Brady Hawk 10 - Into the Shadows

by R. J. Patterson

  Alex clenched her fists as she stood up and paced around the room.

  “Hawk would rather die than join forces with Michaels. You ought to know that as well as anyone. Hawk is loyal to a fault. I don’t need to tell you that’s how he got into this mess in the first place, trusting one of his cronies from the Seals.”

  “Michaels has a strange way of exerting pressure in just the right places to get what he wants.”

  “But Hawk would never do anything for Michaels, no matter what. We’ve got to do something or else it’s lights out.”

  “Perhaps you’re right,” Blunt said. “But what can we do from our positions at the moment? I have friends in high places, but I doubt any of them would risk their careers to help in this situation. Michaels is just too powerful.”

  “There is something I can do.”

  “Care to share that with me?”

  “You’ll know it when you see it.”

  “Alex, what are you planning on doing? Please tell me you’re not preparing to go after him.”

  “I’m desperate, but I’m not insane.”

  “Alex,” Blunt said, speaking in a measured tone. “What are you going to do?”

  She sat back down at her laptop and continued typing.

  “Alex, talk to me. Tell me what you’re doing.”

  She smiled. “It’s not what I’m going to do, but what I’ve already done.”

  “Since you’re sitting in your apartment in England, I’m starting to get concerned.”

  “Relax, J.D. I just stole an MQ-9 Reaper—and I need to divert my full attention to flying it.”

  Alex hung up and zeroed in on her keyboard as she entered new coordinates for the drone she’d hacked. The nearest one she found was only fifty miles away from Hawk’s location, which meant she could have the Reaper onsite in less than 15 minutes.

  She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as she pulled up the drone’s camera and put it up on one of her other monitors. Her laptop became the virtual onboard computer, enabling her to identify targets as they came into view. With the DOD satellite picture still up on another screen, she marked the vehicle Hawk was in. They’d only been traveling less than five minutes, but it was far enough to get clear of the populated portion of the city. While the Humvee sped along an empty highway, Alex plotted her next move.

  Getting Hawk out of custody was her top priority, but she didn’t want to kill any Rangers in the process. The last thing she wanted was to move to the top of a terrorist watch list. To get a better idea of how she should attack with the drone, she circled the small convoy of three armored Humvees. The distance between the trucks was tight but ideal for making a quick strike and diverting the drone elsewhere.

  She directed the drone to make one more final pass before she settled on the best tactic to accomplish all her goals. Engaging the Reaper’s missile system, she set a target for fifty feet in front of the lead vehicle. Hawk was in the middle Humvee and would likely smash into the back of the front one. All she could do was hope and pray that nothing worse happened and that Hawk could find a way to get free.

  Here goes nothing.

  Alex keyed in the command to launch the missile. She held her breath as it rocketed toward its target.

  CHAPTER 22

  Khabas, Oman

  HAWK SAT SILENTLY in the back of the Humvee as it bounced along the pothole infested stretch of Omani highway. He studied the two Rangers who sat opposite from him in the modified vehicle. Mostly still dressed in their tactical gear, they removed their helmets and lit up celebratory cigarettes. Hawk coughed and one of the soldiers cracked the window. And most importantly to Hawk, they seemed confident that their prisoner was secure. With his feet shackled to the floorboard and his hands bound in cuffs, Hawk didn’t appear to be going anywhere.

  “This road is going to rattle my teeth out,” the soldier who went by the name of Nettles said.

  “Reminds me of driving in Chicago,” replied his colleague named Zisk.

  “You ever drive in Chicago, Hawk?” Nettles asked.

  Hawk shook his head.

  “You aren’t very talkative,” Zisk said. “Guess that’s to be expected when you’re a Navy wuss and you get captured by a bunch of Army Rangers.”

  “It wasn’t exactly a fair fight,” Hawk said.

  Nettles threw his hands in the air. “Oh, he speaks.”

  “But he’s whining,” Zisk said, before transitioning into a mocking voice. “He’s crying to mommy because it wasn’t fair. I thought Navy Seals were the greatest soldiers on earth.”

  Nettles chuckled. “Look, we get it. Guys who go to the Seals are soldiers who know they’d never make it as a Ranger. But don’t think you’re gonna get any sympathy from us. You’re a traitor to your own country. You don’t deserve a fair fight.”

  Hawk bit his lip and shook his head. He couldn’t blame the pair of soldiers for feeling the way they did. If the shoe were on the other foot, Hawk knew he’d feel the same sort of disdain for them as they felt for him. But the sniping wasn’t easy to listen to.

  “Aww, he’s gone back to being silent Hawk,” Nettles said.

  “Do you think he talks with the terrorists or simply mimes for them?” Zisk asked before laughing at his own comment.

  “You two should get your own comedy show,” Hawk quipped.

  “Well, the joke’s on you tonight,” Nettles said. “We just took down one of the most wanted terrorists in U.S. history.”

  Sufficiently annoyed, Hawk decided to confront their ignorance head on. “Is that how they referred to me in your bullshit briefing? A most wanted terrorist?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” Zisk said. “Your buddy Karif Fazil is still number one.”

  “Yet you picked him over me?” Hawk said. “Guess we know who the real losers are now. Yep, comedy suits you two better.”

  “What are you talking about?” Zisk said. “You weren’t selling to Fazil tonight. That was some Pakistani low life.”

  Nettles shook his head and blew a plume of smoke toward the cracked window. “Yeah, don’t try to play us as fools. The truth is you were just trying to make some quick cash off some weapons you got from daddy Colton.”

  “So, that was the official narrative?” Hawk asked. “Not bad. Not bad at all. But it was a complete lie. If you don’t believe me, go be real heroes. Turn this Humvee around and go obliterate a bunch of Al Hasib operatives.”

  Nettles and Zisk both took long drags on their cigarettes and glared at Hawk.

  “You expect us to believe that?” Zisk asked. “Boy, you Navy punks really are stupider than you look.”

  Nettles started to say something before a faint humming sound from outside the vehicle arrested their attention.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Zisk asked.

  “Sure as hell sounds like a Reaper to me,” Nettles said.

  “I don’t remember anything from the briefing about drone support for this mission, do you?” Zisk asked.

  “No. Nothing. That sure is odd.”

  But after a few seconds, everything clicked for Hawk.

  Alex!

  Hawk heard the plane circle their position once more. He shifted in his seat as far against the door as he could and braced for impact.

  By his best calculation, the amount of time it took for the missile to rocket off the drone and strike the highway was less than two seconds. The last thing he saw before the explosion was wide-eyed looks on the faces of Nettles and Zisk.

  The lead Humvee didn’t have time to stop for the large crater created by the missile when it struck the road. A nosedive into the flaming hole led to the vehicle catching fire before the soldiers inside scrambled out to safety.

  The Humvee trailing Hawk had enough time to slow down before crashing into the bumper. The Rangers exited and raced to check on the other soldiers in the first vehicle.

  But Hawk’s Humvee had its own story. The blast happened so fast that the driver didn’t have time to stop, sending
the vehicle careening into the leader. Inside, Nettles and Zisk flew forward and hit their heads on the plate glass separating the front and back seats. Zisk crumpled to the floor but Nettles’ body came to rest on the bench next to Hawk.

  Hawk scooted close to Nettles and rooted around in his pockets for the keys. Upon locating them, Hawk worked quickly to release his feet first and then his hands. He snatched Zisk’s weapon and grabbed a flash bomb, which he dropped on the road next to their vehicle. Hawk covered his head in a fetal position and waited for the device to detonate.

  Once the explosion rocked the road, Hawk burst out of the vehicle and sprinted toward the trailing Humvee. He climbed inside and took off. Several bullets hit the back of the armor-plated vehicle and fell harmlessly to the side.

  Hawk jammed his foot on the accelerator and stared at the road ahead of him, taking glances in the rearview mirror at the fireball engulfing the middle of the highway.

  Nice work, Alex.

  But Hawk still had plenty to do if he was going mitigate the disaster that Michaels had created due to his giant ego. Hawk could already imagine the video feed of him being frog marched into court and the national media smearing his good name. Tom Colton and Colton Industries would be brought into the story as well, leading to a revival of narratives about American weapons exports and how it was ruining the world. Eventually, Blunt and Alex would get dragged into the fray as well, embarrassing their families and sullying their character by one Michaels administration lie spoon fed to the media after another.

  Hawk determined not to let any of that happen. He didn’t want Michaels getting an ounce of credit for taking out Al Hasib or its leader, not for personal reasons but out of principle.

  Any man who tries to arm the enemy for political gain doesn’t deserve the slightest bit of praise.

  However, Hawk knew if he didn’t catch Ray in the truck before he reached the port, stopping such treasonous activity would be far more challenging if not lethal. He narrowed his eyes as he bore down on the first vehicle he’d encountered since leaving the scene of his getaway. As Hawk drew nearer, he recognized the same truck he’d been confined to for hours. And while Ray drove with purpose, Hawk could tell the former Navy Seal wasn’t anticipating any hostiles on the road.

  Pulling alongside Ray from the left-hand lane, Hawk rammed his Humvee into the side of the truck. Ray’s vehicle swerved off the road but maintained its speed. Hawk glanced to his right to see Ray glaring back before jerking his wheel to the left and bumping Hawk. However, the Humvee held stout. Hawk whipped back into the truck and bounced back. He repeated this maneuver three more times before the last hit sent Ray out of control.

  Ray’s truck hit a rock and bounced high in the air, fishtailing for about a thirty meters before spinning out into the desert. Undaunted, Ray turned the truck around and headed back toward the highway. Hawk, who’d stopped to watch for a moment to see what Ray would do, restarted the collision protocol. Ray weakly tapped Hawk first before he retaliated by laying hard into the side of Ray’s truck. On the second series of exchanges, Hawk only needed two hits before he knocked Ray off the road—only this time Ray didn’t come back.

  Teetering from side to side, Ray’s vehicle lost its center mass and toppled to the ground, skidding along on the passenger’s side for about fifty meters. Hawk decided against watching from afar and roared up next to the crippled truck.

  The driver’s side door flung open, revealing an armed Ray. Clutching a pistol in his right hand, he climbed out and staggered to the ground. A gash on his forehead resulted in a fresh stream of blood that marred his face. His shoulder also drooped as he winced every time he reached over and touched it.

  Meanwhile, Hawk was already braced against the hood of the Humvee, his rifle trained on Ray.

  “This is the end of the line, Ray,” Hawk said.

  “What are you gonna do, Hawk? You gonna shoot me? Killing me won’t solve anything. Michaels will just trot out some other lackey to accomplish his agenda.”

  Hawk shrugged. “I’m not trying to stop everything that lame excuse for a leader is going to do. But I am going to make sure nothing happens tonight.”

  Ray chuckled. “And this from a man who suggested just giving working weapons to Al Hasib.”

  Hawk shook his head. “Wanna open up the back here and make a little bet?”

  Ray didn’t flinch.

  “I bet you that there isn’t a single sabotaged weapon in that entire shipment there,” Hawk said. “You know I’m right, don’t you?”

  Ray remained quiet.

  “I figured it all out, Ray. It all dawned on me, this whole ruse you and Ackerman were running.”

  “This wasn’t the original plan,” Ray said. “But Ackerman knew that Michaels was after you.”

  “And how did he know who I was? Did you tell him, Ray?”

  “The moment you showed your face, I let him know what was up.”

  “So, I did that whole Chuck Pearl routine just for his own amusement?”

  “Pretty much,” Ray said. “He’s got a twisted sense of humor.”

  “So do you. You were the one who made a mockery of me, blew my cover, delivered me to the clueless Rangers. This was all one very big elaborate setup.”

  “We were just gonna deliver the weapons. No one would’ve been the wiser.”

  Hawk nodded. “You’re right. No one would’ve been. But you and Ackerman are opportunists, aren’t you? Just like Michaels.”

  “I’m not going to apologize for anything. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, right? Plus, I still hold you accountable for what happened that night in Jalabad. You checked out on us—and it nearly got us all killed.”

  “We all deserved to die that night for what we did.”

  “Everything isn’t always neat and tidy as you want it to be. Sometimes, the only way you can get what you want is to step over the line.”

  Hawk kicked at the sand. “That’s not the kind of man I am—at least not anymore.”

  “No, you’re the great Brady Hawk, so great that his own country views him as a homegrown terrorist.”

  “That’s a questionable perspective, one I take serious issue with.”

  “I don’t know what your end game is, but you don’t really have much of a play now.”

  Hawk raised his weapon. “Drop your gun, Ray. I’m done talking.”

  “No you’re not because I’m not going to drop anything.”

  Hawk fired off a short burst that peppered the ground near Ray’s feet.

  “Put the gun down now,” Hawk bellowed.

  Ray crouched down and lowered his gun, setting it in the dirt.

  “They’re watching you, Hawk,” Ray said. “Several of my guys are up on that ridge and they’ve got you in their sights. I would advise you to put your weapon down before someone puts a bullet in your head.”

  Hawk looked up at the ridge, which was more than a mile away.

  “I’d love to see one of your guards attempt that shot. No one that good is working private security in Oman.”

  “Pride comes before a fall.”

  “And bullshit comes before truth whenever you’re talking. Now, step clear of the vehicle and get face down in the dirt, hands behind your head.”

  Ray complied. “You’re making a big mistake.”

  “The mistake I made was coming to you for help and thinking you’d changed,” Hawk said. “But you’re the same asshole you were when we were Seals together. You just make more money now.”

  “Michaels is gonna find you and kill you, Hawk. If not tonight, some other time. He’s not gonna let you get away with thwarting his plans.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  Hawk kept his rifle trained on Ray as he walked over to the toppled truck. He opened the back and several crates spilled out onto the ground. Snatching up one of the handheld RPGs, Hawk backed up and took aim at the vehicle.

  “This is me thwarting Michaels’ plan,” Hawk said before squeezing the tri
gger and lighting up the truck. An explosion blew out the side of the truck facing upward. In a split second, fire engulfed the weapons and started consuming the truck.

  Hawk glanced back down at Ray, who was reaching for a gun in his ankle holster.

  “I don’t think so,” Hawk said, glancing down at his captive.

  “I’m gonna make you shoot me,” Ray said before he reached for the weapon.

  Hawk hit Ray in the leg. “Satisfied now?”

  Ray screamed in agony. “That was my knee cap, you asshole.”

  “You can thank me some other time when I see you.”

  Ray growled and lunged for his gun again. However, Hawk realized Ray had no inclination to stop.

  Two bullets—one to the chest, the other to the head.

  Ray’s body went limp.

  “It didn’t have to end that way, Ray.”

  Hawk climbed into the Humvee and headed for the ridge. When he arrived there a few minutes later, the Fortress Security personnel were set up and waiting. Lying in prone positions, they had their rifles sighted in on Hawk and unleashed a furious attack. Bullets whizzed past Hawk, some dinging off the side of his truck’s armor. The relentless assault continued as he pressed forward, even after he parked his Humvee a few meters away from them.

  Hawk stuck his head through the cutout in the roof so he could operate the gun turret. After offering the men a chance to surrender, Hawk took aim at the men. He unleashed several rounds of ammunition on the guards, shooting every one of them.

  He shot the tires out of the truck just in case any of them somehow managed to survive. With that portion of his mission complete, he slid back down into the driver’s seat, just in time to see a huge explosion send flames lapping the dark knight sky.

  Alex—that woman never stops.

  As Hawk contemplated his next move, the Reaper returned and circled around the ridge twice before striking off in a different direction. But Hawk understood what Alex was trying to tell him. She wanted him to follow the drone. And that’s what he did.

  Hawk tailed the drone from the ground for 20 minutes before happening upon an airstrip. A C-130 sat at one end of the runway where the bay door was guarded by a pair of military policemen. Hawk roared up to the door and got out, training his rifle on the men. They appeared caught off guard by Hawk’s brash entry.