by Laura Scott
Hana glanced at Jarek, then at Sun. “I’ve been working as an international spy. My last trip to North Korea revealed much dissatisfaction with the United States. There are so many disheartened by the lack of support. I heard rumblings of a nuclear bomb and made sure the chatter was sent through the appropriate channels.”
“You’re a spy?” Jarek gaped in shock.
“And you’re the one who sent the original chatter to the FBI?” Sun added incredulously. “The female voice we heard? Small demonstration of what we are capable of? We are many, and we are strong? Big surprises come in small packages?”
“Yes. That was me. And I believe my last trip to the homeland caught the regime’s attention.” Hana tipped her chin in a stubborn look that mirrored Sun’s. In that moment, Mack realized just how much Sun and her mother were alike. Hana turned toward Jarek, her expression stricken. “I’m sorry, Jarek. Please forgive me. I was afraid you wouldn’t come if you knew the truth. I have put you in danger again, partially because I needed your help, but mostly because I wanted you to meet our daughter. All while saving the country. I know I had no right, but looking back, I believe this was God’s plan all along. Especially as you were already in danger back in Chicago.”
“But—a nuclear bomb?” Jarek still looked aghast. “Something like that would cause World War III!”
“Exactly,” Hana said with a nod. “Which is why we must help Sun find this device, ASAP.”
* * *
January 20 – 2:24 a.m. – Washington, DC
Sun had hugged her mother and had wanted to do the same with her father, but she had held back, unsure of how Jarek Zeman felt about all this. She was thrilled yet also confused as to why she was finally meeting her father. She had dozens of questions, but there wasn’t time to chat about their personal lives or all that had transpired over the past twenty-nine years.
But the most shocking news of all was that her mother had been spying on North Korea. No wonder they’d tracked her mother so relentlessly. And had come to find her too. Her thoughts whirled, but she forced herself to focus on the immediate issues at hand.
She eyed her mother. “You know for sure the regime followed you to DC?”
“We escaped from a North Korean at Reagan International Airport, thanks to Jarek’s quick thinking,” Hana said, tucking her hand in the crook of Jarek’s elbow. Despite the surprising news, Sun noticed her father remained close to her mother, touching her frequently.
Almost as if they’d reunited after all this time apart.
Interesting how he was taking her mother being a spy in stride. But there wasn’t time to worry about that now.
“There was only one of them?” Sun pressed. “That’s unusual since they travel in pairs.”
Hana’s brow furrowed. “Yes, I thought so too. There may have been another stationed outside, but we didn’t see anyone.”
“I saw a man with dark hair outside when we escaped to find a taxi, but no way to say he was of North Korean descent,” Jarek added.
“But you’re sure you weren’t followed here?” Mack asked.
“We don’t know anything for sure,” Jarek said. “I felt certain we lost the North Korean in Chicago, yet somehow they must have picked up our trail.” He glanced at Hana. “After seeing you in disguise, I guess I should have known there was more to why you’d arrived when you did. You have amazing skills, Hana. But I think it’s clear now that your new identity has been compromised.”
“Very likely,” her mother agreed.
Sun didn’t like the sound of that. “Okay, you can stay here in this room, it’s under an assumed name that is not associated with any of us. You can get some rest, but Mack and I have work to do.”
“You can stay here with your parents,” Mack said, but Sun cut him off with a narrow glare.
“This is my case as much as it’s yours,” she reminded him.
He grimaced. “I just want you to be safe and to have time with your parents.”
“Sun is right, there’s time for that later. I plan to help find the bomb.” Her mother’s gaze was steady. “Trust me, I have been in many dangerous situations before.”
Sun was still grappling with the idea that her mother had been spying on North Korea. “I know you have, but I would rather you and, uh, Jarek get far away from here. Before it’s too late.”
“No,” Jarek’s response surprised her. “Sun, I don’t want to leave you like this. Not without getting to know you.” Her father’s voice cracked with emotion. “I didn’t even know you existed until yesterday. I accept the danger. As Hana said, I was nearly killed in Chicago anyway. Life is short, Sun. Now that I’ve found you, I plan to stay. Please don’t expect me to walk away from you now.”
As touched as she was by his declaration, she wanted to scream in frustration. “Don’t you understand? I need to know you and my mother are safe from all this.”
“Better for us to stay together, Sun,” her mother said softly. “You know the regime is close by.”
They’d already fought off several attacks by the Russians, adding North Koreans to the mix only made things worse.
“The danger,” Sun began, but her father interrupted, “is all around us, but as your mother said, better we stick together.” His jaw firmed, and she fought the urge to hug him. For not having a father figure, she felt certain she could get used to this man being in her life.
If they had a life after today.
Her phone rang, and since the call was from Jordan, she quickly answered. “Do you have the security clearance IDs?”
“Yes, and I can meet you and Mack downtown,” Jordan replied.
“Add two more, for Hana Yin-lee and Jarek Zeman. My parents are here and want to help.”
“Your parents?” Jordan’s voice rose incredulously. “Are you crazy?”
“First of all, my mother has been spying on North Korea, so she’s already involved. She’s the source of the chatter about the nuke. Besides, it’s what they both want to do, and there isn’t time to argue. It’s going to take us time to get downtown to the National Mall area to begin checking out garbage containers.”
There was a pause, then Jordan said, “Okay, I’ll get two more security passes and join you in searching.”
Sun wanted to protest, after all, Jordan had a wife, a daughter, and a baby on the way. Which made her understand why Mack had wanted her to leave.
The same reason she wanted her parents far, far away.
“Bring the passes, but after that, your time would be better spent convincing Yates and the president to chuck the whole event.” She disconnected from the call and glanced over to where Mack was packing up the sat computer. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
She still wore her jacket and had the car keys, so she led the way outside. Her mother and father followed close behind.
Two Russians emerged from the darkness, each holding guns pointed at her. She stopped, and her heart thumped heavily against her chest.
The tables had been turned. Instead of tracking Mikhail and Kirill, the Russians had tracked her and Mack instead.
Chapter Twenty-One
January 20 – 2:58 a.m. – Washington, DC
Mack unplugged the computer, packed it away, and was looping the computer bag over his shoulder when he heard Hana suck in a harsh breath and her whispered words in Korean warning of danger. He reacted instinctively, hitting the light switch off and dropping to the ground inside the motel room, using the computer bag as a shield in front of his head.
He pulled his weapon and noticed two Russian thugs both armed with handguns. Mikhail and Kirill, no doubt. From here, he couldn’t see the telltale red-and-black star tattoo but felt certain they each had one.
There wasn’t a lot of time to think things through, every instinct in his body indicated this was a do-or-die situation.
Taking careful aim from his location on the floor, he found himself praying that no one would move as he squeezed the trigger twice in rapid succession.
Deep voices howled in pain as he hit his marks, shooting both men in the lower abdomen. Not a kill shot, he hoped, but enough to prevent them from shooting back.
Or not. Twin gunshots rang out, and he watched in horror as Sun and Hana did some sort of gymnastic moves that had them dancing toward the gunman, each taking on one of the Russians. Why Sun didn’t shoot them, he wasn’t sure, but maybe because of her mother likely not having a gun.
With Sun and Hana in the fray, he couldn’t shoot again, not unless he had a clear shot at the Russians. He reached up and yanked Jarek down beside him.
“Hana! Sun!” Jarek gasped.
“Stay down,” Mack ordered, then sprinted to his feet and ran through the doorway of the motel room toward where the women were doing their best to disarm the Russians.
He saw Sun kick the guy she was tangling with in the lower abdominal area where he’d shot him and felt a surge of approval. He grabbed the guy’s wrist, wrenched the gun away from him, and hit him in the back of the head. As the Russian went down, he caught a glimpse of the red-and-black star tattoo.
One down, one to go.
Mack whirled toward the Russian Hana was fighting with and was nonplussed to realize she was just as good as Sun in hand-to-hand combat. And Jarek hadn’t listened to Mack’s order to stay down but had rushed the Russian, using his head to hit the other man in the face. The Russian reared back, blood streaming from his broken nose, giving Mack the few seconds he needed to disarm him and put him down too.
But it wasn’t over. The sound of police sirens indicated the gunshots had been called in, likely from the kid in the lobby.
“We have to go, now!” Sun said, pulling on her mother’s arm.
Jarek was holding his head, having discovered headbutts weren’t as easy as they looked on TV. Mack put a hand on the older man’s shoulder. “The SUV is that way.” He indicated where Sun had parked it.
Jarek stumbled after Sun and Hana, so Mack took a moment to scoop up the sat computer before following. Hana and Jarek had both gotten in the back, so he slid into the passenger seat beside Sun. Within seconds, they were barreling out of the motel parking lot and heading back toward downtown DC.
“How did the Russians find us?” Sun asked, wiping her hand over her brow.
“They may have somehow tracked the phone I used to call them,” Mack admitted grimly. “I’m sorry, Sun.”
“For what?” She shot him an exasperated look. “We had to follow up on the Russian lead, Mack. There isn’t anything you could have done differently.”
Logically, he knew she was right, but guilt plagued him anyway. He took the disposable phone he’d used to try to contact Mikhail and tossed it out the window.
“Jarek, are you all right?” Hana asked.
“I’ll be fine, but where did you learn to fight like that?” Jarek asked. “Do they teach that in spy school? I almost had a heart attack when you and Sun did handsprings toward them.”
“I learned to do what was necessary to survive long before I began spying on North Korea,” Hana said softly. “I wish I had some ice for your head. I’m sure it’s very painful.”
“I’ll be fine,” Jarek said, a hint of obstinacy in his tone.
Mack turned to look at Sun’s father. He looked pale and winced every time they passed a bright light. “You probably have a concussion. Maybe you would be better off driving Hana away from here until Sun and I can meet up with you.”
“No,” Hana and Jarek said at the same time.
Mack sighed and turned back to face the windshield. “Now I see where you get your stubborn streak, Sun.”
A smile flitted across her features. “Apparently.”
He shook his head wryly. “Do you want me to call Jordan? Find out where he’s meeting us?”
Sun pulled her cell phone from her pocket and handed it to him. “Let him know about the incident with the Russians, just in case the lobby clerk gave the local authorities our license plate number.”
“Okay.” He dialed Jordan’s number, thinking the locals were the least of their worries.
They still had the regime on their tail as well as a nuclear bomb to find.
This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
And it was humbling to realize only God could help them now.
* * *
January 20 – 3:21 a.m. – Washington, DC
Jarek closed his eyes against the throbbing pain in his head, trying to hold back the urge to throw up.
He would not look like a wimp in front of Hana.
Although he knew full well she was far more athletic than he. Sun too. When the two women had sprang into action, in what seemed to be identical choreographed moves, he’d been stunned speechless.
Then the gunfire and Mack pulling him down had made him realize Hana and Sun had rushed forward to protect him.
How pathetic was that?
His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he was certain Sun’s young man thought him weak and ineffective.
And maybe he was, at least when it came to fighting and shooting.
He’d never even gone hunting, never understanding the allure of the sport.
“Jarek? Are you okay?” Hana’s soft question made him feel even worse.
“Fine,” he snapped. Then he softened his tone to add, “I wish there was more I could have done to help. You and Sun were amazing. Mack too.”
He felt Hana’s hand on his arm. “Jarek, you don’t seem to understand that I’m the one that has caused you to be in danger. Not just my travels into North Korea to gather information, but because of who I am. That without me you would be free to live your life any way you choose without fear.”
He turned his head to gaze down at her. “I choose you, Hana.”
Their gazes clung for a long moment until he noticed Sun watching them in the rearview mirror. He smiled and tried to shake off his depressing thoughts of inadequacy.
He was here with his daughter and the woman he loved. Maybe they were in extreme danger, and maybe they wouldn’t survive the day, but he would cherish every moment of time God granted to him.
This right here was all that mattered.
* * *
January 20 – 3:30 a.m. – Washington, DC
Getting one’s hands dirty was not all it’s cracked up to be. Disgusting really, but there was nothing else to do when surrounded by incompetence but take care of business yourself. Failure always deserved death.
There was not a moment to waste.
Things were spiraling way out of control, unraveling at the seams. If this mission was not successful, then the power holding North Korea would be at risk.
And that was an unacceptable outcome.
A quick swipe of the blade against the dead man’s clothes was all there was time for, as time was of the essence.
Soon, very soon, all would be right. The survival of the regime and the planning of the successor was all that mattered. Some had even begun to suspect the truth about the man pretending to be the Supreme Leader. But that would be taken care of soon enough. The announcement would come right after the US Presidential Inauguration.
Speed and timing were most critical.
* * *
January 20 – 3:39 a.m. – Washington, DC
Sun peered through the windshield, trying to catch a glimpse of Jordan. He was supposed to meet them near the Capitol South Metro station. The area was quiet, but not for long as the trains were scheduled to start running as of 4:00 a.m.
People would be gathering in the area soon after, which added to the level of urgency. They desperately needed to find something very soon.
“There he is,” Mack said, gesturing to the right. “He’s in the SUV there.”
“I see him.” Sun had no idea where they could leave the SUV, there was clearly no parking anywhere in the area. Although at this point, the way her parents kept refusing to drive to safety, they may as well allow the thing to be towed away. Easier than trying to deal with finding a parking gara
ge that wasn’t located on one of the closed streets.
She pulled up next to Jordan, noticing Sloan was seated beside him, and rolled down the passenger window and leaned past Mack to ask, “You have the passes?”
“Right here.” Jordan held them up. There were the promised four security ID badges. “We have our own, too, and hope to pitch in, but not until after our meeting with Yates. I’m hoping to be finished within the hour.”
“You have to convince him to call off the inauguration,” Mack said somberly.
“That’s the plan, but if you guys could find something, it would help,” Jordan agreed.
“We’ll do our best. One of you need to take the SUV, or it will be towed,” Sun pointed out.
Jordan glanced at Sloan. “Fine, we’ll find a place to leave the two vehicles, then join you here to search after we meet with Yates.” Jordan looked as if he hadn’t gotten much sleep either. “I’m hoping the news of the second attack by the Russians helps to sway him to cancel the whole thing.”
“Good luck with that.” Mack took the four security passes and handed them out to everyone in the SUV.
Sun slid out from behind the wheel, looping the lanyard around her neck. Her parents joined her as did Mack, still lugging the sat computer.
“We’re not going to need the computer to search,” she said with a frown.
Mack patted the bag. “I’m kinda attached to it. Besides, I have the garbage container information on here.”
“All right.” She crossed the street, heading toward the expansive area in front of the Capitol known as the National Mall. The half-moon was bright, the air frigid enough to see their breath.
She tried to remain positive but couldn’t help wondering if focusing on the garbage containers was the right thing to do. Yet what else was there? With all the security, it’s the one thing that could be easily missed.
Surprisingly, there were not very many Capitol police out patrolling the area. Maybe because of the early hour. Still, she’d expected to be stopped and questioned as they approached the cordoned-off area.