Day of Doom by David Baldacci Read Free Book Online

hidden needlein a ring, or perhaps embedded in hershoe. Whatever the case, Amy would beready. This was one-on-one. And she wasgoing to take Isabel down, finally. Sheballed up her courage and prepared toface one of her worst nightmares: Isabel Kabra.
    “I know you’re here, Isabel, so you might as well just come out now.”
    Amy didn’t think her words would have any effect on the woman, so she was surprised when Isabel Kabra stepped out

    from behind the dumpster and held her
    arms up.
    “I guess you’ve won this round, Amy Cahill,” snarled Isabel. “But the plan will go on, even without me.”
    “I don’t think so, Isabel,” Amy said, looking at her cautiously. She didn’t trust Isabel as far as she could throw her, which was not very far at all. “We’re going to use you to destroy the Doomsday device Archimedes designed.”
    “So you know about that, do you?”
    “No, but now I have confirmation of it, thanks bunches.”
    Isabel looked furious at having given this key element away, but then her malicious smile returned. “You can’t win, you know.”
    “I was about to tell you the same

    thing.”
    “We seem to have a standoff.”
    Amy pulled a pair of zip cuffs fromher pocket. She had brought these with herfor just this sort of situation. “Not really. Get down on your knees, hands behindyour head, fingers interlocked.”
    “And if I don’t?”
    “If you don’t, you’ll be very sorry. And your perfect hair will no longer beperfect. That’s a promise.”
    “You didn’t think I was going toactually fight you myself, did you?”
    “I don’t see anybody else here.”
    Isabel   clapped  her  hands.   Thedumpster opened and three large menclimbed out and quickly encircled Amy.
    Amy froze, her limbs quivering withfear. This had been a trap all along. And

    she’d fallen right into it like an idiot.
    “Say good-bye to your life, Amy Cahill,” gloated Isabel. “I’m sure there will be a few people who will miss you, misguided though they are.”
    Amy eyed Isabel. “We know you’re not Vesper One. You’re not smart enough. And you’re predictable. The Vespers never would have elected you as their leader. You’re strictly the B-Team.”
    Isabel glared darkly at her but said nothing.
    “You’re too into your stupid fake charities. They needed someone with real vision.”
    “I have vision,” declared Isabel heatedly. “I have more vision than anyone.”
    “You’ve got nothing. Even your kids

    wised up and realized you’re an idiot. An evil one, but still an idiot.”
    “The world will find out how smart I am,” shouted Isabel.
    “The only way to do that is for you to become Vesper One. And that will never happen.”
    Amy watched Isabel closely. She could almost see the wheels spinning inside the woman’s head.
    “Well, unfortunately, Amy, you will not be around to see my triumph.” She nodded at her men. “Kill her. Now.”
    The men drew closer. They did notassume fighting stances. They merelypulled   their   guns   out,   which  hadsuppressors attached to the muzzles, andpointed them at Amy’s head.
    Amy took a deep breath as she stared

at the Sig Sauer 9mm pointed at her.
    I’m sorry, Dan. But you’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to stop them. You’ve got to.
    Amy closed her eyes and prepared to
    die.
    Just at that moment, they all heard it.
    Sirens erupting all over the place. They heard cars squealing down the alley,sirens blasting. They heard doors openingand then slamming closed. Rushing feet,voices calling out tactical orders. Thecrackle of walkie-talkies. The sounds of
    gun slides being racked back. And then the thudding sounds of a helicopter in the sky. A PA system blared out: “This is the police. Put your weapons down now and come out with your hands up. There is no escape.”

    Isabel screamed at her men, “Get me
    out of here now!”
    The men quickly pushed aside thedumpster, revealing a manhole