Brady Hawk Series, Books 4-6

by R. J. Patterson

  “Do you want to impart any final words of wisdom?”

  “Don’t get caught,” Bozeman quipped.

  “Good. I was hoping you were just calling to tell me that instead of pulling the plug on the operation at the last minute again.”

  “No, Hawk had a chance to be useful for us, but he failed. And anything of value that he’d bring to the table for The Chamber now, coerced or otherwise, would pale in comparison to the potential harm he could inflict on the agency. We’re all ready to move on now. And we’re entrusting you to help us do that. Understand?”

  “So is this a pep talk or a warning?”

  “I just wanted to let you know how important this is to us.”

  “Duly noted,” Thor said. “I won’t let you down.”

  Thor hung up and continued to follow the cab. After fifteen minutes, it finally arrived outside Alex’s apartment. Thor watched as the cab parked there and didn’t move for five minutes. Unsure what was happening, Thor pulled up his binoculars to peer inside the car. It was empty.

  Where did they go?

  He slammed his fist on the steering wheel and let out a string of expletives.

  Hawk and Alex had pulled one over on him.

  CHAPTER 31

  Washington, D.C.

  HAWK AND ALEX HAD DUCKED out of their cab at a light and paid the driver an extra hundred dollars to drive to her apartment, sit for five minutes, and then leave. Alex expressed how she wasn’t thrilled with Hawk’s plan, telling him that she had hoped their brief trip back to Washington would at least result in one night in her own bed.

  “Would you want it to be your last night in your own bed—and maybe your last night on planet Earth?” Hawk asked.

  “Okay, I get it,” she said. “You’ve got a hunch.”

  “And what have you learned about my hunches?” he asked with a wink.

  She shook her head, forcing a smile.

  “Besides, you don’t know anything about this place we’re going,” Hawk continued. “I promise it will be unlike any night you’ve ever had in your own bed.”

  The Uber driver they hailed using a smartphone app was thrilled about the big fare so late at night.

  “Are you sure this isn’t too far? It’s about a three-hour drive,” Alex asked.

  “Taking a couple people out of the city beats the heck out of driving a pair of drunks through the drive thru at Taco Bell so they can get something in their stomachs after a long night of partying,” the driver said.

  “I would’ve never survived college if Uber existed back then,” Hawk said. “I probably would’ve stayed drunk.”

  The driver laughed. “The time to get drunk is after you get out of school and realize that there are no real jobs to help you pay off your loans.”

  “Did you just graduate?” Alex asked him.

  “A few months ago, as a matter of fact,” he said. “Went to Georgetown. Not a job worth anything to be had.”

  “I hope you find something soon,” she said.

  “Me, too. What kind of work are you two in?”

  Hawk shot a hesitant sideways glance at Alex before responding. “Acquisitions.”

  “What type?”

  Hawk answered quickly, anxious to end the chit-chat. “All types. We get a target and acquire it.”

  “Sounds exciting.”

  “It’s about like driving a cab,” Hawk said. “After a while, it’s just another job.”

  “At least it pays well.”

  “Sometimes,” Alex said, jumping in. “But we hardly have time to enjoy anything we make because we’re so busy.”

  “Still beats driving a cab.”

  “Hang in there,” Alex said. “Your fortunes are bound to change.”

  They continued on in silence until they came within two miles of Blunt’s cabin.

  “This next house on the right is it,” Hawk said.

  The driver wheeled his car into the driveway and came to a stop, pressing the button on his app to end the ride.

  “Good luck to you two,” the driver said. “And enjoy your time up here.”

  “You, too,” Alex said, waving to him as he pulled away.

  She turned her attention back toward the clapboard house set about fifty meters off the road and overlooking a dried up creek bed below.

  “Is this it?” she asked.

  Hawk grunted. “No.”

  “No? Then what are we doing here?”

  “Alex, I know this part of the job is new to you, but when we’re in the field, we need to be as forgettable as possible. Carrying on a conversation with a guy like that is just inviting trouble. Besides, he could even be working for The Chamber or some other group. You never know.”

  “Sorry. I was just trying to make polite conversation,” she said as she dropped her head.

  “It’s okay. I had to make sure that if he wasn’t who he claimed to be—or in the off chance that he got questioned by law enforcement—he’d never be able to lead anyone to us.”

  “What do you mean? What did you do?”

  Hawk shrugged. “We’ve got a long way to go, Alex.”

  “A long way? What are you talking about?”

  “It’ll be a two-mile hike, so prepare yourself. It’s all uphill.”

  ***

  AN HOUR LATER, Hawk and Alex trudged up the driveway to Blunt’s Blue Ridge cabin tucked into the eastern side of the mountain. The weeds were nearly knee height, and the dark-green paint was chipping off the clapboard siding. When Hawk put his weight on the first two steps leading to the porch, they creaked and groaned.

  “Watch out for that second step there,” Hawk said, pointing to it.

  “I thought you said staying here would be unlike any other night I’ve ever spent in my own bed,” Alex said.

  “I never said it would be better.”

  “Some days, I just don’t know about you,” she said, shaking her head in disgust.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll keep the mice off the bed.”

  “This place has mice?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m just teasing. Plus, this is the hideout of a man who was running a black ops program for the government. You don’t really think he’s going to announce his presence with the best cabin on the block, do you?”

  Alex followed Hawk inside, where she quickly discovered the exterior of the cabin was nothing like the interior. She stared at the textured walls, the hardwood floor sprawling throughout the house, the granite countertops, and the dining room table with room enough for ten people that was formed from a single slab of wood.

  “This place is amazing,” Alex said, unable to keep her jaw from dropping.

  “You need to trust me, okay?” Hawk said. “I’m not going to lead you down the wrong path.”

  “So, if Blunt got this from the CIA, why wouldn’t they be watching this place or bugging it?”

  Hawk dropped his bags and lowered himself onto the couch.

  “Actually, he didn’t get it from them,” he began. “This little gem of a place was a gift from one of the oil execs who wanted to thank Blunt for his work on a bill that benefited the entire industry. It needed to stay off the books—and virtually out of sight.”

  “So this cabin is a kickback?” Alex asked.

  Hawk nodded.

  “I can’t believe Blunt would accept this.” Alex’s eyes widened.

  “He’s a patriot, not a saint. Plus, who hasn’t made the occasional mistake?”

  “Accepting this type of gift isn’t exactly what I’d call a mistake.”

  “There are a lot of things you don’t know about Blunt. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s sometimes better that way.”

  She dropped her bags and collapsed onto the couch next to him.

  “So, what are we doing here?” she asked.

  “I needed to make sure Thor couldn’t find us,” Hawk said. “Plus, we needed to gather some supplies and get a vehicle.”

  Hawk helped her up and led her to the three-car g
arage where they could choose from either a black Escalade or a black Suburban. Then he opened the weapons cache on the wall, revealing enough guns and artillery to hold off a month-long siege.

  After a few minutes of staring in awe, Alex wondered aloud a question that demanded an answer: “Was this a hideout or a staging area for war?”

  “For us, it’s both,” Hawk said. “And just wait until I show you the computer room.”

  “And what do you expect me to do there?”

  “We’re going to track Thor and then go hunt him down.”

  CHAPTER 32

  Zurich, Switzerland

  BLUNT REVIEWED THE PAPERS STREWN over the kitchen table. He had an opportunity to entrap Katarina Petrov and drag The Chamber out into the open. He’d already contacted a reporter from The International magazine staff to see if he’d be interested in uncovering one of the greatest conspiracies in the modern day era, a conspiracy that hardly anyone even knew existed. The reporter told Blunt to forward him the information and he’d look into it. But Blunt wasn’t ready. There was one little damning piece of evidence that he wanted to secure before exposing all of The Chamber’s secrets.

  He wasn’t sure what flight Hawk and Alex had managed to get ticketed for, but he was certain they were on their way. He’d made it clear that they needed to meet him in Zurich and as soon as possible. The fact that he hadn’t heard from them all day became troublesome.

  Selecting one of his burner phones, Blunt placed a call to Hawk.

  “Well, Senator, I was wondering when we might hear from you,” Hawk said as he answered the phone.

  “Don’t play games with me, Hawk,” Blunt said with a growl. “Are you in Zurich yet or not?”

  “We’re not there, sir.”

  “And where are you? On your way, I presume.”

  “We’re not even on the same continent at the moment,” Hawk said. “We’re back in the states.”

  “Damn it, Hawk!” Blunt roared. “I thought I made myself crystal clear about the importance of this mission and how your presence here was a must.”

  “I know—you’ve probably got a great plan, but you’re not the one being shot—” Hawk stopped abruptly, knowing the rest of his sentence would not only be untrue but also would make him sound foolish.

  “Way to catch yourself there, son,” Blunt said. “I know exactly what it’s like to be hunted and how to manage hunting someone while being hunted. It ain’t easy. I’m not gonna lie. But it can be done.”

  “Sir, I’m not interested in trying to balance those two things. And I’ve got Thor in my sights now.”

  “What do you mean?” Blunt asked.

  “We’re tucked away at a place you and I have a mutual affection for, you know a little place that nobody else knows about.”

  Blunt sighed. “About that—you’re not exactly as safe there as you think you are. And neither is Alex, who is my primary concern right now.”

  “I’ll take care of her. Don’t you worry about that.”

  “Fine, but you better be aware of the fact that Thor has been there, too.”

  “When did this happen? I thought I was the only one who’d ever been here.”

  “Never mind. That’s not important now. Just keep Alex safe.”

  “That’s my top priority as well,” Hawk said without the slightest conviction.

  Blunt had placed Hawk into a moment of honesty, and Blunt wasn’t sure if keeping Alex safe truly was Hawk’s top priority when forced to choose between her and killing Thor. His No. 2 operative had grown bitter, defected to another organization, and wanted to take down No. 1. It was all unsavory for Blunt, even if Hawk succeeded and eliminated Thor.

  “If you’re going to keep her safe, at least show her the special room. Please, Hawk, I’m begging you. You can’t let anything happen to her.”

  “Just relax, sir,” Hawk said. “I’ve never heard you so worked up over anyone. She’s working in the computer room right now, but I’ll show her where the special room is in case something odd happens. But we’re not planning on staying. I just wanted to stock up on some ammo and get a vehicle without getting on the grid.”

  “I understand. Just be careful.”

  Right as Blunt was about to hang up, the rat-a-tat-tat of rapid fire could be heard coming from the other end.

  “Hawk, are you there?” Blunt asked, his heart skipping a beat.

  Nothing.

  Then the line went dead.

  CHAPTER 33

  Washington, D.C.

  BOZEMAN STRODE THROUGH a maze of back hallways sitting beneath The White House. The president’s aide, Bobby Tiller, always made sure it was devoid of any potential peepers, secret service agents who might not yet be comfortable with some of President Michaels’s dealings with certain professionals. Life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue often included clandestine activities that would cause consternation for any independent observer.

  President Michaels spent more time in such meetings than many previous leaders occupying Washington’s most iconic home.

  “The President has been anxious to meet with you all week,” Tiller said, looking over his shoulder at Bozeman. “He was desperate to move it up, but I had to encourage him to be patient.”

  “Impatience will get you killed in my business,” Bozeman said. “So will routine.”

  They ambled along for a few more minutes until they came to a small secure office just off the main thoroughfare. Tiller pushed the door and held it open, gesturing for Bozeman to enter. Bozeman nodded as he entered the room and sat on the fanback chair in the corner of the room.

  “Let me go get him,” Tiller said. “I’ll be right back.”

  The gravity of the moment right before meeting the president might have caused most men to swallow hard and develop sweaty palms. But for Bozeman, this was akin to visiting with an old college roommate. While Bozeman was working for the CIA, Michaels had rocketed up the ladder, becoming the youngest man to assume leadership duties over the nation’s leading foreign intelligence gathering agency. His popularity yielded more opportunities, culminating in a pathway to politics. Bozeman never heard Michaels express any presidential aspirations, but when the chance to run presented itself, Michaels took it—and then he won.

  After his victory, Michaels contacted Bozeman and asked him if he might be interested in exacting some revenge on a few people. “Off the record, of course,” Michaels had told him. The only way for that to occur was to make Bozeman go completely off the record. After he faked his death, Bozeman started serving at the pleasure of the president. Once Bozeman learned just how beneficial it was to have such a powerful friend giving him unfettered access to resources and a bevy of passports, Bozeman took full advantage of his newfound freedom. Not long after that The Chamber contacted him, inquiring about his interest in joining their cause. Bozeman couldn’t refuse their offer. Following more than a dozen missions at Michaels’s behest—ops that all seemed to coincide with The Chamber’s interests—Bozeman couldn’t help but wonder if Michaels was involved with the shadow agency.

  Several minutes later, the door swung open and Michaels entered the room. Through the opaque glass door, Bozeman could see the outline of two secret service agents standing guard.

  “Friends of yours?” Bozeman asked, nodding toward the door.

  Michaels offered his hand. “I can’t shake them no matter how hard I try. And you’d think that the former head of the CIA might be capable of shaking a tail.”

  “Well, they’re not exactly your typical tail, are they?”

  “No, they’re not,” Michaels said as he lowered himself onto the couch against the wall. “Please, have a seat.”

  Bozeman sat back down in his chair and leaned forward. “How’s Maggie? The kids?”

  “They’re still putting up with me. At least that’s how they act when they see me, which isn’t much these days.”

  “I’m sure they understand.”

  “They do, but they don’t like how little time
I have for them lately. Speaking of which, I don’t have much today. Can you give me a quick update? My advisors are begging me to address all these lagging ratings heading into next year’s election cycle.”

  “Well, it seems like everything is running on track according to the timeline we laid out. There are plenty of moving parts here, but my contacts say all systems are still go to hit the date.”

  “Excellent. I need the people to start believing in me again, even if we know this whole game of politics is about perception.”

  Bozeman nodded. “Their perception of you will be very different real soon. I can promise you won’t have an image problem—nor a presidential ratings issue.”

  “I wish I’d hired you as my aide when this whole journey began,” Michaels said. “You’re the kind of guy I need to help me, someone who knows how to get stuff done and doesn’t make excuses.”

  “I think I’m serving you just fine in this role, sir.”

  “Anything else you need to update me on? What about that issue that we were having?”

  “We’re taking care of it as we speak. I’ll have a full report for you next week.”

  “Let me know when it’s done, and I’ll issue the order to move forward.”

  Michaels stood, prompting Bozeman to do the same. The two men shook hands again before Michaels spun and exited the room.

  CHAPTER 34

  Blue Ridge Mountains

  Nellysford, Virginia

  HAWK GRABBED HIS RIGHT BICEP as he tumbled to the ground. Despite putting pressure on the bullet wound, he watched as blood seeped through his fingers and around his hand. Keeping his body as prone as possible, he slithered along the floor to a place where he could get better cover and more properly address the wound.

  He worked his way to the kitchen and remained on the floor, leaning against the cabinets. Alex cowered in the corner, her head bowed and covered by her hands.

  “I thought you said nobody knew about this place,” Alex said. “I’m certain at least one other person knows.”

  Hawk grimaced. “Blunt was warning me as I was getting off the phone with him.”