The Midas Legacy (Wilde/Chase 12) (39 page)

She shook her – and Olivia’s lips clenched. ‘I’m . . . I’m here,’ she whispered. ‘Did Eddie . . . get through?’

‘Not yet, but I know he will. He will.’

‘It’s . . . too late.’ Another tear swelled in the corner of Olivia’s eye, but even it was too weak to roll free. ‘I’m so tired . . .’ She fell silent again.

‘Olivia!’ Nina cried. ‘Stay with me! You’ve got to stay, I’m not letting you go now! I’m—’

A new voice cut through the cold. ‘Hello, hello,’ said a man over the radio, his Icelandic accent strong. ‘Can you hear me?’

‘I hear you!’ Eddie replied. ‘Did you get my Mayday?’

‘Yes, I did. We have told the rescue service, but we are coming to you now. We are on highway thirty-six. Can you hold on?’

‘Yeah, but we’ve got someone in hypothermic shock. How fast can you get to us?’

‘Twenty minutes, thirty minutes? Where are you exactly?’

The Yorkshireman gave their position as best he could. He had just enough time to get an assurance that the rescuers were on the way before the jury-rigged radio went dead. After swearing loudly, he returned to the shelter. ‘Oh God, you’re freezing!’ said Nina as he squeezed in beside her.

‘I feel warmer knowing we’re not going to be stuck out here all night.’ He examined Olivia. ‘How is she?’

‘Not good. She’s asleep . . . or unconscious.’

‘She’ll be okay.’

‘You sure?’

‘I’m sure. I heard what you were saying to her. She’s family – yours
and
mine. I’m not going to let her go either. Even if,’ a wry half-smile, ‘she did get us into this bloody situation in the first place!’

‘She can’t take all the blame,’ said Nina. ‘I’m just as responsible. And I’ll make sure she knows that when she wakes up.’ She looked down at her grandmother once more. ‘You hear me? You
are
going to wake up.’

Eddie put an arm around her. Together they sat in silent vigil until the distant rumble of an engine told them rescue was finally drawing near.

36

New York City

‘This is a most grave situation,’ said Oswald Seretse, shaking his head. ‘I cannot believe that Fenrir Mikkelsson would do this. I
cannot
!’ The outburst, though little more than his raising his voice, was nevertheless the strongest display of emotion Nina had ever seen from the normally unflappable diplomat. ‘But,’ he continued, ‘whatever I believe, the evidence is undeniable.’ He went to the windows, staring disconsolately across Manhattan.

‘I’m afraid so.’ The speaker was a man named Howard MacNeer, a senior official of the US State Department. ‘We lost track of his jet once it entered the commercial air corridor over Russia, but picked it up again in Chinese airspace heading for North Korea.’

‘You couldn’t intercept it?’ Eddie asked. ‘America’s got loads of planes in South Korea.’

‘Intercepting it would have risked starting a war,’ replied MacNeer. There was a world map on one wall of Seretse’s office; he indicated the Korean peninsula, a tiny stub hanging off the eastern edge of China. ‘They never entered international airspace, so we couldn’t touch them.’

‘You could’ve still got a missile lock from hundreds of miles away. Shoot ’em down, and if the North Koreans complain, say you had a weapons malfunction or something.’

MacNeer clucked patronisingly. ‘This isn’t a Tom Clancy novel, Mr Chase. But the jet landed at Tonyong, a military base about forty miles north of the DMZ. It took off again a half-hour later and flew to Shenyang in China, where it’s stayed. We’re trying to track down Mikkelsson and the others there, but haven’t located them yet.’

‘You think he’s in China?’ asked Nina.

‘Would
you
want to stay in North Korea any longer than you absolutely had to?’

‘Point taken.’

Seretse joined the other official at the map. ‘What is the significance of Tonyong? Why would Fenrir go there?’

‘It’s a North Korean weapons development facility,’ MacNeer answered. ‘It’s underground, built into a mountain – they even dug one end of a runway into it so planes can be loaded without our surveillance satellites seeing what’s going on. There’s been a lot of activity over the past couple of years; more tunnels being excavated, judging from the amount of rubble that’s been dumped nearby.’

‘Big enough to build a particle accelerator?’ said Nina.

‘Maybe. We don’t know for sure – it’s one of the hardest countries in the world to get reliable intel out of. The North Koreans have a nasty habit of imprisoning or straight-up executing anyone they even
think
might be spying. Most of their big-money facilities have been involved with their nuke programme, and we know where they are, but particle accelerators have multiple uses – including separating enriched uranium-235 from useless uranium-238. We invented the technique as part of the Manhattan Project in the 1940s, so it’s not as if it’s a big secret. Considering how desperate they are to build up their nuclear arsenal, it wouldn’t surprise us if the North Koreans have been using every possible method to get fissile material out of their uranium deposits.’

‘And if Mikkelsson’s right about how the Crucible works, they can use it to turn their useless uranium into plutonium,’ she said gloomily. The small Crucible had been recovered along with the three survivors on the frozen lake, and was currently being kept under guard at a secure location pending a decision on what to do with it. ‘They can make the jump from A-bomb to H-bomb.’

MacNeer gave her a bleak nod. ‘The thermonuclear test they did in 2016 was a fizzle, whatever Kim tried to tell the world. But if they start to manufacture plutonium on a large scale, it’s only a matter of time before they have the real deal.’

‘So what’s being done about it?’ Eddie asked.

The two officials exchanged looks. ‘What?’ said Nina, realising the subject had already been discussed before she and Eddie arrived.

‘There has been a proposal by the State Department,’ Seretse said carefully. ‘Or more accurately, US intelligence. However, I suspect you will not like it.’

Eddie made a face. ‘That’s a really good start.’

‘What is it?’ Nina demanded. ‘What proposal?’

Seretse retreated to grant his guest the dubious honour of presenting the bad news. ‘As I said, it’s hard to get reliable intel out of North Korea,’ MacNeer began. ‘It looks likely that Mikkelsson delivered the Crucible to the North Koreans, and they’ve taken it to Tonyong – but we don’t know for sure. We hardly know
anything
about what’s down there. But what we do know – and this isn’t just the United States talking, but an agreement between the other nuclear powers in the IAEA – is that North Korea cannot under any circumstances be allowed to mass-produce nuclear weapons. Not only would that be a hugely destabilising threat to the world, it would violate the treaty that North Korea itself just agreed to.’

‘A treaty that Mikkelsson convinced them to sign,’ added Seretse. Another shake of his head. ‘What game are you playing, Fenrir?’ he added, almost to himself.

‘Under the terms of the treaty,’ MacNeer went on, ‘there’s a provision that allows direct action to be taken against any nation that wilfully violates the agreement. If North Korea arms itself with thermonuclear weapons, that would definitely qualify as a violation. The US, or any other involved nation for that matter, would be justified under international law in using any means necessary to prevent it.’

‘That sounds more like it,’ said Eddie. ‘So you’re going to send over a few stealth bombers loaded with bunker-busters?’

‘No action can be taken without proof,’ Seretse told him solemnly. ‘
Solid
proof. After what happened in Iraq with the weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist, the United Nations requires a higher standard of confirmation before it will approve such risky measures.’ He gave the State Department official a hard look.

MacNeer let the implied criticism slide. ‘The thing is, getting that proof is going to be hard, and take a long time. We just don’t have the assets in place. Unless . . . we recruit some.’

Nina felt decidedly uneasy about the way he was looking at her and Eddie. ‘I’m going to guess that you’re not talking about bribing some North Korean guard to sneak in a camera.’

‘I’m afraid not. We need someone who can get in there by offering the North Koreans something they need – and then get back out to tell us what they’ve seen.’

Eddie’s eyebrows rose as he realised where the American was leading. ‘You mean us? You want
us
to go on a spying mission into North fucking Korea?’

‘You’re the only people who can do it,’ MacNeer explained. ‘You found the Crucibles in the first place, you retrieved them from the Greek, and you know how they work – both in turning mercury into gold
and
uranium into plutonium. There isn’t anybody else who could conceivably offer the Crucible you recovered to the Koreans. It would be too suspicious.’

‘It’ll be suspicious anyway!’ Nina protested. ‘What, are we supposed to rock up to the North Korean embassy and tell them, “Hey, we know that Fenrir Mikkelsson sold you the big Crucible, but we’ll let you complete the set if you show us your secret underground base”?’

MacNeer almost smiled before catching himself. ‘That’s kind of a sarcastic way of putting it, but . . . yes, in essence.’

‘And why the bloody hell would they believe us?’ said Eddie.

‘Because they do not know you,’ said Seretse. ‘If you make them an offer that seems mercenary, even positively rapacious in its demands, they will think you are simply after money – because the North Koreans believe all foreigners, especially Americans, are greedy, imperialist monsters.’

‘Except for Dennis Rodman, I guess,’ Nina said.

‘If there’s one thing they love to do,’ added MacNeer, ‘it’s show off all the incredible technology that they’re going to use to destroy America and conquer the world. Granted, most of it’s twenty to thirty years behind us, but that doesn’t mean they won’t give you a guided tour if you tell them you want to hand over the Crucible in person.’

Eddie was still dubious, to say the least. ‘Okay, so even if they decide to let us in, then what?’

‘All you need to do is confirm that they’re manufacturing plutonium, or intending to. Once you’re safely out of the country and report in, Special Forces will take care of the rest.’

‘How? They can’t just take a cab across the DMZ.’

MacNeer gave him a knowing look. ‘North Korea’s air defence radars can’t pick up our stealth aircraft, and we’re sure of that because we’ve been doing covert overflights for years. And the B-2 can deliver more than bombs.’

‘What, they can carry
paratroopers
?’ Eddie said in disbelief. ‘Since when?’

‘Since we built pressurised drop pods that fit in the bomb bays.’

Eddie laughed. ‘Thought you said this wasn’t a Tom Clancy novel!’

The official held in his amusement, then became serious once more. ‘Once you confirm that the facility’s being used to develop nuclear weapons, a team will HALO-jump on to the mountain above it, inside the perimeter, so the North Koreans won’t even know they’re there. They’ll descend to a position above the runway tunnel, which based on our thermographic analysis is the only way in or out, and plant explosives. When they’re clear, they’ll blow the charges and collapse the tunnel. Problem solved.’

‘But how will the soldiers get out of the country?’ Nina asked.

‘By doing what they’re trained to do. I’m sure Mr Chase knows what I mean.’

Eddie was still unconvinced. ‘Not saying I couldn’t do it, but getting out of
North Korea
without support? Not easy.’

‘They can do it,’ said MacNeer. ‘But it’s up to you whether or not they get the chance. If you don’t go, it might take months to confirm what’s going on by other means.’

‘And by then it may be too late,’ Seretse added sonorously.

‘You’re asking a hell of a lot,’ said Nina, worried. ‘We’re not spies, but you want us to go on an espionage mission into one of the most paranoid regimes on the planet! If they suspect
anything
, we won’t get out again even if a former president flies in to Pyongyang to ask for our release, like Bill Clinton did for those journalists.’

‘I know one former president who’d fly in just to tell ’em to keep us,’ muttered Eddie.

‘We’d be putting ourselves in danger again,’ Nina continued, ‘and we only just got
out
of it!’ She gingerly touched her arm, where a bandage under her sleeve covered the now-sutured bullet wound. ‘I got shot, and my grandmother almost died. And we’ve got a daughter now – if anything happened to us . . .’ She let the statement hang in the air.

Seretse nodded. ‘I completely understand your reluctance. But at the same time, I am sure you are aware of the seriousness of the threat. Perhaps if you take some time to think the proposal over?’

‘Not too much, though,’ said MacNeer.

‘I’m already fairly sure what my answer will be, but . . . yeah. We’ll think about it,’ she said. Eddie nodded in agreement. ‘I’ll let you know our decision as soon as we’ve made it.’

The State Department official was clearly disappointed, but kept his expression neutral as he shook their hands. ‘Do please give the matter full consideration,’ implored Seretse. ‘There is a great deal at stake.’

‘We will, don’t worry,’ Eddie told him. ‘All right, let’s go and get Macy.’

They made their way through the Secretariat Building to the IHA’s offices, where Macy had been left with Lola. When the couple arrived, they found that their daughter had drawn a small crowd of other colleagues. ‘Hey, Macy, here are your mommy and daddy!’ Lola trilled.

‘Told you it was “mommy”.’ Nina nudged her husband, smirking.

‘
Mummy
,’ he sighed, before picking up the little girl. ‘Ay up, love! Did you miss us?’

Macy shook her head. ‘Lola let me talk to all her friends!’ She waved at the smiling group around her.

‘Good to feel wanted,’ Eddie said with another sigh.

‘Is everything okay?’ Lola asked Nina as the others laughed. ‘You look a bit . . . you know, that look you get when something’s about to catch fire or explode.’

‘We’re fine,’ Nina assured her. ‘We’ve just got something big to think about, that’s all. Was Macy okay with you?’

The blonde grinned. ‘Are you kidding? She’s gorgeous. You two have made one heck of a little girl. She’s been drawing, singing – even showing off how much she knows about archaeology.’

Eddie groaned. ‘And so it begins.’

‘Quiet, you,’ said Nina. She took Macy from him. ‘We’ve got to go now, honey.’

‘Where are we going?’ the little girl asked.

Nina paused before answering, then smiled. ‘To see your great-grandma.’

When Nina cautiously entered the hospital room, she thought at first that Olivia was asleep. She was about to withdraw when a weak voice reached her. ‘Nina?’

‘Hi,’ she replied softly, going to the bed. Her grandmother looked older and far more frail than when she had first met her. Her skin was still pale from her ordeal. A colourless fluid ran down an intravenous line into her arm. ‘How are you feeling?’

Olivia opened her eyes. They at least still had the same spark as before, even through her exhaustion. ‘I’m as good as could be expected, thank you. A little lighter, though. They had to amputate two of my toes. Frostbite.’

Nina was horrified. ‘Oh my God!’

‘One from each foot, so fortunately they balance out.’ A faint weary smile. ‘Apart from the need to buy a completely new collection of shoes, I should make a full recovery, they tell me. Again, as well as could be expected for an eighty-nine-year-old. But,’ another smile, this time a little wider, ‘at least I should make ninety. Thanks to you and Eddie.’ She tilted her head, trying to see past Nina to the door. ‘Is he here?’

‘He’s just outside. With Macy.’

‘You brought Macy?’

‘Yeah. I wanted her to meet her great-grandmother. Properly, I mean.’

‘Looking like this? I’m more likely to send the poor girl running screaming. What about you two? Are you both okay?’

Nina indicated her bandaged arm. ‘I’ve had worse gunshot wounds. Which is kinda terrifying when you think about it, but yeah, we’re fine. I’ll go get them.’ She went to the door and called her family in.