old-boy in the leg. He snapped that snubby up, and as he did, the killer saw him and swung his rifle around to take him down. Morris aimed and fired before the killer could get off a second round, and his bullet impacted the sc.u.m-bag in the forehead, an inch to the left of being centered right between the eyes. Dropped him dead before he hit the pavement."

Thorn nodded. "Yes. And . . . ?"

"Morris was sixty-four years old, wearing gla.s.ses as thick as c.o.ke bottle bottoms, using a tool not designed for the task at hand. The investigating police officers paced off the distance between Morris and the sniper. Fifty-eight yards. That, sir, was one h.e.l.l of a wide tabletop. Easy with a rifle, not quite as easy with a long-barreled target pistol with a scope, highly unusual with a gun having a pipe just a hair longer than the middle joint of your forefinger. A fluke, a lot of folks said, but it was not. Morris practiced with that little handgun often. He could hit a pie plate at fifty yards all day long. The tool had the capability, and the man using it had the ability to use it properly. That's what made the difference."

Thorn nodded. "All right. I see your point."