Chapter 84
While Kevin was under the knife, Cabrillo took Linda down to his cabin to show her what had happened.
He pointed at the tranq gun Kevin tossed to the ground after he shot Cabrillo with it.
He then took her to his marble-tiled bathroom, where silicone spray, squeeze tubes, and other makeup items lay scattered on the bathroom counter.
Nixon’s empty canvas bag was tossed on the marble tile floor along with the pair of Bermuda shorts and yellow T-shirt he had worn earlier.
The bag was big enough to hold everything on the counter along with the change of clothes and the tranq gun.
Cabrillo showed her a contact lens case marked “JC/blue” and the charging case used to carry a voice synthesizer, also labeled “JC.” They’d both seen Kevin put one of the clear Band-Aid–like devices on Juan’s throat plenty of times when he outfitted Cabrillo for one of his undercover missions.
“He’s just about your size and weight, too,” Linda noted. “Makes sense, now that I see it all here. But I never would have guessed he would do something like this.”
“He’s the best in the business.” Cabrillo checked his watch. “Let’s head back to the sick bay. Kevin should be coming around soon.”
As they made their way back up to the sick bay, Cabrillo asked, “So how did you manage to pull off the phone attack on Suárez?”
“We were grasping at straws and got lucky. It all came together just at the right time.”
“How so?”
“Hali’s Sniffer dissected Suárez’s cell signal as soon as he called you on the beach.
That gave Hali the phone’s unique electronic signature along with the exact make, model, and software version he was using.
Murphy used that intel to find an exploit in the phone and built a malware program.
Meanwhile, Eric was searching CIA files for any information he could get on Suárez and just happened to come across old footage of his wife, Nadia.
It was Eric’s idea to embed Murph’s malware into the video. ”
“Something he knew Suárez couldn’t resist.”
“Murph’s malware bypassed the phone’s safety measures and overloaded the lithium-ion battery with rapid charge and discharge cycles.”
“Inducing a thermal runaway. No wonder the airlines hate lithium batteries.”
“It was a Hail Mary play for sure.”
“And all that in forty-five minutes?” Cabrillo asked. “Those two young geniuses never fail to impress.”
“It was our only shot. We were just too far away to use shipboard weapons.”
“And how did you sneak Eddie and MacD onto the island?”
“As soon as Gomez lifted off in the AW, the Joby slipped in behind him, using the AW as a screen. The side of the island where you—I mean, Kevin—were held was on top of a cliff.”
“If Gomez flew the AW, then Arnie Davis must have flown the Joby.” Cabrillo’s decision to hire the temp contractor pilot had paid off handsomely.
“He was aces. No surprise there. He’s former Air Force Spec Ops.”
“I’m guessing Arnie held the Joby just beneath the cliff to stay out of sight and waited for your signal to infil after Suárez released the nuns?”
“Bingo.”
“What’s their condition?”
“No physical harm. Just a little shook up. But they’re a pair of troopers, for sure. Arnie’s flying them back to their convent as per their request.”
The two Oregon executives arrived at the sick bay. Juan pulled open the door and ushered Linda inside.
★
Kevin Nixon lay in an Oregon hospital bed, propped up with pillows.
A thick bandage was wrapped around his right hand.
He had just polished off a tall cup of ice water when Cabrillo marched into the room with Linda in tow.
Kevin flashed an awkward smile. Diminutive Dr. Huxley stood by his bed updating his digital chart.
“You look good, Kev,” Linda said. “How are you feeling?”
Nixon held up his hand. “Reminds me of The Mummy remake I worked on a few years back.” He examined the bandage more closely. “Not exactly period accurate, but Dr. Huxley did a good job.”
“What’s the prognosis, Doc?” Cabrillo asked.
Huxley shot Kevin a glance. Technically, patient confidentiality rules forbade her to answer, but Kevin gave her a wink. The Oregon crew were like family.
“The bullet passed clean through, but that hollow-point slug did quite a bit of damage—bones, muscle, tendons, nerves. I put things back together as best I could and stopped the bleeding. But he needs a level of care I can’t provide on this ship and he needs it right away.
James Heiskell is the best orthopedic hand surgeon in the world.
His clinic is in San Diego. I’ve already reached out to him. ”
“How soon can we move Kevin?”
“Jimmy’s rearranging his schedule so we can get him on his table tomorrow afternoon.”
Juan turned to Linda. “Make the travel arrangements with Max and Gomez, pronto.”
“On it.” Linda sped for the door.
“What’s my long-term outlook, Dr. Huxley?” Kevin asked.
Huxley forced a smile. “You probably won’t lose the hand.”
“But I won’t get it fully back, either, will I?”
Huxley laid a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “If anyone can work a miracle, it’s Jimmy.” She turned to Cabrillo. “I need to forward Kevin’s complete medical records to him. I’ll be back shortly.”
Huxley’s departure left just Cabrillo and Nixon in the room.
“Need anything?” Juan asked.
“I’m guessing forgiveness.”
“I’m not sure if I should keelhaul you or kiss you for what you did.”
“Kinda nutso, I know. But I just figured one broken-down makeup artist wasn’t as important as the captain of the Oregon.”
“I couldn’t disagree more. That was a heck of a thing you did. I’m more grateful than you know.”
“Seemed like the right thing to do.”
“You could’ve gotten yourself killed.”
Kevin chuckled. “For a moment there, I thought I was a goner. Just glad I didn’t soil my skivvies.” Nixon laid his head back down on his pillow and closed his eyes. He was still groggy from the anesthesia. In just moments, he fell back to sleep.
Cabrillo slipped away, not wanting to disturb him.
But he stopped in the doorway, remembering the last time he’d visited Kevin’s private quarters.
A framed photo of Nixon’s beloved sister stood on the nightstand by his bed.
Juan had picked it up and studied it closely.
They were fraternal twins, and according to Kevin, very close.
Etched into the frame was his sister’s favorite saying:
There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends.
Cabrillo thought that fit Kevin to a T.
And the rest of his crew, too.