Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

from the living room table and switched on the massive 4K TV perpetually tuned to the British UNI channel.

The first image was a stock photo of his plane, the one that had been hijacked.

“That was fast,” Taylor said. “I thought it would take longer for the identity of the plane to get out.”

“My newspeople are good,” Carlton replied. He turned up the volume.

The anchorwoman was now speaking over a satellite image of Jhootha Island.

“. . . are getting reports that survivors of the hijacking were found on this small island, which was supposed to be inhabited by a native tribe hostile to outsiders.”

Taylor turned to Carlton, a confused look on her face. “Survivors?”

“Again, if you’re just joining us,” the newscaster continued, “Xavier Carlton’s private Airbus A380, a missing plane that has mystified the world since its disappearance eighteen months ago, has been found on a tropical island about two hundred miles west of India—intact.”

Carlton felt his stomach sink when she went on.

“And we are now getting word from sources in the Indian government that there might be as many as twenty passengers from that flight who were found still alive on the island. No word yet on their names or condition, but we will bring that information to you as soon as we get it.”

Taylor looked like a ghost, her face drained of color. “They saw me.”

There had been no reason to hide her identity when she had visited the island. None of them were ever supposed to leave.

Carlton knew that they had a bad situation on their hands, but he was adept at sidestepping land mines. He already had a potential solution. In fact, he thought it was perfect.

“You’re going to have to take the fall, my dear,” he said.

She was aghast. “What do you mean?”

“They saw you. Eventually, the investigation will lead back to both of us. You’re going to be seen as the mastermind behind the hijacking. A seemingly loyal employee who duped her boss.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “If I go down, you go down in a ball of flames with me.”

He put up his hands to calm her down.

“I’m not suggesting you go to prison. You’re going to have to disappear. Once Colossus is operational, that will be an easy process.”

“But my face,” Taylor said. “They know who I am.”

Carlton looked his bodyguard up and down, then said, “I know the finest plastic surgeons in the world. With a nip here and a tuck there, and Colossus to cover our tracks, we’ll make you a completely new woman.”

She seemed appeased but still wary. “I suppose that would work.”

Carlton was pleased that she saw the logic of his plan. “In the meantime, it will take a while for the authorities to identify you, so you’ll still have freedom of movement. If we can, we need to eliminate Mallik to keep him from launching his satellite. But, he isn’t our sole concern anymore. Your face isn’t the only thing the prisoners from Jhootha Island know. Although the name of our project has never been shared with them, how much can they reveal about Colossus?”

TWENTY-NINE

POKHRAN TEST RANGE, INDIA

The Thar Desert of northwest India served as the home of the country’s underground nuclear weapons tests. But Romir Mallik had come for a different kind of test. He’d had to leave Asad Torkan back at the entrance to the classified Army base since a former Iranian Special Forces operative wouldn’t have been welcome. This test demonstration wouldn’t have been necessary if his satellite launch had succeeded, but its failure meant going ahead with the exhibition.

Although the reviewing stand was shaded from the intense sun by an awning, the generals and other officers in attendance looked as if they were going to sweat through their uniforms. The civilians wearing suits didn’t look any happier. Mallik, on the other hand, was quite comfortable in a loose-fitting shirt and cotton slacks as he sauntered over to General Arnav Ghosh, head of the Indian military’s weapons procurement program. The general was the one who had asked for this demonstration.

“Thank you for braving this heat, General,” Mallik said, shaking his hand.

“When one of our preeminent contractors says he has something important to show us,” Ghosh said with a smile, “I make the effort.”

“I hope you and your staff will also join me at my home in Mumbai two days from now for my evening party.”