Page 127 of Tom Clancy Line of Sight
Emir carried a wooden crate, a chromed Colt 1911 .45 shoved into his waistband. “Last one.” He nodded toward Jack. “And then we can go.”
By which he means time for me to die.
He hardly cared. He was raging and ashamed, all at the same time.
She’d played him, big-time. How could he not have seen it coming?
Because I’ve been a damned idiot, that’s how. Thinking with my head instead of my brain.
“I’ll be ready,” Aida said, as Emir stepped into the harsh morning light.
Aida stood and turned the laptop around so that Jack could see it.
“Do you know what you’re looking at?”
Jack leaned forward as far as the duct tape would allow, squinting his eyes. “I dunno. The Depeche Mode concert?”
“It’s a live video feed from our drone, flying high over the Olympic soccer stadium, hosting the Orthodox Renewal. All of those people down there are crowding in like sardines in order to receive the blessings of their priests. Well, we have another blessing in store for them.” She checked her watch. “In exactly forty-two minutes, they’re all going to die.”
“Just like those innocent people killed on that plane?”
“Oh, no. These Serbs will suffer much, much more than they did.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I tried to explain it to you, Jack. But you’re too American to understand.” She pocketed her burner phone.
“I can’t believe you killed those people.”
She giggled coyly. “Me? I didn’t. Emir is the one who pulled the trigger.”
“But you ordered him to, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“To kill me.”
“I had to. You became a loose end.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“I shouldn’t think so. Especially since you’re responsible for all of them dying.”
“Kill him now, and let’s go,” Emir said, stepping back into the room. “The commander is waiting for us.”
“You mean Brkic, don’t you?” Jack asked.
WHACK!
Emir backhanded Jack. “Shut your mouth. You are not worthy to speak his name.” Emir pulled his chromed pistol out of his waistband and pointed it at Jack.
Aida laid her hand on the barrel and pushed it down. “Not yet.”
“What are you waiting for? Kill him now! He treated you like his whore.” He raised his gun back up.
“Not yet. I want him to see history unfold before his eyes, and to know the part he played in starting World War Three. And then he can die.”
Emir smiled at the thought. “Sure, why not?”
