“He was going to talk,” the guard said. “And I could not allow that.”
“I’ll make the same offer to you as I made to him,” Hawk said. “If you tell me where the control panel is, I’ll let you live.”
The guard smiled. “Mr. Hawk, you are in no position to make any such deals. Perhaps I should remind you that all I have to do to end this conversation is squeeze the trigger.”
“This offer will expire at the end of one minute, at which time I will kill you,” Hawk said.
The man laughed but never took his eyes off Hawk. “You are a funny man, Mr. Hawk.”
“You know my name. I’m impressed.”
“When Karif Fazil is looking for you, everyone knows what you look like.”
“So, are you going to take me up on my offer?” Hawk asked.
“It wouldn’t matter if I wanted to or not. The weapons system control panel is destroyed—but not before putting the device on auto-pilot. The only way it can be turned off is by going to the actual weapon itself buried fifty meters underwater.” The guard looked Hawk up and down before continuing. “But not that you’ll ever find it in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Hawk pursed his lips. “So you’re going to shoot me now?”
“Of course not. I’m going to make you suffer just as I was instructed to do.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
“I’m going to make you watch Al Hasib bring your country to its knees.”
“Those are awfully bold words coming from a man who’s about to die,” Hawk said. “You’re not even going to be able to make good on that promise.”
“It won’t be nearly as difficult as you—”
A bullet whistled through the cabin and sunk into the guard’s temple. He crumpled to the floor and dropped his gun.
“And you were saying what?” Hawk asked as he stood over the guard’s lifeless body.
Hawk looked up to see Alex stride into the room.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, glaring at Hawk.
“I saw an opportunity—and I took it,” he said. “Nice shot, by the way.”
“That nice shot probably saved your life. I had to kill another guard on deck. And from the body count I’ve seen so far, that means there were five Al Hasib guards roaming around this place. And you decided to come aboard alone and take them on by yourself? Without backup?”
“I made an unfortunate miscalculation. But fortunately, you assisted me here.”
“You call that an assist? That was more like I saved your life.”
“And I appreciate that,” Hawk said. “But I’ve got some even worse news on top of everything that just happened here.”
Alex narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to one side. “And what’s that?”
“The weapons system is on auto-pilot. And there is no control panel.”
“Where is the launcher?”
“Underwater,” Hawk said as he looked at the guard’s body. “And I was just about to get this nice young gentleman to tell me where it was before you killed him.”
Alex threw her hands in the air. “Like I was supposed to know that? He had a gun pointed at you—and he didn’t look like a man who was about to tell you anything other than something rather impolite.”
“I guess we’ll never know now, will we?”
“A thank you would’ve been nice.”
“Well, I do appreciate what you did, but you realize the kind of predicament we’re in now, don’t you?”
She nodded. “You would’ve had a difficult time finding the weapon if you were dead.”
“Good point. But we need to get out of here quickly before someone sees us and thinks we’re terrorists.”
They both ascended the steps leading to the deck. Hawk slid down the ladder into the water first and waited for Alex.
She started to climb down before she stopped. “We really shouldn’t leave this boat right here, should we? I mean, we could just vanish into the Caribbean with her.”
Hawk shrugged. “If oil tankers weren’t about to be blown apart a few miles from here, I might consider it.”
She gave him a coy wink. “It was a joke, Hawk. Besides, this ship is rigged with a tracking system.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I already checked,” she said before sliding down into the water.
They both slogged the rest of the way onto shore when a man called out to them.
“Well, this is great,” Hawk muttered. “Now we’ll be the prime suspects on this tiny island.”
“Excuse me,” the man said in perfect English. “I was wondering if I could be of any service to you.”
Unable to place his accent, Hawk took a forthright approach with the stranger, who wore traditional Omani garb and a dark splotchy excuse for a beard.
“Are you American?” Hawk asked.
“Hmm,” the man said, cocking his head and raising his index finger. “I’d consider myself more of an opportunist.”
“What kind of opportunity do you see here?” Alex asked.
“I see two people who might be in need of some information,” he said.
“And you’re the one who can provide it?” Hawk asked.
“For the right price, of course.”
“Of course,” Alex said. “Now, let’s get down to business.”
The stranger winked at her. “I love a woman who’s not shy about stating her intentions.”
“Then you must not be from around here,” Hawk said. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Abid—and just because I don’t look like I’m from around here doesn’t mean that I’m not.”
“Nobody from around here likes strong women,” Hawk said.
“You’d be surprised,” Abid said as he wagged his finger. “But let’s not waste any more time on this idle conversation. I’m here to help you.”
“In that case, what did you know about the men on this boat?”
“I knew they were members of a terrorist group, likely Al Hasib based on some of the conversations I had with some of them.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “You spoke with those men?”
“I did more than that,” Abid said. “I took them out to sea.”
“Do you remember where?” Hawk asked. “It’s quite important.”
“I gathered that from the size of the machine they needed me to lower into the water for them.”
“And you have the coordinates for where you dropped them off?” Hawk asked.
Abid nodded. “For the right price, of course.”
“We can give you five thousand dollars,” Alex said.
Abid scowled and shook his head. “Have a wonderful day. I must be on my way.” He turned and walked back down the path for a few steps before Alex called after him.
“Eight thousand,” she said.
Abid looked over his shoulder at her and shook his head.
“We’ve only got ten thousand,” Hawk said. “But I’m sure someone else would love to take our money. Chances are there are other people around here who knew where you anchored that weapons system.”
“I’ll take it, though I must tell you it’s way below market price for such information,” Abid said. “However, at the moment, I am desperate. I was coming to get my money, though I wasn’t entirely sure they’d have it. I’d already been blown off once before.”
“Let me guess,” Hawk said. “They promised you a large pay day, and you took them without getting at least part of your payment?”
Abid nodded.
“You should simply count yourself lucky to be alive,” Alex said.
“Perhaps you just saved my life,” Abid said. “I was coming down here to demand payment.”
“Your compensation may have been in the form of three bullets—two to the chest and one to the head,” Hawk said.
“I could unknowingly owe you my life, which is why I’ve decided to accept the paltry sum you offered.”
Hawk pulled o
ut some of the money stacks and waved them at Abid.
“When can we get started?” he asked.
“When would you like to begin?” Abid responded.
“The sooner the better,” Alex said.
“I’ll begin to prepare my ship,” Abid said. “Where are you staying? The Shati Albahr Inn?”
Alex and Hawk nodded.
“Meet me on The Marlin in an hour down at the harbor,” Abid said. “We’ll leave promptly then.”
Hawk nodded. “We will be there.”
CHAPTER 24
New York City
KARIF FAZIL CLASPED HIS HANDS behind his back as he climbed the steps leading to the makeshift stage his men cobbled together earlier that morning. The abandoned warehouse Fazil purchased under a shell corporation he’d set up several years ago was on the edge of Manhattan. Its location provided the ideal hub from which to launch the most deadly attack on American soil in the country’s history. And Fazil could hardly wait to get started.
Perched on Fazil’s shoulder, Jafar squawked to break the silence. Muted chuckles spread among the 300 men standing on the ground. With identical white dress shirts and dark suits, trimmed with dark ties and fedoras, the men all sported Guy Fawkes masks and held black suitcases.
“I want to begin by letting you know what an honor it is to know that there are this many men living in this godforsaken country who believe this much in our jihad,” Fazil said. “Your sacrifice is not viewed lightly, for none of us know what will become in the days ahead. But this exercise is vital for us to carry out this attack and for it to be successful.
“As we have fought hard against the infidels and their blatant disregard for our faith, the number of fedayeens who have served admirably for Al Hasib has been too many. If we’re going to fight the Americans and emerge victorious, we need all of our best men working together. That’s not to diminish the sacrifices already made by our martyrs, but it’s important we make every effort to stay alive. Our numbers are small, and every loss hurts more than it does our enemies. We must change that through remaining one step ahead of them and showing them that our resolve is steadfast and our faith in Allah—and one another—will not be shaken.”
The men broke out into a chant of “Al Hasib, Al Hasib,” their words echoing off the walls. Fazil raised his hands to quell the shouts.
“For our plan to work, each one of you must stick to your route along the streets of New York,” Fazil said as he continued. “You cannot deviate in any way or else you could jeopardize the success of the entire mission. You might think you’re insignificant because there are so many men here, but you were invited to participate because we think you believe deeply in the vision of Al Hasib. Failure is not an option—and I promise you we will experience the glory of victory if you follow the simple instructions provided to each of you in your briefcase.
“In the morning, we will hold a trial run, and everyone must participate. However, leave your attire and briefcases at home. We must not tip our hand. The Americans are anticipating some sort of attack, and we cannot give them any reason to suspect one is going to happen so soon. The element of surprise is on our side at the moment, and they will not have any idea how we were able to pull this off in the aftermath. However, we know the arrogance of the Americans is what will ultimately cost them. They’ve never seen the likes of what we will deliver on their doorstep later this week.”
Another round of “Al Hasib, Al Hasib” chants broke out before Fazil lifted his right hand, gesturing for the men to be quiet.
“Let’s give the city of New York a Veteran’s Day parade they’ll never forget.”
The chanting resumed without any objection from Fazil. He smiled as he looked out across the sea of masks. Jafar squawked again, rustling his feathers and bouncing lightly on Fazil’s shoulders
“Don’t you worry,” Fazil said, rubbing Jafar’s head. “You’ll get to see it all.”
CHAPTER 25
Kumzar, Oman
HAWK CRAMMED HIS GEAR into his pack and secured it as he prepared to leave for the docks. The hotel where he and Alex were staying qualified as modest accommodations, especially for a supposed honeymoon trip. But the location of the Shati Albahr Inn made up for anything it lacked in amenities. Despite the setting, Hawk didn’t want to spend another night there.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Alex asked.
“Do we have a choice at this point?” Hawk replied.
“It’s just that this Abid guy admitted he was an opportunist. We know that’s not his real name. His accent is so faked.”
“Can’t fault a man for trying to make some fast cash.”
“I’m just hoping we’re the highest bidder.”
Hawk pulled her close and kissed her on top of her head.
“That it?” she said, pushing him away playfully. “A peck on the head.”
“I’ll be back later,” he said with a wink. “Maybe we can discuss advancing our relationship.”
“A kiss on the lips is first base,” she said. “You’re still in the on deck circle with that.”
Hawk threw his pack down and grabbed her, swooping her to the side and leaning over for a long kiss.
“Is that more to your liking?” he asked as he raised her up.
She smiled and brushed her hair out of her face. “Not a bad start. Now just make sure you get home in one piece.”
“You’ll be in my ear the whole time,” he said.
She forced a smile. “Until you go underwater for the most dangerous part of your assignment.”
“Just get packed up so we can get out of here as soon as I’m back. And this time, we’re going to fly out of here—I’ve already made arrangements with a local pilot.”
“You didn’t want to hold my hair back again while I puked over the side of a boat, did you?”
Hawk shook his head. “It’s not your best look.”
She smiled. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
Hawk shook his head emphatically. “Absolutely not. Too much could go wrong out there. If something should happen to me, I don’t want you getting caught up in the middle of it.”
“Fair enough,” she said. “I’ll be ready to bolt when you return.”
“Great. See you soon.”
She grabbed him once more and kissed him on the cheek. “For good luck.”
Hawk smiled and shut the door, hustling downstairs until he reached the ground level. Glancing around, he didn’t notice anything suspicious about the people nearby. By all appearances, life on Kumzar was carrying on as usual.
Hawk checked his watch as he strode up to The Marlin exactly one hour later after he’d met Abid. Hawk didn’t want to admit it to Alex, but he shared her apprehension regarding the self-admitted opportunist. Reaching behind his back, Hawk felt for his gun, just in case.
Abid emerged from the deck below with a smile on his face, arms spread wide.
“Welcome, my friend,” Abid said, kissing Hawk on both sides of his cheek.
Hawk pulled back abruptly and glared at Abid. “I don’t do that thing. Americans shake hands.”
“I’m not an American.”
“You sure as hell sound like one with that fake accent,” Hawk said. “But your secret is safe with me.”
Abid adjusted his keffiyeh as his eyes widened. “Why don’t we just get started? Do you have the money?”
Hawk nodded and stepped aboard. Setting his pack down, he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Abid.
“Ten thousand U.S. dollars, just like we agreed,” Hawk said.
Abid peeked inside and inspected the cash. “Looks like it’s all here.”
“My word is my bond,” Hawk said. “Now, let’s get going. I don’t want to linger in the harbor any longer than we have to. I have work to do.”
Abid nodded. “Very well then.”
He signaled for his deck hand to untie the boat and shove off. Abid assumed the position behind the captain’s wheel and activated
the bilge pump.
“You’ve already been out today?” Hawk said as he watched water spew out of the side of the boat.
“I spend most of my day on the water. You happened to catch me on dry land for the first time since earlier today.”
“And you’re just now using the bilge pump?”
“Just a habit. Nothing you should concern yourself with.”
Hawk shrugged. “How far is it going to take us to get out to the coordinates?”
Abid punched in some coordinates on his GPS and waited a few seconds. “The GPS says it’ll take about a half an hour.”
“That’s right on the edge of the shipping lane,” Hawk said. “Seems kind of lazy to me.”
“They were in a hurry, and I wouldn’t exactly describe them as professionals.”
“How’d they get the weapon in the water?”
“Weapon?” Abid said. “I don’t know anything about a weapon.”
Hawk sighed. “I’m assuming you were hired because this boat has a crane on it and can lift heavy equipment. They dropped what was essentially a torpedo launcher into the water. Don’t tell me that you didn’t notice it.”
“Whatever they brought aboard was crated up that day. I didn’t look at it, so I could honestly say I have no idea what they want me to drop in the water. They handled everything else.”
“Did your crane operator see anything?” Hawk asked.
“I’m sure he did, but he isn’t here—and he didn’t talk about it afterward.”
“You really would do anything for money, wouldn’t you?”
“A man has to eat and feed his family.”
Hawk eyed Abid cautiously. “You don’t strike me as the family man kind of guy.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
Once the ship cleared the no wake zone, Abid throttled the engine as the boat started to skip across the sea. Hawk watched the sea spray kick into the air, creating a constant mist around the edge of the deck. He inserted his earpiece and tried to reach Alex.
“Are you there, Alex?” he asked.
“I’m here, and you’re coming in loud and clear.”
“Good. And while I wish you were here, I’m sure you’ll be glad that you didn’t come along,” Hawk said. “This ride is bumpier than our one to Kumzar.”
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