Agamemnon looked out over the skyline of Manila as the sun set. While it lacked the number of buildings that made skylines like those of New York so famous, the city had its own charm.

And it was that charm he looked most forward to destroying in the morning.

From his suite at the hotel, Agamemnon watched the throngs of people flooding the streets far below. Manila had one of the densest populations in the world, with many people packed per square mile. As such, it was a deliciously easy target for a man like him.

He poured himself a fresh glass of wine and savored the taste. His cell phone purred and he picked it up.

“Yes?”

“We’re here.”

Agamemnon smiled. Miki had managed to come through after all. “Did you have any problems?”

“Increased police presence at the docks, but nothing we couldn’t handle. It’s amazing what a few well-placed American dollars will do for a tired slave of the capitalist infidels.”

Agamemnon smiled. Miki was eager to prove himself. He knew this and played on it. But Miki had already proved himself more than capable of carrying out a complex assignment. Now it was time to stoke the fires of his hatred and turn him into a complete zealot.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” Agamemnon said.

“What’s that?”

“Eduardo is dead.”

Miki paused on the phone. Agamemnon could imagine him gripping the phone tighter, rage already seeping into his blood. “How did he die?”

“It was the American sniper he was sent to find. The sniper found him first. I’m sorry.”

“Is the sniper dead?”

It was a good question. Agamemnon had no idea if the sniper and the rest had been killed by Hector and his followers or if they’d somehow managed to escape. With the kill team in place, Agamemnon had left strict orders not to contact him. Radio silence was most important at this phase, and only Miki had the number to the cell phone he was using.

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly.

“I thought you were going to kill him,” Miki said.

Agamemnon grinned. He could have lied, of course, and told Miki that the sniper was dead. But it was better to leave it an unknown variable. The thought of the sniper still breathing would help fire up Miki.

“I can’t be sure if he lived or not. I had to come here and make sure we saw this out to its completion. Surely, you understand.”

“I understand. But for Eduardo’s sake, I want to see that man dead.”

“Perhaps he’s here now. In Manila. He might even be hunting you and your team as we speak.”

Miki paused again. “How would he know where to look?”

“He wouldn’t. But not knowing where to look wouldn’t stop a man like him. He would be duty bound to try to find you.”

“Yes, I suppose he would.”

Agamemnon could hear it now. The edge in Miki’s voice sliced across the airwaves and into Agamemnon’s ear. He had to nurse this a little bit more and ensure things went down as he’d envisioned them so many months ago.

“How is our package?” he asked.

“Looking well.”

“You’ve inspected it?”

“Of course.”

“And all is ready for tomorrow?”

Miki cleared his throat. “Absolutely. I’m sure there will be plenty of developments when the sun rises.”

“And your accommodations?”

“Comfortable. And protected as far as I can tell.”

Agamemnon finished his wine and poured himself another glass. “Excellent. You should get some sleep. You have much to do in the morning.”

“It’s a shame I won’t be there to see it when it happens,” Miki said.

“Yes, a shame, indeed. But it will be a glorious day for us. And for the people we represent.”

“Are you leaving?” Miki asked.

“Of course. I’ve chosen you for this mission because you are the only one I can trust. You’ve picked out the courier for the job and I trust that you know he will not fail, that he will not have a change of heart. It’s absolutely vital that he carry this out completely.”

Miki paused. “I’m sure he will.”

“Because if he did have a change of heart, then this would all be for nothing. Eduardo’s death would be in vain and the infidels would win. We would become the laughingstocks of the world. The fools who couldn’t do anything right, like those bumbling idiots in Britain.”

There was a longer pause on the phone. Agamemnon smiled and kept talking. “This is what we’ve worked for. All of our hard work comes down to this thing. And its success is our success.”

“I understand,” Miki said.

“You sound doubtful. You have concerns about something?”

“I’m just thinking.”

“About what?”

“The courier.”

The wine was good. Agamemnon wished he’d ordered more of it, but it wouldn’t do to be drunk when dawn broke. He had a plane to catch before the morning rush hour began.

“If you have doubts, then we’ll need to take steps to make sure the issues are resolved,” he said.

“I’m probably worrying too much.”

“Is there such a thing as worrying too much when we’re talking about what we’re discussing? I don’t think so. If you have concerns, then by all means we need to deal with them,” Agamemnon said.

“It’s just that I’m not sure our man is completely sold on the idea.”

“He has to be!” Agamemnon was growing alarmed.

“I think I can talk to him.”

Agamemnon fingered the first-class plane ticket to Beijing sitting on the table. He’d heard the weather this time of year was quite nice in the Chinese countryside.

“We’re a little beyond the whole talking thing now, don’t you think? We need doers not thinkers. That’s what it comes down to. Otherwise, that sniper wins. The Americans win. And we lose.”

“We won’t lose,” Miki said, sounding more confident.

“Oh?”

“I’ll do it myself.”

Agamemnon finished the wine and flipped the room-service menu open. A little dinner would taste good right now. But what? Perhaps some fish. That would go well with the Pinot Grigio he’d just finished. Yes, he’d have the fish. He smiled contentedly.

“You’ll do it? Do you realize what you’re telling me? Do you know what is expected of you?” He made his voice dramatic.

“I know exactly what I will have to do,” Miki said.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Your willingness to do this will make you a hero of our cause. You know that, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“We will sing your praises every night for many years to come, Miki. Your name will live on in legend, and Allah will reward your devotion to his cause.”

“Inshallah.”

“Inshallah.”

“What time should I set out?”

Agamemnon checked his watch. “Rush hour starts at around seven. I would expect the most people will be out and about by eight-thirty.”

“I will start out around seven and ensure that I reach the target by then.”

“Good.”

“The sniper…if he lived, are you sure he would be in Manila now?”

“Without a doubt. I have reason to believe that he discovered the nature of our mission before Eduardo died. He would be duty bound to report it to his superiors. Knowing how the Americans work, I’m sure he would be involved in the operation to stop us.”

“Then there’s a good chance he will be nearby when I make my final quest tomorrow.”

“A good chance indeed.”

“That makes me happy. If I am able to kill him as I die, then all the better for all of us.”

“His death will be your vengeance. And Eduardo will be there to greet you when you arrive in Heaven. I’m sure of it.”

“As am I.”

“Sleep well, Miki. And don’t forget to make your final tape. You will want your message to live on past your final act tomorrow morning.”

“I live to serve our cause,” Miki said.

“And you die to fulfill your destiny.”

“Good-bye, Agamemnon.”

“Be brave, Miki.”

Agamemnon disconnected and looked out on the Manila night. Lights twinkled all across the city. People enjoyed their dinners and their lives not knowing that come tomorrow morning, a nuclear bomb would bring havoc, chaos and destruction to this city of fattened capitalists.

Agamemnon grinned. He knew he was just as guilty of personal excess as any of them. But this was what it all boiled down to anyway.

Money.

It was the lowest common denominator in any struggle. Every war, every act of rebellion, every cause had its roots in the power of money. Somewhere, somehow, someone was getting wealthy off the work and strife of idealists and zealots.

Agamemnon was no different.

In an offshore bank account based in the Cayman Islands, he had the tidy sum of fifty million dollars ready to use for whatever he desired. And Agamemnon had plenty of desires. Fifty million could buy him whatever he wanted. And he had any number of places he could settle when this was all said and done.

He cell phone purred again and he picked it up. “Yes?”

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“You have your ticket?”

“Right here.”

“We are looking forward to seeing you again. You’ve been away for a very long time.”

He thought about everything he’d endured. Plastic surgery. Years in the country learning how to speak the language fluently. Crash courses in human psychology. Weapons, leadership, demolitions and then the small matter of procuring the nuclear device.

It hadn’t been easy.

“I’m looking forward to going home,” he said.

“You’ll be a hero upon your return.”

“As long as nothing delays the flight.”

“Nothing will.”

“This isn’t going to be a safe place come tomorrow morning.”

“That is why we’re getting you out at five o’clock in the morning. Can you be at the airport then?”

“Certainly.”

“Excellent. Payment has been made as promised.”

“It pains me I won’t be able to stay home for long.”

“You’ll be hunted all over the world.”

Agamemnon grinned. “At least until the man called Agamemnon dies. Then I’ll be safe at last.”

“Another face?” the voice asked.

“It’s the only way.”

“You have a doctor in mind?”

Agamemnon ran his hand over his face. “The one in Panama. He did good work before. I think he might be a good choice for my next identity.”

“He’ll be a loose end.”

“Only until he’s done with my face. Then he’ll cease to be a problem. Like all of the others.”

“Have a safe flight.”

Agamemnon shut his phone and stared out of the window. Perhaps he would order one more bottle of wine. He was in a celebratory mood.