Free The Labyrinth Campaign by J. Michael Sweeney Page B

leverage.”
    “What’s your confidence level that this guy will play?”
    “Well, the guy is divorced with two kids in college and an annual salary of $47,000. So the money will be tempting. His profile would also indicate that an incident that would gain press attention would support his strong criticisms of the safety precautions management has ignored in recent years.”
    “All right, how does it work?”
    “It’s really quite simple. Our guy plants a device equipped to deploy a highly concentrated form of acid that will quickly eat through metal. Once the acid reaches the cooling system of the reactor, water will be introduced to the molten core, starting a minor meltdown.”
    Carlos had a skeptical expression. “Won’t the acid leave some indication that the reactor was tampered with?”
    “Actually, no,” Jorge quickly answered. “The minor explosion, along with the accompanying toxic steam, will eliminate the clues that would indicate any tampering took place.”
    “Two down, two to go,” Carlos said, smiling. “I’m intrigued.”
    “Nerve gas. We’ve identified a facility in Nebraska that is currently working with a new strain of sarin gas that will be the deadliest ever. The kicker is, the only way this gas can generate its deadly compounds is to be introduced to an outside force—for example, being dropped out of a plane or launched by a mortar. Our plan is to create this force by toppling a large storage tank in the laboratory, already having attacheda tiny vial of the sarin to the outside to ensure contact and the resulting release of the deadly gas. We’re still working on the appropriate insider to help us, but we’ve got three or four weeks until the execution of accident number three.”
    “Sounds viable for now, but I will want an update prior to execution.”
    “Got it.”
    “And finally?”
    “The grand finale: the Woodrow Wilson hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River in Washington state. We’re certain that a structural failure at this location will minimize loss of life while creating a huge media event. The hundred-foot wall of water will carve a path of destruction that will make a tidal wave look like a ripple on a pond. But the beauty is that the water will not interact with any significant population centers, except a few hard-core outsiders in their cabins, for about 150 miles. By then the wall of water will have subsided, and flooding of the magnitude of Vermont after Hurricane Irene would be the result. We’ve got structural engineers working on the best way to create a failure of this type, but they’ve assured me it’s very doable.”
    “Jorge, once again, I applaud your efforts. I believe these accidents should achieve the desired effect, and our US friends will generate the groundswell of support necessary to propel their candidate into the Oval Office. Now, before you are completely engulfed by the next stages of your elaborate plans, let’s celebrate.”
    With that, the two men adjourned to the south wing of Pendrill’s estate where Mexico City’s “beautiful people” were assembled to drink and dance the night away. When Carlos and Jorge entered the huge, Spanish-style ballroom, four dark-haired, dark-skinned Latin beauties approached. The men took a lady on each arm and walked toward the bar, smiling. Carlos considered the benefits of power in Mexico exquisite. He couldn’t wait for the exponential power surge associated with the Will Hawkins presidency that now seemed quite probable.

    Will Hawkins, David Ellis, and Jack McCarthy met in the outer office of Will’s Dallas office. Ellis had just been escorted to the forty-first floor by Stephanie Wood. After a brief greeting and some handshakes, Will opened the door to his office and escorted the others in. David Ellis was momentarily stunned. This was not the type of setting in which his meetings with politicians usually took place.
    Will Hawkins sensed Ellis’s hesitation and asked, “Is there