Deception Point Page 104

Wheres Michael? She didnt see him. Her panic belonged only an instant as a raw(a) fear descended. Overhead, the Tritons shredded winch cable let out an ominous whipping noise as the braids unraveled. Then, there was a loud snap, and Rachel felt the cable give way.Momentarily weight little, Rachel hovered above her oceant wrong the cockpit as the sub hurtled discomfitward. The deck disappeared overhead, and the catwalks under the Goya raced by. The soldier trapped in the claws went white with fear, staring at Rachel as the sub accelerated cut anchorward.The fall seemed end slight.When the sub crashed into the sea beneath the Goya, it plunged hard under the surf, ramming Rachel down hard into her seat. Her spine compressed as the illuminated ocean raced up over the dome. She felt a suffocating drag as the sub slowed to a stop underwater and then raced back toward the surface, bobbing up like a cork.The sharks hit instantly. From her former-row seat, Rachel sit frozen in place as the spectacle unfolded only a some feet away.Delta-Two felt the sharks oblong head crash into him with unimaginable force. A razor sharp fasten tightened on his upper arm, slicing to the bone and locking on. A flash of white-hot pain set off as the shark torqued its powerful bole and shook its head violently, tearing Delta-Twos arm off his body. Others sharks go in. Knives stabbing at his legs. Torso. Neck. Delta-Two had no breath to scream in agony as the sharks ripped huge chunks of his body away. The last thing he saw was a crescent-shaped mouth, tilting sideways, a gorge of teeth clamping down across his face.The world went black.Inside the Triton, the thudding of heavy cartilaginous heads ramming into the dome finally subsided. Rachel opened her eye. The macrocosm was gone. The water washing against the window was crimson.Badly battered, Rachel huddled in her chair, knees pulled to her chest. She could feel the sub moving. It was drifting on the current, scraping along t he length of the Goyas lower dive deck. She could feel it moving in a nonher boot as well. Down.Outside, the distinctive gurgling of water into the ballast tanks grew louder. The ocean inched higher on the glass in front of her.Im sinkingA jolt of terror shot through Rachel, and she was suddenly scrambling to her feet. R all(prenominal)ing overhead, she grabbed the hatch mechanism. If she could heighten up on top of the sub, she still had time to jump onto the Goyas dive deck. It was only a few feet away.Ive got to get outThe hatch mechanism was clearly marked which way to turn it to open. She heaved. The hatch did not budge. She tried again. Nothing. The portal was jammed shut. Bent. As the fear rose in her blood like the sea around her, Rachel heaved one last time.The hatch did not move.The Triton sank a few inches deeper, bumping the Goya one last time before drifting out from underneath the mangled hull and into the open sea.126Dont do this, Gabrielle begged the senator as he finished at the copy machine. Youre risking your daughters life sexton blocked out her voice, moving back to his desk now with ten identical stacks of photocopies. Each stack contained copies of the pages Rachel had faxed him, including her handwritten note claiming the meteorite was a bull through and accusing NASA and the White House of trying to kill her.The most shocking media kits ever assembled, sexton thought, as he began carefully inserting each stack into its own large, white linen windbag. Each envelope tire his name, office address, and senatorial seal. There would be no doubt where this incredible information had originated. The semipolitical scandalization of the century, sacristan thought, and I will be the one to reveal itGabrielle was still pleading for Rachels safety, hardly Sexton heard only silence. As he assembled the envelopes, he was in his own private world. Every political career has a defining moment. This is mine.William Pickerings phone message had warned that if Sexton went public, Rachels life would be in danger. unfortunately for Rachel, Sexton also knew if he went public with proof of NASAs fraud, that single act of boldness would land him in the White House with more decisiveness and political drama than ever before witnessed in American politics.Life is filled with difficult decisions, he thought. And winners are those who make them.Gabrielle Ashe had seen this looking at in Sextons eyes before. contrivance ambition. She feared it. And with good reason, she now realized. Sexton was obviously prepared to risk his daughter in order to be the first to announce the NASA fraud.Dont you see youve already won? Gabrielle demanded. Theres no way Zach Herney and NASA will survive this scandal. No matter who makes it public No matter when it comes out Wait until you know Rachel is safe. Wait until you talk to PickeringSexton was clearly no longer listening to her. Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out a foil opinion poll on wh ich were affixed dozens of nickel-sized, self-adhesive get up seals with his initials on them. Gabrielle knew he usually used these for formal invitations, but he apparently thought a crimson wax seal would give each envelope an extra touch of drama. Peeling the circular seals off the foil, Sexton pressed one onto the pleat of each envelope, sealing it like a monogrammed epistle.Gabrielles heart pulsed now with a new anger. She thought of the digitized images of illegal checks in his computer. If she said anything, she knew he would just delete the evidence. Dont do this, she said, or Ill go public about our affair.Sexton laughed out loud as he affixed the wax seals. Really? And you think theyll believe you-a power-hungry aide denied a post in my administration and looking for revenge at any cost? I denied our involvement once, and the world believed me. Ill simply deny it again.The White House has photos, Gabrielle declared.Sexton did not even look up. They dont have photos. And even if they did, theyre meaningless. He affixed the final wax seal. I have immunity. These envelopes out-trump anything anyone could possibly receive at me.Gabrielle knew he was right. She felt utterly helpless as Sexton admired his handiwork. On his desk sat ten elegant, white linen envelopes, each embossed with his name and address and secured with a crimson wax seal bearing his scripted initials. They looked like royal letters. Certainly kings had been crowned on account of less potent information.Sexton picked up the envelopes and prepared to leave. Gabrielle stepped over and blocked his way. Youre making a mistake. This can wait.Sextons eyes bored into her. I made you, Gabrielle, and now Ive unmade you.That fax from Rachel will give you the presidency. You owe her.Ive given up her plenty.What if something happens to herThen shell cement my sympathy vote.Gabrielle could not believe the thought had even crossed his mind, a good deal less his lips. Disgusted, she reached for t he phone. Im calling the White-Sexton spun and slapped her hard across the face.Gabrielle staggered back, feeling her lip split open. She caught herself, grabbing on to the desk, staring up in astonishment at the man she had once worshiped.Sexton gave her a long, hard look. If you so much as think of crossing me on this, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life. He stood unflinching, clutching the stack of sealed envelopes under his arm. A harsh danger burned in his eyes.When Gabrielle exited the office building into the cold night air, her lip was still bleeding. She hailed a taxi and climbed in. Then, for the first time since she had come to Washington, Gabrielle Ashe skint down and cried.