Balil turned red-rimmed eyes to him and shook his head. “Not for me.” He turned and marched toward the parked cars. “Not until Muhammed’s head is removed from his shoulders.”
21
Karachi, Pakistan
“STEP IT UP!” Jay yelled. “I’m sure the locals are calling the police as we speak.”
Jim and Deric rifled through the remains of the two trucks and retrieved the cell phones. It appeared that none of the men had attempted a call during the firefight and no radios were found. The two jogged to the waiting Humvee and climbed into the rear. “We’re good, boss. Hit it!” Deric slumped to the floor of the truck and checked his magazines.
Jim tossed his empty magazines and noted the holes in the metal canopy covering the rear. “Looks like they got a few rounds off.” He stuck his finger into one and wiggled it.
“Thank god they shoot for shit.” Deric slipped his empties into the pouch around his waist. “Somebody call Jeff and get us some BD’s please. We stick out like a sore thumb in khaki pants and polos.”
Jay leaned to the rear window and held his phone up. “He’s meeting us now. Four clicks out.”
Gregg sighed and opened his computer. “I got a shit ton of work to do. Get us to the plane posthaste. I need the wifi.”
“Working on it bud. One step at a time.” Jay shoved his phone into his shirt pocket and pointed to the right. “Down there. By that garage.”
Steve turned the wheel and sent the machine toward the industrial-sized red and yellow garage. “You sure that’s the place?”
Jay pointed to the black Range Rover parked in front. “He’s there.”
As the pair of military trucks rolled to a stop, Jeff had the rear of his Rover open and was pulling out used but passable uniforms. He held the largest out to Bobby. “You get to be a lieutenant.”
Bobby held the uniform at arm’s length. “I’m no cake eater.”
“If it gets us through the road blocks, you can pretend to be the Sultan of Siam.” Jay pushed passed him and grabbed the box. “Hustle up. Time’s wasting.”
Gregg slipped his computer into its bag and jogged over to the others. “The info bomb is ready to go. Once we are in the air and connected to wifi, the whole world will know what we know.”
Bobby reached out and took him by the shoulder. “Should we send it this soon? I don’t want to tip our hand with Langley.”
Gregg shot him a toothy grin. “The plan you fellas came up with? There’s no way they could expect that coming.”
Jay finished buttoning his BDU blouse and walked over to Bobby. “You certain you can hit a target that small?”
Bobby nodded as he tugged the pants over his trousers. “Unless there’s an unexpected gust of wind, yeah.”
“It’s not like we have the best of luck, buddy.”
Bobby pulled the BDU blouse on and tugged it over his polo, stretching the material to button it. “I don’t see as we have much choice. The exit strategy is spot on. Getting to the upper levels? This is the only way I see it happening.”
Gregg hopped up and down, shoving his leg into the pants. “I can only give you ten or fifteen seconds to clear the roof. After that the sensors will be online again and…” He shrugged.
“It will work.” Bobby pulled the cap low on his head and reached for the MOLLE vest. “It’s our only option.”
Jeff stood by, listening, and finally stepped forward. “May I ask what the hell you have planned?”
Jay glanced to the others then smiled. “What about plausible deniability?”
“Like they’ll ask me.” Jeff nudged him. “What do you boys have planned?”
Bobby stood and squared his shoulders. “We’re busting into Langley.”
Jeff’s mouth fell open and he stared between the men’s faces, ensuring that his ears didn’t deceive him. “And how the hell do you plan to do that?”
Jay sighed and pointed to Bobby. “He’s gonna fly to the roof and those two idiots are walking in through the front door.”
Jeff gave him a confused stare. “Oh really?”
Gregg smiled. “I’ve been pinging their security systems. I can shut down the roof sensors and the stairwell sensors but the system automatically reboots them.” He pointed to Jim and Steve. “Since I’ve started the havoc, there’s been a work order for these two technicians to arrive first thing tomorrow evening and replace the faulty sensors.”
“And Bobby is ‘flying’ to the roof?”
Gregg shrugged. “The techs will be in the basement. There’s no way to get them to the upper levels and that’s where the computers are. So, young Mr. Bridger there will have to parachute in and work his way down.”
Jeff shook his head. “The roof has infrared sensors. As soon as he lands, they’ll know he’s there.”
Gregg nodded. “That’s why he has to land on the roof access itself. Then I can shut down the sensors and give him a ten to fifteen-second window to hop down, enter the roof access, and work his way below.”
Jeff’s mouth hung open. “The airspace is monitored. There’s no way he could—”
“HALO jump,” Bobby interrupted.
Jeff leaned against the side of the car, his eyes widening. “You’re going to make a HALO jump, land on a roof access that is…what? Ten by fifteen?”
Gregg nodded. “Pretty much.”
“To what end? What good will it do you to get access to the upper floors?”
Bobby sighed and pinched at the bridge of his nose. “The files that Roger got us…they’re encrypted. The only computer that can decrypt it is there.”
“And they’re air gapped,” Gregg groaned. “So, it’s this or nothing.”
Jeff shook his head and closed the rear hatch of the Rover. “You boys have lost your ever loving minds.”
Jay patted his shoulder. “Thanks for the help, Jeff. Look us up when you get stateside.”
“I hope it’s not in a prison cell!” Jeff called to the retreating men. He watched them mount their vehicles and pull out onto to the streets. For
