“Find out what happened there. I want some answers within the next half hour. I want you to also contact the unit and have them assembled and waiting for me at our usual rendezvous point. Have my car waiting for me downstairs.”
“Yes, sir.” The man then walked out the door, closing it behind him.
The white-haired man took out his pen and twirled it, trying to calm his agitation. This couldn’t have been Fox-again. If it was, he would’ve known in advance from his mole in the CIA, unless Fox caught onto him. But then, a more dreadful scenario occurred to him, and the more he thought of it, the faster he twirled his pen. Valerik stole Pandora to sell it himself, and it was the last remaining stock. If he was out there hiding, his cell would track him down and he would personally end the traitor’s life.
Chapter 5
US Air Force Base at Entebbe Airport, Uganda, 5:40 PM local time
The two F-16 Fighter Jet escorts broke away as the C-130 Hercules turboprop aircraft made its final approach to the runway, touching down nearly ten minutes later.
“Welcome to Entebbe Airport, the latest in new American bases,” said Hiller.
“Any place where I could avoid being shot at for the next forty-eight hours will do,” said Fox, eager to get off the plane.
“Is this your first time here?”
Fox nodded. “I haven’t been to many bases here on this continent. Most of my time has been hopping around Europe and the Middle East.”
“Well, we ain’t going to be needing those bases much longer-the European ones, that is. The Soviet threat’s not the big issue-the terrorist threat is. Over the next few years the Pentagon’s going to be relocating those bases right here in Africa and the Middle East.”
Fox nodded. Makes sense. It’s a better way to keep a close eye on terrorists and oil resources.
Once the Hercules aircraft had taxied to a stop, Fox and the SEALs didn’t waste time unbuckling their seatbelts, getting up, and lining up at the back cargo door.
Hiller motioned Fox forward with his right arm. “Ladies first.”
“Dumb blondes in back,” Fox quipped, which was followed by laughter from the other SEALs.
Hiller patted Fox on the back. “It’s good to have you back. You had me worried back there in Darfur.”
“I’m fine. I told you not to worry.”
The back cargo door lowered and touched the runway. The heat hit him as though an oven door had just been opened. It wouldn’t be long before he’d need another cold shower once he got indoors. It’d been a while since Fox wore army fatigues. He remembered that he wore a similar pair while with Hiller after they had rescued Canadian and American hostages from pirates in the Indian Ocean in a joint SEAL-JTF2 mission a few years back. But it was the only clothing they provided him with back at the Chad-Sudan border base.
He looked at the red-colored sky that surrounded the setting sun over the forest. A commercial plane roared overhead as it took off. Soon afterwards he heard a Jeep approach. “Here’s our ride, right on time.”
“Correction, Warrant Officer. That’s our ride. We’ve got to get this here weaponized virus, or whatever you want to call, it out to the CDC compound northwest of here.” Hiller pointed to another Jeep that raced along the tarmac and screeched to a stop beside the other. “I believe that’s your ride coming right now.”
When Fox saw the Jeep’s driver, he looked the other way. “Oh Christ, it’s Walsh.”
“So you know him, one of your pals I take it.”
“Not exactly. I think I’d rather be back in Darfur, than ride with him.”
“Hey there, Foxy!” yelled Tom Walsh.
“Damn, I feel sorry for you, buddy,” said Hiller as they reached the tarmac. “When we get back home, I’ll set you up with my sister-in-law. She’s as stubborn as they come, but I’m sure you’ll take anything at this point, right?”
“As long as she doesn’t wear your shoe size, I might take her.”
Hiller laughed. “I’ll remember that. My wife and I are having a barbeque next weekend. You plan on joining us?”
“You know I’m always there.”
“Cool, we’ll see each other then.” They shook hands.
Fox walked to Walsh’s Jeep as Hiller and the other SEALs got into theirs and drove away to a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter.
“What’s going on there, Foxy?”
Fox climbed inside as Walsh jetted off. “First of all, stop calling me Foxy.”
“Oh come on, what’s going on with you? You should be proud of yourself. You managed to stop a case of genocide and piss off our enemies again. This time, all at once.”
“All in a day’s work.”
“All in a day’s work? Are you kidding me? Wait a minute, let me guess. You dated and dumped another woman again, didn’t you? Come on, you can tell me.”
Fox rolled his eyes. “It’s over and that’s all I have to say about it.”
“Damn it. You know what your problem is? You let yourself get too close to women and when you have to let them go, it’s too painful for you. I mean, you change women more often than most men change their underwear.”
“Except for you, of course.”
Walsh shot a glance at him. “What’s that?”
“Just drop it. I don’t need this right now.”
“Jesus, I was just trying to make conversation.” Walsh parked the Jeep crookedly and took up two parking spaces. Fox stepped out of the Jeep, and he looked at the newly-built military intelligence facility, which was still undergoing construction in certain parts.
Walsh joined Fox and led him to the entrance. “Here we are, probably the most technically advanced and secure facility in the entire country.”
Fox didn’t comment. He got out and followed Walsh inside. They both came to the security checkpoint where Fox emptied his pockets and placed his wallet and an envelope in a basket that was put on the conveyer belt. He walked through the x-ray booth behind Walsh. When the two marines at the checkpoint were satisfied, Fox took back his wallet and walked off.
“Sir, you forgot this.” When Fox turned, one of the marines held onto the envelope. Fox thanked the marine and took it.
Walsh nodded as Fox pocketed the envelope. “What you got there, a love letter?”
“Yeah. That’s what it is,” lied Fox. It was a letter of resignation he planned to give Downing. He wrote it while he was in Chad. I delivered Pandora and Ares would lose billions from that loss. Let the CIA take care of the rest, I’m through.
Walsh buckled his belt as he led Fox down the hall. “Tell you what. I’ll make it up to you. It won’t be long before we head back home. Why don’t we check out a Redskins game?”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Jesus, aren’t you hard to please. Don’t tell me you’re still upset that I brought up your last fling.”
“No, I’m just not into football,” Fox lied again. He was the team’s MVP the last two years in high school. He even dabbled with rugby while on a training mission in Scotland, back in the days while he was in the Canadian Army.
“Fine, then we’ll check out the opera. How about that?”
Fox rolled his eyes to the ceiling and sighed. He’s relentless.
Walsh pushed open one of the conference room’s double doors, and Fox followed him into the room. He saw his superior, General Paul Downing at the head of the conference table. To his right, he saw the more stoutly built, Post Commander Bell. To Downing’s left sat a blonde woman who looked up at Fox and Walsh as they entered. Fox didn’t know her personally, but could only guess her to be Dr. Tabitha Marx, from the CDC. Her name was
