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  The North Korean research base was now frantically looking into why the mishap took place. Soon Il Tak had been ordered to recover the launch device from the sunken ship. However, the Americans had become involved, sending out their own marine investigators. For the moment all Tak and his Chinese backup could do was watch. If and when the Americans found the launch device and brought it to the surface, Tak would be ordered to take it from them and get it back to North Korea.

  That would prove to be a difficult task.

  Chi decided Tak would be up to it. The Korean would be in his element going up against the Americans. His social graces might not be too great, but in a situation involving striking out against the USA, he would be more than at ease.

  Tak had a small group of his own countrymen under his control, and he could call on extra men through Chi’s Hawaiian contacts. The Chinese themselves could call on a number of local contractors willing to provide what was needed.

  “I need to make contact with Macklin,” Tak said, pulling his cell from a pocket. “Arrange for him to put his people on standby.”

  Chi nodded. “I will see that Yeung determines where the salvaged unit is to be taken.”

  “Will he be able to do that?”

  “Have faith,” Chi said. “Yeung has lived here on the islands almost as long as I have. A good agent for us. He will find out where the Americans are taking the unit. After all he has his spy working within HPD, feeding us up-to-date information.”

  When Tak’s call was answered, he spoke briefly. “I will join you shortly,” was all he said.

  “While you make your arrangements, I will monitor the local situation and keep you informed,” Chi said. He reached down and indicated the leather attaché case on the floor beside his seat. “You were not going to forget this, were you?”

  He pushed it across to Tak. The North Korean nodded and picked up the heavy case.

  “On behalf of my government...” he began.

  “No company dogma here, Tak, please,” Chi said lightly. “We are oiling the wheels, as the Americans say. If it helps us to achieve our aims, it is worth every penny.”

  Tak stood, nodded briefly to Chi, as he turned and walked out of the hotel.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Soon Il Tak waited with growing impatience. He needed an update from his local contacts on the ground. Since the accident with the ship, it had been impossible to get close to the area. The local police had cordoned it off, and now that the American police had become involved, getting information had become even harder.

  Dive teams had been brought in and were preparing to examine the sunken ship. Security had been stepped up, and there was an exclusion zone where the vessel had gone down. The divers had spent most of the day in the water, and as the afternoon wore on, it became clear they were going to be around for some time yet.

  Tak understood the matter at hand required swift action, if he was going to retrieve the piece of hardware. Pyongyang had already made it clear they wanted retrieval. The equipment mounted on the ship held important information, and Tak’s North Korean masters wanted it out of American hands.

  His people were spread around the area, each of them attempting to gain information on the American operation.

  Tak had already realized there was not going to be time for extensive planning. If the Americans got to the ship and realized the importance of the item mounted on the aft deck, they would want to remove it and transport it to a secure place. To regain possession of the equipment, Tak had to have his people ready and willing to move quickly.

  He had only just reached his parked car outside the hotel, then placed the attaché case in the luggage space at the rear, when his cell vibrated in his pocket. He took the call. It was one of his own informers. Tak had used the Hawaiian called Mako as a go-between and had always been satisfied with the man’s input. The man spoke quickly, without wasting time, informing Tak he had solid information concerning the matter at hand. They arranged to meet.

  Twenty minutes later Tak confronted his informer in a local coffee shop. As always they took a table outside the establishment.

  “This is going down heavy,” Mako said. “Cops are all over it. I have to take it slow in case anyone catches on.”

  “Just tell me what you have learned so far.”

  “The incident at the Coast Guard base. My source tells me the place went black. No power. Everything shut down and a chopper was totaled.”

  “I already know about that,” Tak said impatiently. “I’m really interested in the ship that sank off the coast.”

  Mako, a heavy-shouldered man with an unshaven face and eyes hidden behind dark glasses, nodded. “That seems to have everyone’s interest. Talk been flying around HPD. Cops are arranging for transport to be at the docks when the divers bring up some gizmo off the ship.”

  “Where will it be taken?”

  “My contact tells me there’s a three-vehicle convoy being set up—two police cars and an HPD armored van to run this thing to an electronics company up-country from the city. It’s some high-tech firm that specializes in experimental stuff.”

  Useful news, Tak thought. “Do they have any idea when this transport will take place?”

  “Tomorrow morning is all I got. I’ll keep my ears open. As soon as I know, you’ll know, Mr. Tak.” Mako slid a folded piece of paper across the table, and Tak closed his hand over it. “Details of the route and the address of the electronics company.”

  “Excellent work,” Tak said. “Check your account in a couple of hours. I believe you will like what you see.”

  “Good doing business with you, Mr. Tak.” Mako drained his coffee.

  Tak watched the man go, smiling to himself.

  So easy to buy these people, he decided. Americans were wholly seduced by material gain. It would be their downfall. He waved away the server, when the girl asked if he wanted anything. It was time to make his rendezvous with Macklin.

  His cell rang as he returned to his car. It was one of his men at the dockside.

  “There is activity on the docks. A diving platform has been towed out to where the ship went down. A number of divers are already in the water. There is a crane on the platform.”

  “Good. Keep watch. I need to know when the Americans recover the equipment. I have found out where it will be taken, if they do raise it. It appears nothing will be done until morning, so I will have time to organize our people for retrieval.”

  Tak ended the call and quickly called Chi.

  “My man Mako has updated me on the situation. His HPD feed has given him details on the recovery operation. We now know when and where, so I am going to pass this to Macklin. Time will be short, but I am confident he will organize things. I would prefer it if we had the opportunity to make better arrangements.”

  “We cannot always have such opportunities,” Chi said. “We must move with what we have. I have just received confirmation from my own police source that the data Mako gave you is correct. We must proceed with what we have.”

  Tak speed-dialed another number and waited for it to ring out. The voice was instantly recognizable: deep, with a commanding presence.

  “I’m on my way,” Tak said.

  “Been wondering when you were going to contact me.”

  “I may need your team in action quickly.”

  “That’s how we operate. Just waiting for your call.”

  “In this case speed is of the essence. There will be little chance to do much preplanning. Can you handle it?”

  “All I need are the details.”

  “This will be in the manner of a retrieval. Something belonging to my principals has fallen into the hands of the opposition. It is important we get it back. I can be with you within the hour. I had business to settle before I left the city.”

&nbs
p; “I’ll look forward to seeing you.”

  Tak unlocked the Toyota SUV and quickly drove off, making his way out of the busy center where he picked up the main highway and headed north. His journey took him into the lush countryside, with the Pacific Ocean on his left. After driving a quarter hour, he was climbing into the hills, where houses were spaced out along the narrower roads in this area. This was unspoiled Hawaii. Away from noise and prying eyes. It suited Tak, and it also suited the man he was about to visit.

  An unmarked turn-in drew him away from the road, down a driveway overhung by heavy ferns and palm trees. After a couple hundred yards the driveway opened onto a circular area and the single-story stone-and-timber house. The only signs of any human presence were the two high-end 4x4s parked nearby. Tak braked alongside the pair of vehicles and climbed out. He moved to the rear of his Toyota and opened the tailgate. He drew out the leather attaché case Chi had given him and carried it with him, as he approached the front door. It opened before he reached it.

  The man was tall and athletically built. He sported a head of straw-colored hair, cut short. He had the kind of rugged good looks that would have earned him nice money in Hollywood. He smiled when he recognized Tak.

  “Always good to see you, Colonel Tak.”

  He invariably used Tak’s military rank, even more than Tak did himself.

  “Major Macklin, a pleasure.”

  “Been a long time since I held rank,” William Macklin said. “I leave it lay nowadays.”

  He led the way inside, and Tak followed him through the house until they reached the main lounge area that backed onto the rear of the structure. Wide sliding glass doors opened onto the overgrown patio area.

  Two other men lounged on couches, nodding at Tak’s appearance.

  “You know Borgnine and Spelman.”

  Tak nodded in the direction of the seated men. Neither spoke. Nor would they until it was important.

  “Take a seat, Colonel,” Macklin said. “Drink?”

  “Anything as long as it is cold and wet.”

  Macklin crossed to the wet bar, opened a minirefrigerator and poured chilled fruit juice into a frosted glass. He knew Tak didn’t like liquor. He added ice and brought it to his visitor. Taking his own drink, Macklin sat down and waited.

  “As I already said, there is, unfortunately, a limited window of opportunity here. It will need your expertise in mounting a rapidly organized operation. Very rapid.”

  “Give me the details.”

  Tak told it exactly as it was, leaving nothing out. This would not be the first time he had used Macklin and his people. Macklin’s team was professional, without any kind of loyalty except to themselves and the people they worked for. They worked for money, not country, and once on board, their professionalism was 100 percent. Tak knew they would not come cheap. Hence the solid weight of the attaché case he had brought with him. In anticipation of the acceptance of the operation, he had come prepared. The case held cash, U.S. dollars from the fund Chi had provided for such times as this.

  No one spoke until Tak stopped talking and took a long drink from his glass. The cool liquid felt good as it slid down his dry throat.

  Macklin stroked the taut flesh under his jaw as he absorbed Tak’s briefing. He looked across at Borgnine and Spelman. Their faces were immobile.

  “So going on what you’ve just laid out for us,” Macklin said, “I’d guess we have around fifteen hours before things start to get mobile.”

  “Unless there are problems removing the equipment from the deck of the ship and getting it to the surface,” Tak said.

  He took a buff-colored envelope from his inside pocket and handed it to Macklin. It contained detailed descriptions and specifications of the equipment to be retrieved. Macklin opened the flap and took out the paperwork. He studied the sheets, then passed them across to his partners. Tak allowed them the time they needed.

  “They should be able to fit this into a panel truck,” Borgnine said.

  “Eight hundred pounds,” Spelman said. “We can handle that.”

  “Any problem with radioactivity?” Macklin asked.

  “No,” Tak said. “This is not a nuclear device at all.”

  “How damaged do you expect it to be?”

  “There may well be fusion burns that went directly through the outer casing. That would have carried on down through the hull and opened up a hole that caused the ship to take on water and sink.”

  “But that wasn’t expected?”

  “Definitely not. The deliberate sabotage to the NNEMP projectile caused a massive surge that followed the flight path all the way back to the launching device. It had enough power to cause extensive damage.”

  “No shit,” Borgnine said.

  Spelman asked, “There isn’t likely to be any of this surge still around, is there?” Spelman asked.

  Like his partner, Borgnine, Spelman didn’t say a lot, but when either of them had questions, they were on the button.

  “No, no, no,” Tak said. “The residual power generated would have burned out directly before it went through the boat’s hull. It was not in the original design of the equipment. We believe someone had added new operating codes into the computer program.”

  “So you have a hostile element at the research facility?”

  “It appears so.”

  “Out of curiosity,” Macklin asked, “has this saboteur been identified and caught yet?”

  Tak gave a rare smile. “The matter is being pursued, even as we speak. Not here on the islands. It is a separate matter, being handled by the people on site.” He splayed his hands across the top of the attaché case resting across his knees. “So do you think you can recover the equipment?”

  “Are you able to keep us up-to-date with the recovery schedule?”

  “The situation is being monitored, and I have a source placed who will be able to inform me when the package is to be moved.”

  “Then I’d say we’re in business, Colonel Tak.”

  Tak opened the attaché case and showed Macklin the stacked bundles of hundred-dollar bills. There was a secondary package in plastic that held more cash. Tak removed it and handed it to Macklin.

  “For incidental expenses,” he said. He showed the open case to Borgnine and Spelman, so they were able to see the main cash amount. “As on our previous deals, there will be an identical amount payable on the successful completion of the operation.”

  He closed the lid and handed the case to Macklin. Borgnine took the case and left the room.

  Macklin weighed the plastic pack of money in his hands. “This should get us what we need. It can pay the guy who’ll rent the vehicles we need.”

  “Will you be needing additional men?” Tak asked.

  “Maybe. It’s no problem. We’ll keep them to the minimum. A couple of extra hands should do it. I can assemble a team in a few hours. Colonel, you keep me updated on the situation. As long as we know the when and the where, this should go easily.”

  “My current information is that the police will be handling the delivery. What if the military are involved?”

  Macklin smiled. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who gets involved. They get in our way, we’ll deal with them.”

  “I am sure you will.”

  Macklin saw Tak out to his car.

  “I’ll be in touch once we’re done,” Macklin said.

  Tak drove to the road for his trip back to the city. He was not a man who took many things for granted, but now that Macklin was on board, he began to experience a feeling of satisfaction. If everything went as planned, the NNEMP equipment should soon be in his hands and on its way back to Pyongyang.

  * * *

  MACKLIN REACHED FOR a second cell he had on his desk. It was a burn phone, with only one number keyed
in. He tapped the speed-dial function and waited as the number dialed out. It was answered on the third ring. Macklin recognized the voice instantly.

  “He just left,” Macklin said.

  “Excellent. Do you foresee any major problems?”

  “Not especially. Tak’s informants seem reliable. I’m mobilizing my team now. We’ll be ready to move once I get the go-ahead.”

  “Very well. As soon as you gain control of the item, call, and we can fix the exchange.”

  “Will do.”

  “Good hunting, Macklin.”

  * * *

  XIAN CHI SAT back, a contented look on his face, as he considered the events about to take place. If everything progressed as he imagined it would, then his time in Hawaii would have an extremely satisfactory outcome for the Peoples Republic of China.

  It was ironic, he thought, that North Korea, with its limited expertise, should manage to develop the NNEMP process ahead of China, only to have it sabotaged from within its own ranks. And then to snatch the something salvaged from the disaster right under NK’s nose. That it would be China added further irony, because the Beijing regime had helped fund the North Korean development of the project.

  Xian Chi, acting as paymaster and advisor to Soon Il Tak, had followed the program, and the unexpected setback had presented him with his opportunity to snatch the NNEMP launch equipment away from Tak. It had been a unique chance—and one the Chinese could not ignore.

  As soon as Tak had left the hotel for his meeting with Macklin, Chi had called his headquarters in Beijing. His brief but detailed update had brought an instant response from his commanders. He received his new orders and accepted them without question. If Beijing had decided it was time to up the stakes, Xian Chi was not going to query them.

  He had learned early in his career that the logic of his Chinese superiors was unmovable. With the North Koreans having allowed a saboteur to infiltrate the NNEMP program, they had lost full control over the weapon. In Beijing’s eyes the North Koreans were no longer capable of maintaining security, which meant the equipment resting on the seabed had to be taken off their hands.