Page 61 of The Presidents Shadow

“And that news is…?”

“Jericho and Burbank have just told me that they havebeen able to trace the signal of the satellite that coordinated the attack on the country of Peru.”

Burbank, bursting with enthusiasm, cannot help but intrude on the conversation.

“At first, it seemed that the launch point might actually have been coming from Pyongyang in North Korea, but then the satellite began moving farther east,” he says.

Okay. Fine. Interesting. Now let us know where it truly came from. But Burbank doesn’t stop with his background story.

“North Korea would have been a perfect location from which to initiate the Kyoto disaster. But that proved unlikely when—”

I simply cannot wait a second longer for the answer.

“Damnit. Get on with it! Where the hell is Terrageddon coming from?”

Burbank and Jericho answer in perfect unison.

“Africa,” they say. Then Jericho adds, “Possibly Dakar, the largest city in Senegal.”

I have to stop for a moment and visualize a map of Africa in my mind. Senegal. Senegal. Senegal. Then, there it is. A small country on the northwestern coast of Africa.

Now Laksa speaks: “Of course, West Africa. That would be a perfect location to set up a fortification for a nuclear launch. I should have considered that.

“So, you think this is all happening in Dakar?” Laksa asks.

Jericho responds, “I saidpossiblyin Dakar.”

“Wait,” I say. “Did you just use the wordpossibly? We need a specific location.”

Burbank says, “Forgive me for sounding arrogant, sir. But it’s amazing that we were able to pinpoint the country of Senegal.”

I know he’s correct.

“You’re forgiven,” I say. I crack my first tiny smile of the day. “Dr. Laksa and I appreciate the miracle you’ve given us.”

Laksa is about speak. But suddenly we are interrupted by alerts as multiple internet news outlets report on the extraordinary disaster in Peru.

The news saddens me, of course, but it strangely and unexpectedly strengthens me. There is much to do.

“We’ll connect very soon,” I say to Dr. Laksa. “Let’s hope for a positive outcome.”

“I hope so, too.” Then he adds, “I only wish that I might live to see a happy ending.”

“Why would you not, Doctor?” I ask.

“Think about it, Lamont. Just think about it,” he says. “Ambrose clearly wants me dead and was willing to destroy almost an entire country to see it done.”

Then he adds, “But for the moment I bid you thanks and farewell.”

CHAPTER 82

AS SOON AS the conversation with Laksa has ended, Margo says to me, “He’s scared, isn’t he?”

I am not surprised at her intuition—she’s always been remarkably accurate with her emotional insight. But I sense that Margo herself is nervous, as if she is as frightened as Laksa.

“Lamont, look at the situation,” she continues. “We know a lot more about Ambrose than we did a few minutes ago. But it’s also true that Ambrose knows a lot more about us, about our incredible intrusion on his plans. And when he learns Laksa isn’t dead, he’ll know someone has foiled him—and that we’re tightening a noose.”

“Of course, you’re right, Margo,” I say. “I’ve thought from the beginning that Laksa could end up being a victim in all this, but I guess I put that aside because I was so pleased that we succeeded in locating Terrageddon. Isn’t that the larger goal, and worth it?”

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