Russ smiled and held out his hand as Colonel Howard Bradley entered the computer lab on the basement level of the OSI building. Bradley shook the extended hand and returned the friendly smile.

"Mr. Goldman, I presume?"

"That's right." Russ indicated a terminal to his left. "I believe this might be the pesky piece of equipment you're looking for, although I have to say, Colonel, I'm quite surprised at such personal attention from such an important Pentagon man."

Bradley smiled easily. "No trouble, Mr. Goldman, with things like this, I usually like to tend to them personally." He scanned the room to make sure it was just the two of them. "I appreciate your time, I mean, I know it's late for you bureaucrat types..."

"It's never too late to help out the Pentagon, Colonel Bradley."

"I suppose not."

Bradley sat down at the terminal, and while his back was to Russ, he pulled out a pistol with a silencer from under his jacket. After a moment, he whirled around in the chair, the gun leveled at Mark Russell's chest.

"I'd like to say thanks, Mr. Goldman, for making yourself available for this, you've made my job a lot easier. You should have stayed out of the Pentagon mainframe. My people have been watching it for months."

Stalling for time, Russ asked the inevitable, "Your people? Don't you mean the members of the Shia Hizballah?"

"It's too bad you became so preoccupied with finding Jaime Sommers." Off a concerned look, Bradley continued, "You two must be close."

Russ frowned. "Why do you say that? I'd search for any lost agent."

"Yes, but I doubt many of your agents would break down in tears if they were told you were dead."

"You told her what?"

"That we killed you, Goldman. It's made her much more pliable. And well, at least now, it's going to be true."

Without waiting another moment, Bradley fired the gun, sending Russ flying back against the wall. A moment later his body slid unceremoniously to the floor. Bradley put the gun back under his jacket and straightened his uniform as if preparing for inspection.

"Thanks for your help, Goldman, couldn't have wrapped this up without you."

And in a crisp military about face, Colonel Howard Bradley turned and left the room.