The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

same. Fowler's said that we have no reason to think they did it – that's good.
Narmonov says both sides should play it cool on provoking the other side –
that's good, too. So far, so good,' Ben Goodley thought.
'I agree,' the Senior Duty Officer said.
'That makes it unanimous,' Jack said. Thank God. Bob, I didn't know you had it
in you.
***
Rosselli walked back to his desk. Okay, things appeared to be more or less under
control.
'Where the hell have you been?' Rocky Barnes asked.
'Hot Line room, things appear to be fairly cool.'
'Not anymore, Jim.'
***
General Paul Wilkes was almost there. It had taken nearly twenty minutes to get
from his house onto I-295 and from there to I-395, a total distance of less than
five miles. Snowplows had barely touched this road, and now it was cold enough
that what had been salted was freezing to ice anyway. Worst of all, those few
D.C. drivers who were venturing out were showing their customary driving skill.
Even those with four-wheel-drives were acting as though the additional traction
made them immune to the laws of physics. Wilkes had just passed over South
Capitol Street, and was now heading downhill towards the Maine Avenue exit. To
his left, some maniac in a Toyota was passing him, and then came right, to head
for the exit into downtown D.C. The Toyota skidded sideways on a patch of ice
that frontwheel drive didn't master. There was no chance to avoid it. Wilkes
broadsided the car at about fifteen miles per hour.
'The hell with it,' he said aloud. He didn't have time for this. The General
backed up a few feet and started to maneuver around before the driver even got
out. He didn't check his mirror. As he changed lanes, he was rear-ended by a
tractor-trailer doing about twenty-five. It was enough to drive the General's
car over the concrete divider and into the face of another car. Wilkes was
killed instantly.
CHAPTER 39
Echoes
Elizabeth Elliot stared blankly at the far wall as she sipped her coffee. It was
the only thing that made sense. All the warnings they'd had and ignored. It all
fit. The Soviet military was making a power-play, and targeting Bob Fowler had
to be part of it. We should have been there, she thought. He wanted to go to the
game, and everyone expected him to, because Dennis Bunker owned one of the
teams. I would have been there, too. I could be dead now. If they wanted to kill
Bob, then they also wanted to kill me . . .
***
PRESIDENT NARMONOV:
I AM GRATIFIED THAT WE AGREE ON THE NECESSITY FOR CAUTION AND REASON. I
MUST NOW
CONFER WITH MY ADVISERS SO THAT WE MAY ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE OF THIS