The Doomsday Device Read Free Page A

FBI’s most wanted list.”
    Todd inclined his head. “A dubious honor. There are sadists and serial killers on that list. I am not that kind of man.” He smiled. “However, I sometimes make use of the services of men who are.”
    Wolff nodded and said nothing.
    “Please take a seat,” Todd said. “Would you like a drink?”
    “Just water would be fine.”
    The men sat opposite each other. The chairs were positioned in such a way that they still enjoyed a view of the gulf. A glass arrived for Wolff, but he noticed Todd did not partake.
    “I understand you are a man who can get things,” Todd said.
    “I have been known to be able to acquire things under the right circumstances,” Wolff confirmed. “And for the right price.”
    Todd named a price. It was a lot of money. It occurred to Wolff that he never would have thought his services could be considered so valuable; one hundred million dollars was a lot of money in anyone’s terms. For such a sum this would not be an easy task, but then he was never contacted to carry out easy assignments.
    “You’ve named your price,” Wolff said. “Perhaps you should name the thing you require and then I can determine if the two are of a commensurate value.”
    Todd nodded. “I need you to kidnap someone for me. A child. A very important child.”
    Wolff said nothing. For one hundred million dollars he imagined it must be the child of a president – possibly the American President – or a prime minister. He asked if this was the case.
    The man who rated the number three position on the FBI’s most wanted list smiled. It was not a pleasant smile.
    “Oh, no,” he said. “The child is not famous. Not yet. But he will be.”
    Todd named the child.
    It was not often that Wolff doubted if he could achieve his task, but this was one of those rare times. He sat for a long moment considering the offer. One hundred million dollars was a lot of money, but he knew he would be earning every cent of it. He had not personally met this child, but he had dealt with his friends. It was fair to say they were possibly the most difficult adversaries he had ever faced.
    He would need assistance if he was going to make this mission work.
    “They are currently living in a group household,” Todd continued. “They are using the name of Smith.”
    Wolff nodded. “Where?”
    “A house outside of Las Vegas.”
    Of course , Wolff thought. More desert.
     

 
    Chapter Three
    The blast took out the passenger door to the bomber’s left as well as the infrastructure to his right; the toilet disintegrated into debris as did three seats. A roaring sound filled the entire compartment as the air was sucked out of the aircraft; a fine mist filled the air. People screamed as oxygen masks fell from the ceiling.
    It was mayhem. Absolute mayhem.
    The plane lurched to one side. I saw the vacuum of air dragging a man helplessly along the aisle towards the breach in the cabin. Another passenger grabbed hold of him. At the same time I realized the front of the aircraft seemed to drop; the plane was going into a dive. I had to seal the breach in the hull with a shield. Unfortunately the plane pitched to the right as I tried to focus on the breach. I was thrown sideways.
    Both Dan and I landed in the laps of a married couple who were desperately scrambling to work out how to position the oxygen masks. One of them was trying to place it on their young daughter; the girl’s face was filled with absolute terror.
    The instructions always tell you to put the mask on yourself first , I thought. Then help younger children. Don’t people read the instruction cards?
    People didn’t always think well in a panic. Fortunately I had my ability to manipulate air, so I created an air bubble around myself and Dan. We could breathe. For now. I grabbed one of the masks and positioned it over the man’s face while Dan helped him to aid the girl.
    He gave us a grateful look as the air began to flow. Regaining my feet, I