Final Option (Oregon Files 14)

“Slipstream will go into dormant mode,” Luis Machado said, “with enough power remaining to surface, once the authorities have given up searching your vessel in vain, and for you to activate the recovery signal.”

“Very clever,” Eddie said, playing the more eager of the two of them. “How many do you have for purchase?”

Ferreira smiled. “This is the prototype, which is undergoing testing, but my factory is currently in production and we will have a dozen within a month. Of course, we’ve had an extreme amount of interest from other parties, but with the right price, we can certainly move you to the front of the line.”

“I need to see it in operation,” Juan said. “How do I know Slipstream isn’t an elephant-sized boondoggle? I want to know it works before I spend my money on it.”

When Juan said “elephant-sized boondoggle,” Machado looked at him with wide eyes. That was his CIA code phrase indicating his cover had been blown.

“Do you mean, are we trying to pass off something that doesn’t work?” Machado asked.

“I mean exactly what I say,” Juan said, looking directly at Machado so he would know the phrasing was deliberate. “Is this an elephant-sized boondoggle?”

“Gentlemen,” Ferreira said, “I assure you Slipstream will work as promised. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I sold shoddy products. We can arrange a demonstration if you’d like.”

Machado abruptly turned to Ferreira. “Boss, I’d like to show Mr. González our aerial drones.”

“Absolutely. We can deliver your product in a variety of ways. Our drones can even provide offensive and defensive capabilities by carrying remotely activated explosives.”

Juan glanced at Eddie to indicate that he wanted a few moments alone with Machado to explain the situation.

Eddie nodded slightly and said, “We have aerial drones. I want to talk pricing for the Slipstream with Mr. Ferreira.”

Ferreira’s grin got even bigger, dollar signs dancing in front of his eyes.

“You go ahead, Roberto,” he said. “We’ll join you in a few minutes.”

Machado led the way out of the room and up one level. When they were alone in the corridor, he whirled on Juan with a furious look on his face.

“Who are you?”

“Juan Cabrillo,” he said in his normal American accent. “We were sent by Langston Overholt to get you out.”

“Why?”

“Your cover has been compromised. It’s only a matter of time before Ferreira knows who you really are.”

“I can’t leave now!” He looked around to make sure nobody heard his outburst and lowered his voice. “I’ve spent two long years infiltrating Ferreira’s organization. By the end of the day, I’ll have the account information for every major drug cartel in the Americas. We’ll be able to freeze billions of dollars in assets.”

“If you don’t leave, before they kill you you’ll be tortured for information about the CIA’s efforts to infiltrate the cartels, and that’ll make a bloody mess for the U.S. government. Our progress will be set back years, and we still won’t have the info you’re trying to get.”

Machado paced the hall in frustration. And Juan sympathized with the guy. He’d had his own fair share of missions blown up by bureaucratic idiots back at headquarters.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Believe me, if there was another way, I’d help you get the job done.”

Machado stopped pacing and leaned against the wall in defeat.

“You realize Ferreira won’t just let me walk away,” Machado said. “It’ll be too suspicious if I leave the Dragão now.”

“We have an exit strategy. We’ve arranged a distraction. In the confusion, you, me, and Eddie—that’s the man pretending to be Chen—will go into the water.”

“And swim to shore?”

“We have a submersible to pick us up. We’ll get in and dive before they even know it’s there.”

“This is nuts.”

“Yes, it is,” Juan agreed. “But we need to go. Now.”