her over to Omar and forced her down on her knees.
"No, wait," she said. "Wait."
Omar shot her in the head in front of the camera. Gray matter and bone sprayed out over the room. The body toppled over.
"You have one hour," Omar said to the camera. "If you do not begin releasing my people I will shoot another. Next time it will be an American." He made a slashing motion across his throat. The camera light went off.
Selena felt the ambassador grip her hand.
"Bastard," Cathwaite said. "She just had a baby. Three months ago." Her voice trembled with anger. Blood spread in a wide stain under the dead girl.
Outside the embassy, Nick considered his next move. Selena's voice sounded in his earpiece. She was whispering, but Nick could hear the stress in her voice.
"Nick, do you copy?"
"Affirmative."
"There are twelve of them. They've placed charges all around. They shot a hostage."
"We're outside the building looking for a way in." He paused. "You okay?"
"Nick, these people are crazy..."
Her voice cut off.
"Selena?" he said. There was no answer.
CHAPTER 21
Lt. Colonel Kroger shielded his eyes against dust kicked up by the Sea Knight helicopters as they lifted away. Three Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions came in after them and settled on the boulevard. They disgorged more Marines and half a dozen Humvees with Browning M2 .50 BMG machine guns mounted topside. Kroger believed in being prepared. From the air he'd seen a column of Philippine Army vehicles speeding down Roxas Boulevard toward the embassy. He placed some of his men and a Humvee across the Boulevard in the path of the oncoming Philippine troops. Others took up positions along the edge of the embassy grounds. Kroger had created an instant buffer zone around the embassy. No one was getting near the building without going through him.
The Philippine convoy was getting close. "Looks like we got here just in time, sir."
The speaker was his XO. Major Clifford Anderson had been Kroger's second in command for the last two years. Both men had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both had been under fire many times together. Kroger couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have with him in a potential firefight.
"Better get ready for an argument, Cliff," Kroger said. "The locals aren't going to be happy."
"That's too damn bad," Anderson said. They waited for the Filipinos to arrive.
The lead vehicle was a Kia 450, a medium-sized truck used for troop transport. It was followed by another half dozen similar vehicles filled with troops. Two American -made M113A2 armored vehicles brought up the rear.
"The tracks on those must be doing a real good job on th at nice asphalt road," Anderson said.
"Show of force. They probably think they're going to go through the gates with them."
"That's not going to happen," Anderson said. Men wearing olive drab berets and dressed in camouflage uniforms scrambled out of the trucks. They carried modern assault rifles. An officer stepped down from the lead vehicle.
"Showtime," Kroger said. "That's the 1st Scout Rangers, if I'm not mistaken."
"Those are Steyr assault rifles they're carrying," Anderson said. "Good weapon."
"The Rangers are their elite unit," Kroger said. "They even sent a general. Let's go, Major . Time to make nice. Smile."
The two Marines walked over to the Philippine general. Kroger saluted.
"Lieutenant Colonel Kroger, sir."
The Filipino returned the salute. "I am General Narcisco. Why are you here, Colonel? I was unaware permission had been given for American troops to deploy. Your men are blocking my vehicles. I wish to pass."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, sir. My orders are to secure the area until the situation is resolved."
Narcisco's face tightened under his beret. "You are on Philippine territory, Colonel. You will remove yourself immediately. We will take care of this."
"Sorry, sir, I can't do that. May I remind you that the embassy is United States territory."
"Colonel, unless you wish to find
"No, wait," she said. "Wait."
Omar shot her in the head in front of the camera. Gray matter and bone sprayed out over the room. The body toppled over.
"You have one hour," Omar said to the camera. "If you do not begin releasing my people I will shoot another. Next time it will be an American." He made a slashing motion across his throat. The camera light went off.
Selena felt the ambassador grip her hand.
"Bastard," Cathwaite said. "She just had a baby. Three months ago." Her voice trembled with anger. Blood spread in a wide stain under the dead girl.
Outside the embassy, Nick considered his next move. Selena's voice sounded in his earpiece. She was whispering, but Nick could hear the stress in her voice.
"Nick, do you copy?"
"Affirmative."
"There are twelve of them. They've placed charges all around. They shot a hostage."
"We're outside the building looking for a way in." He paused. "You okay?"
"Nick, these people are crazy..."
Her voice cut off.
"Selena?" he said. There was no answer.
CHAPTER 21
Lt. Colonel Kroger shielded his eyes against dust kicked up by the Sea Knight helicopters as they lifted away. Three Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions came in after them and settled on the boulevard. They disgorged more Marines and half a dozen Humvees with Browning M2 .50 BMG machine guns mounted topside. Kroger believed in being prepared. From the air he'd seen a column of Philippine Army vehicles speeding down Roxas Boulevard toward the embassy. He placed some of his men and a Humvee across the Boulevard in the path of the oncoming Philippine troops. Others took up positions along the edge of the embassy grounds. Kroger had created an instant buffer zone around the embassy. No one was getting near the building without going through him.
The Philippine convoy was getting close. "Looks like we got here just in time, sir."
The speaker was his XO. Major Clifford Anderson had been Kroger's second in command for the last two years. Both men had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both had been under fire many times together. Kroger couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have with him in a potential firefight.
"Better get ready for an argument, Cliff," Kroger said. "The locals aren't going to be happy."
"That's too damn bad," Anderson said. They waited for the Filipinos to arrive.
The lead vehicle was a Kia 450, a medium-sized truck used for troop transport. It was followed by another half dozen similar vehicles filled with troops. Two American -made M113A2 armored vehicles brought up the rear.
"The tracks on those must be doing a real good job on th at nice asphalt road," Anderson said.
"Show of force. They probably think they're going to go through the gates with them."
"That's not going to happen," Anderson said. Men wearing olive drab berets and dressed in camouflage uniforms scrambled out of the trucks. They carried modern assault rifles. An officer stepped down from the lead vehicle.
"Showtime," Kroger said. "That's the 1st Scout Rangers, if I'm not mistaken."
"Those are Steyr assault rifles they're carrying," Anderson said. "Good weapon."
"The Rangers are their elite unit," Kroger said. "They even sent a general. Let's go, Major . Time to make nice. Smile."
The two Marines walked over to the Philippine general. Kroger saluted.
"Lieutenant Colonel Kroger, sir."
The Filipino returned the salute. "I am General Narcisco. Why are you here, Colonel? I was unaware permission had been given for American troops to deploy. Your men are blocking my vehicles. I wish to pass."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, sir. My orders are to secure the area until the situation is resolved."
Narcisco's face tightened under his beret. "You are on Philippine territory, Colonel. You will remove yourself immediately. We will take care of this."
"Sorry, sir, I can't do that. May I remind you that the embassy is United States territory."
"Colonel, unless you wish to find
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