Countdown by Iris Johansen

The source provides extensive excerpts from the novel "Countdown" by Iris Johansen, a work of fiction published in 2005. The plot centers around a dangerous quest for Cira's ancient gold, which is intertwined with the life of a young woman named Jane MacGuire, who bears a striking resemblance to the historical actress Cira. Jane is caught between Trevor, a mysterious and highly skilled operative with whom she has a complicated history, and a network of dangerous criminals, including Rand Grozak and the mastermind Reilly, who intend to use the gold to fund a terrorist attack in the United States. Throughout the text, characters like Trevor's associate Bartlett and Jane's friends Eve and Joe assist her as she races to decipher ancient scrolls, confront her past, and prevent the catastrophic plot.