“You just stick to the plan.” He could hear the phone rustle and knew that Ingram was about to hang up. “The chips will fall where they may and if this Bridger fellow gets squished, it’s his own damned fault for associating with domestic terrorists.”
Darren heard the phone slam down as it disconnected. He stared at the receiver in his hand for a moment before placing it carefully back in its cradle.
“God help us if they ever figure out what really happened.”
13
Karachi, Pakistan
BRIDGER HELD THE Superman shaped USB to the light. “This is it?”
“I sent everything I could find.” Roger sat heavily on the end of the desk and stared at the device. “Most of it is encrypted, but the titles of the files suggested—”
“We’re a go.” Jay marched past the pair and through the door.
Roger stepped between Bobby and the door. “You brought me here. Let me be of use. I can…I dunno, act as a lookout or something.”
“Not happening.” Bridger loaded a magazine into the short barreled A4 and racked a round into the chamber before setting the safety. “You’re staying here. The last thing we need is for your face to pop up on some random video feed.”
“So I wear a mask.”
“And if shit goes south and you get shot? How’s that going to play out? A Federal Agent of the United States caught trying to abduct a foreign illegal weapons dealer on his own soil?”
Roger squared his shoulders. “Bobby, I can’t just sit here. If I’m not doing something then I’ll go fuckin’ nuts.”
“You just got here. You can’t be that bored.”
“No. But I got a shit ton of ‘bad’ waiting for me back home and right now, I just don’t want to have to deal with it.” He lowered his voice and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Please, Bobby. I’ll sit quietly in the car. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Bridger exhaled hard and slow. He turned wary eyes to his long time friend and shook head. “This goes against my better judgement…”
“No worries.” Roger picked up the Sig Saur 552 Commando and rammed a magazine home. “I’ve been a field agent for a long time. I think I can keep my head low.”
“This isn’t about your field experience, Roger. This is about abducting a bad guy on his own turf.” He jabbed a thick finger at him. “Word for word, you do what you’re told.”
“Got it.”
“I mean it. Or I’ll shoot you myself.” Bridger grabbed a face mask and slipped it over the top of his head, leaving the painted skull face folded under his boonie hat. He grabbed another mask and tossed it to Roger. “Don’t pull the face down until we’re in position. We can’t risk some Haji seeing us en route.”
“Copy that.” Roger opened the mask and saw a grinning Joker face staring back at him. The eyes had been cut out just above the nose and he slipped it atop his head.
“BDU’s are in there. Gear up.” Bridger pointed to the door leading to the next room.
Roger stepped inside and began rifling through the stacks. He pulled a MOLLE tactical vest and a drop leg holster from the wall and began stuffing the pockets.
When he stepped back out into the room, Bridger had handed off the USB to Gregg. “This is what he used to save the files from their servers. See if all of the files were transferred. Maybe there’s some scrap that can help decrypt the rest of them.” He turned and did a double take. “Seriously? Going ‘geardo’ on me, Roger?” He snatched the tactical vest from Roger’s hands and began digging through the pouches. He pulled out flash bang grenades, a smoke grenade and two fragmentation grenades. He held the vest up and hiked a brow. “You said you’d stay in the car.”
“Gear is like condoms, Bobby. Better to have it and not need it than—”
“Just get dressed.” He tossed the vest back to Roger and placed the grenades back on the shelf. “We muster in five minutes.”
Karachi, Pakistan
JIM MCDOUGALL DROVE the PTCL van slowly through the city streets. The sun would be rising in less than an hour and they hoped that al-Abadi wouldn’t want too much lead time on the demonstration he had planned.
He drove into the parking garage and began the slow lazy circles to the floor where Muhammed kept his Range Rover. He glanced across the street to the building where he knew Viktor Teplov had a sniper nest set up. He knew he wouldn’t see the man, but he searched regardless.
He slowed near the Audi A8 that Ryan and Marcus had procured for the operation and were currently sitting in, waiting and watching for activity.
“Tell me you brought coffee.” Marcus stated wearily.
Jim smiled and motioned to the back of the van. The sliding door opened and Jay stepped out in coveralls with the PTCL logo across his chest and back. He handed Marcus two steaming cups and Ryan sighed as the roasted goodness hit his nose.
“Head down near the entrance and park next to the other car. Ryan, have that other car ready for us. In fact, keep the motors running. Odds are we’ll be turning and burning when we leave here.” He glanced toward the elevator door that exited to the garage floor. “Anything?”
Marcus shook his head. “All quiet.” He sipped at the coffee then pressed the button for the ignition. He slipped the car into gear and held it with the brake. “Stay frosty, brother. Head on a swivel.”
“Copy that.” Jay slapped his hand across the top of the car and Marcus pulled out slowly.
Jay watched the black sedan pull away and took a deep breath. He turned to his crew and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Langley, VA
“I CAN’T BELIEVE you called Ingram about shutting down the
