CHAPTER 9
Paris, France
THREE DAYS HAD PASSED since Petrov duped Brady Hawk and the Firestorm team into doing her dirty work for her. She sat at her private table atop the balcony at Le 7th Ciel restaurant and sipped a glass of chardonnay. After all, such a victory deserved a moment of celebration, as short lived as it might be. There was still plenty of work to be done if she intended to see The Chamber’s dream come to fruition. But baiting Hawk into murdering Germany’s biggest bankers and then providing Interpol with footage of his assault was just cause to revel in her stroke of genius with some wine.
Anatoly slid Petrov’s cigarette case toward her and held out his lighter.
She waved him off. “After dinner. I don’t want to spoil my drink with my vice.”
“Vice, as in singular?” Anatoly asked, the faint hint of a smile emerging across his face.
“Sophisticated women don’t keep track of all their vices.”
Anatoly held up his finger. “So it is plural. I was quite certain smoking wasn’t the only vice you could claim.”
“I could claim others, but they’re far too unsavory to discuss in public,” she said, leaning in close and dropping her voice to a whisper. “Seriously, who wants to talk about their penchant for murdering people who don’t go along with all your suggestions. It makes you a bore at dinner parties.”
“I can see how discussing your vices such as killing others could make you a bit of a pariah when you’re out on the town with friends. The whole time they’re wondering which one is going to be next.”
Petrov patronizingly patted Anatoly’s hand, which rested on the table. “There’s a reason I hired a sharp-witted young man like yourself. You at least understand me.”
“It’s not that difficult.”
“Pardon me.”
Anatoly slunk in his chair, embarrassed that his comment slipped out. “That came out wrong. It’s not what I meant. What I meant to say was—”
“Better quit while you’re ahead, Anatoly. If you keep digging, you might find yourself in a hole you can’t crawl out of.”
He nodded and sat up straight in his chair. “So, have you spoken with the leaders of the European Union Bankers Guild? They seemed really anxious to talk with you today.”
“As a matter of fact, I was able to conduct a short discussion with several members. This whole fiasco in Germany has them running scared, as they should be. They’re afraid of who might get hit next. Several countries have canceled their yearly gatherings.”
“Private security getting too costly these days?”
Petrov shrugged. “And deadly. One agency I’ve contracted with in the past told me that they’ve lost six agents over the past twelve months.”
“No wonder it’s becoming such an expensive field.”
“Yes, to risk your life for someone you don’t know, there must be a handsome and commiserate financial award. Unfortunately, the recent events in Germany are creating a greater demand when the supply has reached its lowest.”
“I trust your stunt in Stuttgart helped usher more players to the table,” Anatoly said.
“They’ve practically come running, begging me to have a seat at the table,” she said. “And of course, I’m happy to oblige them as long as they abide by the set of rules laid out for them. Everyone needs to understand who is in control here.”
“I’m confident that much is made clear.”
Petrov reached out and snapped her fingers. Without hesitating, Anatoly handed her the cigarette case and held out a lighter. After she selected her smoke of choice, she leaned toward Anatoly, who flicked his lighter and waited for Petrov to get her vice sufficiently lit.
“I think it’s also quite clear their precious financial institutions are all going to fail if they don’t join The Chamber,” Petrov said. “At this point, it’s little more than a foregone conclusion, which is why they want to jump into the lifeboat I’m offering. The only thing they don’t know is just how much it’s going to cost.”
“Not that they’ll care.”
Petrov forced a laugh. “Not that these types of people ever do. It’s quite odd how money is no object to them, yet in the end, it’s the only object they fancy. You’d think some of them might be happy to be relieved of such a burden, but that albatross hangs around their neck as if it’s an adornment of fine jewelry.”
“The Chamber will be more than happy to help ease such difficulties.”
Petrov smiled. “Yes, we will.”
She took a long drag on her cigarette before her phone buzzed. Picking it up, she waved it at Anatoly.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to answer this. My work is never done.”
She slipped back inside and walked until she found a quiet hallway.
“I thought I gave you specific instructions not to ever call me at this number,” Petrov said. Vadim, her top assassin, often ignored her directives, but she couldn’t argue with his results.
“You also said to call you the moment I laid eyes on Hawk and his team,” the man said. “It was quite the dilemma for me.”
“You found them already?” Petrov asked.
“It didn’t take long.”
She laughed. “You’re better than the FBI.”
“That’s not much of a compliment, if that’s what you’re trying to do there. They couldn’t even gather enough evidence to—”
“It was meant to be a compliment, but I’m not going to explain myself.”
“Better than the FSB would’ve been my preference.”
“As a former KGB officer, I wasn’t sure how you’d take that comparison.”
“At this point, I don’t care,” Vadim said. “I simply want to know how to proceed. Should I tip off the FBI so they can ride in like great American cowboys and take all the credit? Or would you like for me to handle it myself?”
“Where are they now?” Petrov asked.
“Getting questioned by airport security.”
“So maybe the Americans won’t bungle this thing in the end anyway.”
“It would make their removal from play much neater.”
Petrov sighed. “True, but I don’t trust the American government either way. Follow them, and as soon as you get a chance, take them out in a remote location where you can get away cleanly. I don’t want to let the narrative of these American rogue agents to get turned around on us. We’re controlling this story so far—and it’s turning into quite a beautiful one.”
“No problem,” Vadim said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good. Call me when it’s finished.”
CHAPTER 10
Washington, D.C.
HAWK STEADIED HIS BREATHING as his pulse quickened. His options were limited in such a public place. He could knock out the guard and hustle out of here, but that would leave an easily traceable trail. Hawk tried to keep his cool.
“Just heading home after a long flight,” Hawk said.
The guard eyed him carefully, studying the access badge and Hawk’s face equally.
“Everybody’s gotta be a smart ass these days, don’t they?” the man said.
Hawk took the question as rhetorical and refused to answer. It was clear by responding to the literal question the guard asked, Hawk put himself and the rest of his team at risk. Small talk wasn’t Hawk’s thing. He needed to get better at it for obvious reasons.
The guard held out the credentials and gently shoved them back. “Have a nice day,” he said, waving Hawk through.
Hawk looked over his shoulder to see if Alex and Samuels were getting through hassle free. They were.
Once they were in the parking lot, Hawk flagged a shuttle down and rode it to the location he’d left his car. It wasn’t registered under his name, but he thought it safe to take precautions and split up. Samuels and Alex waited for the next shuttle and rode it several minutes later. When they met back up, Hawk had the trunk open and was waiting for them to place their items inside.
“What did you do?” Hawk asked
as he slammed his door shut. “Bat your eye lashes at him?”
Alex laughed softly. “I know you’re jealous, Hawk. You might be able to gun a man down with a single shot from a thousand yards away, but you can’t simply walk through a gated area without drawing a scrutinizing eye from a security guard. Admit it—you’re jealous.”
“What’s there to admit? Those are both two great gifts to have in our line of work.”
“Which is why you work together,” Samuels said. “Now, can we put an end to the pettiness here and get on with it?”
* * *
HAWK DROVE WEST for about two hours until they arrived at a rural cabin nestled in the Shenandoah Mountains. After Blunt’s last hideout was destroyed, he made it a priority to get another one that was more isolated with a single entry and exit point from the road. Blunt’s assumption was that it would make an approach more difficult, though Hawk wasn’t sure he agreed.
The cabin was about forty years old yet still in good condition. The wood slats on the outside had faded, but the structure was sturdy. Checking the perimeter, Hawk and Samuels circled their new temporary home.
“How long do you think we’ll be here?” Samuels asked.
“Maybe a couple days or more,” Hawk answered. “Depends on how quickly these threats begin to materialize.”
“Think anyone will be able to track us out here?”
“I hope we’ll be gone before they do.”
Hawk collected a few thick branches and piled them to the side of the steps leading up to the house.
“I’m not sure starting a fire is a good idea,” Samuels said.
“They’re for whittling,” Hawk said. “In case we get bored. Blunt isn’t exactly the type to install an entertainment system here.”
Samuels nodded and followed Hawk up the steps and into the house.
After they took the next half hour to settle in, they all convened at the kitchen table to discuss the information Hawk had sent them regarding the alliance between Petrov and Fazil. Hawk studied the information on the screen before he went slack-jawed.
“What is it?” Alex asked.
Hawk shook his head imperceptibly.
She prodded again. “Is there something we should be concerned about?”
“This information came from Commander Frank Stone at the Pentagon. Stone was my commander when I was with the Navy Seals. He’s the one who gave the order to—”
Hawk’s voice trailed off as he kept his eyes locked on the laptop.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked.
He blinked hard. “Just bad memories, that’s all.”
“So, how do you think Al Hasib is going about this attack?” Samuels asked, redirecting the conversation.
“Verge processes around 750,000 barrels of oil per day and is the country’s main oil hub since the government assumed control of it,” Hawk said. “And if I was a betting man, I’d put my money on Fazil orchestrating a fiery explosion. He wants visuals that will put Al Hasib back on the map.”
They studied the schematics and discussed ideas for what that might look like practically.
“If I were wanting to make a splashy hit, I’d attack at several points,” Hawk said. “Blowing the pipeline to pieces is one thing, but then you could get a black gusher spraying into the air if you hit the plant. And if they were really smart, they’d attack the controls that allow them to quickly shut off the flow remotely. Otherwise, they could set charges at several different points along the pipeline and turn this into another situation like when Iraq invaded to start the war in the 1990s.”
“And you think the three of us will be enough to neutralize this attack?” Samuels asked.
“We’re definitely going to need help on this one,” Hawk said. “But the Kuwaitis are open to hearing from us. They’re well aware that we care about them.”
“Or their oil,” Alex quipped.
“Doesn’t make much difference,” Hawk said. “That’s all they care about, too.”
“Well, I don’t know about you two, but I’m famished,” Alex said. “Why don’t we get something to eat and then come back to finish planning how we’ll stop them? Who’s with me?”
“Let’s go,” Hawk said, jingling the keys in his pocket.
“One of us needs to stay here,” Samuels said. “Protocol.”
Hawk nodded. “For once, I agree with you, Samuels. If our pictures have been plastered on television or social media, we shouldn’t be out all together. We’ll just pick something up and bring it back.”
“I noticed a little deli on the edge of town a few miles back,” Alex said.
“Perfect,” Hawk said. “Let’s go.”
* * *
VADIM CROUCHED IN THE BUSHES, waiting for movement at the cabin. He’d tagged Hawk’s car earlier, shooting a small tracking device at the bumper. It was how he’d been able to follow them to their location without getting made. It was also how he was going to kill his targets.
His legs had almost gone to sleep when he saw Hawk and Alex emerge from the cabin and head to their car. Vadim tugged the antennae out from the detonator and waited. While he was anxious to push the button, he hesitated once he realized a wrench had been tossed into his plan. Without all three of his targets in the vehicle, Vadim didn’t want to invite a firefight in unfamiliar territory. He decided it’d be best to wait until they were down the road about a quarter of a mile before setting off the charge. That would enable him to verify the kills as he drove by and escape without drawing a tail from the third member of Hawk’s party. Vadim knew Petrov would be upset about not taking out all three, but Brady Hawk was the highest value target.
For a moment, he contemplated waiting for all three to get in the car but decided against it, unsure when or even if he’d get such an opportunity.
Vadim watched as a pair of car doors slammed and Hawk shifted the car into drive. Slipping through the woods, Vadim made his way down to the edge of the road, watching as their car disappeared over a hill. He then counted to himself.
Tree . . . dva . . . odéen . . .
He pushed the button, and his face lit up as he heard the car explode down the road.
* * *
HAWK HAD BARELY PUT HIS FOOT on the gas before his phone buzzed with a call from Samuels.
“You gotta get out of the car now,” Samuels said.
“What are you talking about?” Hawk asked.
“I spotted what looks like an explosive device on the back as you were driving away.”
“Who could’ve—?”
“Forget that. Just get the hell out of the car now before you’re toast.”
Hawk had just started to descend the hill when he slowed the car.
“Get out now and run,” he said to Alex.
She didn’t hesitate, following his lead. They both unstrapped their seatbelts and sprinted toward a ditch along the side of the road. Just as they reached a safe distance from the vehicle, it exploded.
Hawk put his head down and covered Alex’s, protecting them from any falling shrapnel. After a few seconds, Hawk put his head up to inspect the damage. Instantly, the searing heat from the blast warmed his face to the point that he couldn’t tolerate it more than a few seconds.
Hawk’s phone buzzed again.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Thank God you’re all right,” Samuels said.
“I appreciate the heads up.”
“Well, you’re not out of the woods yet because I just saw a car roar out of here. Not that we can do anything about it since we don’t have a viable mode of transportation.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Hawk said. “If I’m not mistaken, Blunt told me he was keeping one of his old motorcycles up here.”
“You better get moving if you don’t want to lose him.”
Hawk watched as a black Jeep roared past. Since the man refused to stop, Hawk assumed it had to be the assassin. Most people in this part of the woods would likely stop to see if they could help.
&
nbsp; “Let’s get back to the cabin,” Hawk said to Alex. “I’m going to see if I can go after him.”
Sprinting up the hill, Hawk made it to the cabin in less than a minute. It took him half that time to put on a helmet then rip the cover off the bike and kick-start it. Alex handed him a comlink as he prepared to leave. After pocketing the device, Hawk roared out of the storage shed and down the road in the direction he’d last seen the Jeep traveling.
Working quickly, he shoved his hand between the side of his face and his helmet, jamming the comlink into place.
“Can you hear me?” Hawk asked.
“Loud and clear,” Alex said.
“Okay, I need you to be my eyes on this one since I have no idea where he went.”
“I’m hacking into the NSA database to get satellite imaging online right now, but I imagine he’s going to be heading for the highest populated area in an effort to blend in and lose you.”
“Well, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, okay?”
“You’re driving, chief,” Samuels said.
Hawk grimaced. “Slap him for me will ya, Alex?” Hawk smiled as he heard a playful slap.
“What was that for?” Samuels asked.
“No pet nicknames for Hawk, got it?” Alex said.
Hawk approached a T-intersection. “Which way, Alex?”
“I can’t see anything yet, but I’d go left. That’s the fastest way back to the highway.”
Hawk followed her instructions, accelerating quickly and speeding down the road.
“Watch out for the local deputies around here,” Alex said. “I hear they can be quite the pain in the ass.”
“The story of my life today,” Hawk said. “But lately it’s felt like that every day.”
Silence for the next half minute as Hawk buzzed along the winding stretch of blacktop.
“Wait,” Alex said finally. “I think I’ve got him . . . Yes, up ahead. He’s turning left onto Pine Road.”
“Got it,” Hawk said.
Less than thirty seconds later, Hawk spotted the green Pine Road sign and turned hard left. He glanced at his watch, giving him an idea of how far behind he was from the Jeep.
Brady Hawk 08 - Siege Page 5