knew it was official procedure, but he had a hard time swallowing as he tried to get the words out.
“ Discovery, Endeavour, this is Houston. Do you copy, over,” he said as he kept his head low. “ Discovery, Endeavour, this is Houston. Do you copy, over. Any Dark Star element, do you copy?”
Hugh Evans turned away and looked at the monitor on the far left. The giant Atlas stood poised on the pad as fuel started to flow into her tanks. Evans knew he had to make the call that could possibly send more men and women to their deaths.
“Ground, get the Cape on the horn and advise Kennedy to start the prelaunch countdown for Dark Star 3. We are now a go!”
Major Krell and Collins had secured the uniforms with the forged documents, even managing to send the bill to the president of Ecuador.
Sebastian had learned one thing about black operations from Collins-make a plan, and then stick to it until that plan ceases to be effective. He wasn’t surprised when Jack lowered the blue saucer cap as low onto his brow as he could and stepped right into the arms of the largest police force on the Pacific coast of South America. What was amazing to Major Krell was that Jack never hesitated a moment. Sebastian had no choice but to admire the man and follow him in.
The station was crowded and that was to their advantage. The entrance was full of policemen going on duty, and those coming off. The two officers wore an insignia on their collars that announced they were from the second police barracks south of the city, so their being unfamiliar to most should cause little trouble-they hoped.
Jack immediately spied the stairs. The two men had to assume that Europa’s falsified orders from the prosecutor’s office had gone through as planned. If not, they would be caught waiting just outside a room where several dozen off-duty officers would soon be naked, taking their after-shift showers. That might be a little hard to explain.
As Collins gained the fifth-floor landing he paused at the door. He could hear the sound of men talking, laughing, and fooling around. He looked back at the German major and grimaced as he grabbed the door handle. He opened the door. He and Krell stepped into the hallway just opposite the shower room.
The double doors were propped wide open and Jack could see the entire row of lockers and behind them the showers. He nodded to signal to Sebastian that he should take the right side of the door while Jack took the left. As they moved into place a group of policemen came from what looked like a briefing room down the hall behind the German. They stopped in their tracks and all five seemed to be staring right at Collins and Krell. Jack tried to avoid eye contact with the men as they all continued to stare.
“Asesinos estadounidenses,” one of the men said pointing.
Sebastian turned and was about to say something to the men when Jack reached out and took his arm. He turned him to face behind where Jack was standing. He had recognized the words the man had spoken-Murdering Americans.
The footsteps behind them made them both turn and that was when they saw Captain Carl Everett escorted by two men. He was handcuffed and, to the captain’s credit, he didn’t bat an eye when he saw Jack and Krell in the strange uniforms. He stepped past both Jack and Sebastian as he was led into the showers. The five policemen stopped talking and went on their way, even going as far as to nod their greeting to the American and the German.
“Pestilente gringo,” Jack said and they all laughed as they hit the stairwell.
As Everett was unceremoniously shoved into the locker area, he called back with a semi-loud voice, knowing that Jack and Sebastian were the only ones who would understand what he said.
“I heard that,” he said using a melodious tone to the words.
“What did you say?” Sebastian asked, wondering why Jack would take a chance at saying anything at all.
“I called him a stinking white man.”
“Oh,” Krell said, not understanding the colonel’s humor in the least.
Collins turned when he saw Everett being told to get out of his yellow jumpsuit. The steam from the showers wasn’t what Collins would have preferred, but it would have to do. He stepped inside the locker room. The unsuspecting guards had their attention on Everett as he soaped down. Jack was almost hesitant, but knew he could afford to give these two guards a chance. He tapped the first guard on the shoulder just as he pulled the man’s holstered Smith amp; Wesson Police Special. Sebastian, knowing the drill, was quick to follow.
“Lo siento, pero este hombre se va,” Jack said, as he gestured for the two guards to follow him into the break room across the way. Sebastian took his cue and escorted the men, while Collins opened several lockers until he found what he was looking for, an extra-large police uniform that would fit Carl.
Sebastian came back a moment later and Jack eyed him. “What did you do with our friends?” he asked, worrying that Krell was too calm.
“They’re locked up in the pantry.” Sebastian looked into the shower and then back at Collins. “I have to learn Spanish. What did you say that time when you took the guards?”
“I said that I’m sorry, but this man is leaving.”
Again Sebastian was impressed by the simple way Collins had of handling an awkward situation.
Jack winked and then walked into the shower room.
“Hey, swabby, it’s time to trip the light fantastic.”
Everett turned and caught the clothes Jack tossed him.
“How long were you standing there watching me shower before you said something?” Everett asked as he quickly dried himself.
“Long enough to know I’ll be happy with Sarah for a very long time,” Collins answered.
“Liar, you know you liked what you saw.”
Europa’s escape plan fell apart the moment they hit the stairwell leading to the first-floor exit they had planned to use. Not knowing where all of the police officers were inside the station had been Europa’s major difficulty in devising the planned escape. As it turned out, it was the fraternization of a male Quito police officer and his female partner that sent the plan spiraling in a direction they hadn’t counted on.
As they went down the third-floor stairwell, the couple was hidden away under the staircase. Jack saw them just as they passed. Everett was recognized immediately and while Sebastian reacted quickly by grabbing the male officer, the uniformed woman slipped past and was through the third-floor doorway before anyone could stop her.
“Damn!” Sebastian said as he held the frightened officer in his powerful grip. “ ”I think this is bad, Jack.” He looked at the smaller police officer as if he were contemplating the man’s fate.
“Well, let him go. We can’t kill him for liking his partner too much,” Collins said and removed the Smith amp; Wesson revolver and pointed it at the officer. “Vamanos,” Jack said as he waved the gun at the policeman, who took the hint and shook free of the much larger Sebastian before he ran for the door.
Collins didn’t hesitate as he turned and continued down the stairs with Sebastian and Everett close behind. They hadn’t made it to the first floor when the warning bells started inside the building, and just as the three men reached the door Collins heard the loud “clack” as the doors locked automatically. Jack came skidding to a stop.
“Jack, I really don’t want to finish that shower.”
“Can’t blame you. Sebastian, I hope you brought that little item with you.”
The German was already pulling out the quarter-pound charge of C-4. He tore off a small bundle and wadded the claylike material into a ball. Then he slapped it against the door and the lock, just to the right of the push bar. He pulled his own revolver and gestured for Jack and Carl to take cover under the stairs.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said, as he placed his large frame half in and half out of the stairwell. He aimed and then pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the C-4, which detonated, producing a loud bang that almost deafened them. The door flew off its considerable hinges and Sebastian was the first one through, followed by the two
