Sea of Fire

prime minister is waiting to hear from me about the missing cargo. He wants to know what the chances are of getting those materials back.'

'That depends,' Herbert said. 'First we have to find the people who distributed the stuff. Then we have to get them to talk.'

'We also have to hope the materials haven't already been passed around,' Jelbart added.

'I wouldn't worry about that,' Herbert said. 'These guys work like diamond and art thieves. The neighborhood is too hot to try transferring it now. We've got a week or two to find out who they are. Everything depends on how you handle Darling, Hawke, and the other members of the crew.'

'You may have to cut them deals you aren't going to like,' Coffey said.

'I'm not going to like anything that doesn't have them hanging by their feet over a pit of rattlesnakes,' Herbert said.

'Well, Mr. Coffey, we are sure to be engaged in various dances with Mr. Darling's legal lancers,' Ellsworth said. 'I actually worry about them nearly as much as I worry about the smugglers.'

Herbert understood that. He resisted shooting a nasty look at Lowell Coffey. Ever since an attorney in Lebanon had helped free one of the men responsible for the Beirut embassy bombing, attorneys had been one step above terrorists on Herbert's favorite-people list.

'With a little forethought, we should be able to find the nuclear material,' Loh promised.

'How can you be sure?' Ellsworth asked.

'Did you ever play volleyball, Mr. Ellsworth?' she asked.

'In school. Why?'

'There are times when you rally for position, and there are times when you spike,' she said. 'This is a time to spike. We need to follow the trail while it still exists.'

'How?'

'Give me one of the sailors,' Loh said. 'Any one of them, though I suggest a less hardened member of the crew. We will find that trail and the missing materials. We may not even have to take him to Singapore. Just the idea of it seems to make people talkative.'

Ellsworth thought for a moment. 'Officer Loh, your vessel has the crew now. You might want to decide which of those men actually fired at your sampan. That would make a strong case for Singapore having the right to arrest and try those individuals.'

'Thank you, Mr. Ellsworth,' she said. 'I will communicate that to the lieutenant in charge.'

Ellsworth turned his back on the reporters as he made the call to the prime minister. Loh went to use the telephone in one of the waiting sedans. While they did that, Herbert excused himself. He wanted to have a minute with the pilot. He wheeled himself over to the helicopter cockpit. The pilot jumped out. The man seemed glad to see Herbert.

'I just wanted to thank you for all your help,' Herbert said, extending his hand.

'Thank you for the adventure, sir,' the pilot said.

'You know, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I don't even know your name,' Herbert admitted.

The pilot grinned. The grin stayed there for several seconds. Herbert was puzzled.

'Did I miss something?' Herbert asked.

'No, sir,' the pilot said. 'Actually, my name is Bob Herbert.'

The intelligence chief grinned. 'You're joking.'

'Swear on the Bishop Barker. Only my family pronounces it Erbert,' the pilot told him. 'I may have to change that, though,' he added as he saluted Herbert. 'It's been a rare honor, sir.'

Herbert returned the salute, then shook his head with disbelief. He turned to rejoin the others.

Civilization might be in jeopardy, and rats like Darling helped make the world a hell. But that exchange made Herbert feel as though he could fix those problems single-handedly. Men like Pilot Bob Herbert gave him a reason to keep slugging. They also gave him hope.

By God, this war is far from lost, Herbert thought, as he made his way to the waiting sedan.

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Darwin, Australia Sunday, 7:13 A.M.

Herbert and his team were shuttled to Jelbart's office, where more reporters were waiting. The three sedans entered the building through an underground garage. They rode a freight elevator to Jelbart's floor. Loh had the feeling, for a moment, that she was on an aircraft carrier. She felt at home and in charge. It was nice. Herbert was such a dynamic character. He had taken command of this mission and not let go. At first Loh thought it was the same kind of male arrogance she had always encountered among soldiers and intelligence personnel. Then she discovered that ego and testosterone had nothing to do with it. Herbert took charge for one reason only.

He knew what he was doing.

There was something exciting and refreshing about that. For that reason alone she was sorry to see this brief operation end.

Upon reaching Jelbart's office, Loh contacted her patrol boat. It had remained at the site of the sinking. Lieutenant Kumar said he had wanted to secure the yacht before it was swept away by currents or evidence was degraded by the salt water. At the same time, he took the initiative and interrogated the individuals they pulled from the Coral Sea. Faced with the prospect of being taken to Singapore for questioning, Marcus Darling would probably choose to reveal a great deal about the operation. He also spoke expansively about his uncle's involvement in it. Hearing from Kumar, Loh wondered if Mr. Coffey might be wrong. It did not sound as though Jervis Darling would be in a position to bargain for leniency.

Loh told Kumar that she would be arriving early the next morning. Jelbart wanted to revisit the site with his own ship. He said he would ferry her out there. They would be leaving in about two hours. Loh would clean up and rest on the ship. She had something else she wanted to do before she left. She went to Jelbart's office to arrange it. Then she headed toward the elevator.

Herbert and Coffey had been on the phone with their superior in Washington. She walked past the conference room they were using. Herbert saw her go. He excused himself and went after her. The intelligence chief wheeled alongside the officer as she walked down the hall.

'Are you leaving now?' he asked.

'At ten o'clock,' she told him. She pressed the elevator button.

'Jelbart sent out for coffee and doughnuts. Do you want to wait with us?'

'There is something else I must do,' she replied.

'By yourself?'

She looked at him. 'I would prefer to.'

'Oh.'

'But I was wondering about something,' Loh went on. 'I have three weeks' leave in two months. I have never been to America. I was thinking I might like to fly to Washington.'

'That sounds like a very good idea,' Herbert smiled. 'I would love to show you around.'

'I would like that,' Loh smiled back.

'Just make sure to stay away from our deputy director, Mike Rodgers,' Herbert said. 'He'll send you on a mission.'

Loh frowned. 'I don't understand.'

'You will,' Herbert assured her. 'I'll have to introduce you to Maria Corneja. She'll explain.'

All of this was very confusing. But FNO Loh liked the idea of a world ripe for exploration. She also liked the fact that Bob Herbert seemed genuinely pleased by her suggestion. That surprised her. He had not seemed like a man who would enjoy leisure.

But then, you are not a woman who likes to socialize, she thought. Perhaps all it took was the right person.

The two parted with a long handshake. Herbert held her hand between both of his. They were strong hands,