“In Ocampo’s debriefing, did he mention recalling anything about what they’re off-loading?”

Overholt picked up a piece of paper and scanned it. “He did remember a few words about parts for something they are manufacturing, and one word in particular stood out. Weapon.”

“It makes sense that the Chinese would be shipping weapons to them.”

“Or they’re building one.”

“You mentioned the U.S. naval base. They could be planning to attack it.”

“All the more reason to find out what Locsin is up to.”

“Then I’d better get moving.”

“One final thing before you go. Our meteorologists report that a tropical storm has formed to the east of the Philippines. They’re calling it Hidalgo. It’s headed your way, but it’ll be a few days before it arrives. However, they’re estimating that it’ll pick up strength by the time it makes landfall.”

Juan shook his head and gave Overholt a wry smile. “Typhoon Hidalgo?”

“Looks like it, my friend.”

27

MANILA

“This is a bad idea,” said Raven, who was at the wheel of a tiny rental car. Even at nine-thirty at night, traffic was chaotic, though not as thick as the daytime mess.

Beth didn’t look up from her phone. She was glued to the dot that intermittently appeared on the screen. “You said that already. Turn here.”

Since the bayside U.S. embassy was on the left, the only way to turn was right. “I wasn’t sure the ‘bad’ part had registered.”

Ten minutes ago, the tracking signal from the transmitter hidden on the eagle finial had suddenly come alive again right there in Manila. With Juan and the Oregon gone, they had no backup. After Beth’s brush with death the day before, Raven thought she might be hesitant to take more risks, but Beth was so intent on finding the paintings that she brushed off the risk. Raven had reluctantly given in, with Beth’s agreement that they would pull back at the slightest hint of danger.

“We’re not assaulting a fortress,” Beth said. “We’re just going to take a look. If it seems like a good chance that the paintings are at the location where we’re headed, we’ll wait and call in the cavalry. Consider this a first look. What do you call that in the military?”

“A reconnaissance mission.”

“Right. This is just one of those.”

“That’s what we were doing when we went to check out Ocampo’s chemical lab. I’d like to remind you it’s now a smoldering pile of ash.”

Beth flashed her a smile and gave her a thumbs-up. “You’ve done a great job so far. Keep up the good work.”

Raven just sighed in response. She could take care of herself. It was protecting someone else that was the tricky part, especially if they were intensely focused on another goal like Beth was. The pistol digging into her hip gave her some comfort, but the men they were facing weren’t like anything she’d come across before. She’d keep her head on a swivel in case this was a trap.

They drove another few blocks until Beth said, “The building on the left. We’re here.”

Raven stopped the car at an open space by the curb and stared up at a set of three luxury towers next to a brightly lit multistory structure, fronted by a semicircular drive with palm trees and manicured topiary. The sign on the front of the building read “Robinsons Place Manila.”

“This is a shopping mall.”

Beth looked up from her phone at the multiple advertisements for stores and restaurants inside. “Oh, yeah. That’s weird.”

“You sure this is it?” Raven had been expecting to be directed to some run-down industrial area where an ambush would be easy to execute.

Beth checked the phone again and nodded. “The signal keeps popping up every minute or so inside this building.”

“Not in one of the towers?” An apartment would have been a more likely place for it to be but impossible to check without careful planning.

Beth, exasperated, shoved the screen toward her. Raven pursed her lips when she saw the dot in the center of the mall.

Tags: Clive Cussler Oregon Files Thriller
Source: readsnovelonline.net