Bobby groaned and turned back to Jay. “So we’re going into hiding?”
“Quite the contrary.” Jay slammed a magazine home in his modified AR10 and racked a round. “That’s our home turf.”
Slippy leaned in and nodded to Bobby. “The president has Camp David, we have Camp Deric.”
“So it’s a resort?”
Gregg shook his head. “We train there. CQB, assaults, weapons and tactics…”
“Beer pong!” Steve shouted. “Don’t forget the beer pong.”
Gregg smiled broadly. “And we drink a lot out there and do stupid shit with firearms and explosives. You’ll fit right in.”
Bobby groaned and slumped in his seat. “You gotta be kidding me.”
Jay patted his arm. “Don’t let them get to you. It’s secure, it’s wired, and it’s pretty much equipped. We just need to swing by the hangar and pick up a few items that we’ve neglected to resupply.”
“We’ll be in and out in no time,” Jim added. He leaned forward and tapped Viktor on the sleeve. He uttered something in Russian and Viktor nodded.
“We have plenty. Just don’t forget the vodka.”
Jim gave him a thumbs up. “We’re good. Viktor already did the shopping.”
“What are we picking up?” Bobby asked, unsure he truly wanted the answer.
Jay shook his head. “Just supplies.” He glanced toward the rear window of the panel truck once again to make sure they weren’t being followed. “We’re going to let Viktor take the truck and lead away anybody who’s watching the hangar. Marcus and Ryan will hang back and defend the airport if necessary. Hopefully nobody has put two and two together and realize what Deric’s place is until it’s too late.”
Bobby groaned and laid his head back. This shit storm just got a whole lot messier.
Langley, VA
“I DON’T SEE any other way.” Agent Darren Chesterfield paced nervously in Colonel Nelson’s office. “The only way to ensure that they don’t release what they’ve found is to eliminate them. Entirely.”
Colonel Nelson slowly shook his head. “You’re going about this all wrong.” He leaned back in his chair and eyed the young man who seemed about to come undone. “You don’t want to send in a wetwork team on this.”
Darren spun and glared at the man wildly. “Oh, yes, I do.” He began ticking items off on his fingers. “They escaped Pakistan without us having a fucking clue where they were. They no sooner arrived back in the states and they broke in here…here! They have an inside man with the FBI feeding them classified documents. They may well have stolen a copy of our encryption protocols. They’re wanted by every federal agency and even a few international ones by now…” He spun and pointed a finger at the man. “The only thing that will keep people like me from prison is if these assholes are dead.”
Colonel Nelson stood up and sighed. “You’re failing to see the bigger picture here, son.” He placed a gently hand on the man’s shoulder. “You really should get some sleep. Take a shower. Put on some fresh clothes.” He lifted his hand and looked at it. “You’re beginning to smell, Darren.”
Chesterfield gave him a wide eyed stare. “The world is about to crumble around us and you want me to take a shower?”
Colonel Nelson nodded. “You need to relax. We’ve got the best people on the job.” He walked toward his door and pulled it open. “Go home Chesterfield. Get some sleep. Your mind will work much better once it’s rested.”
Darren staggered toward the door. “There’s no way I could sleep. I’m wound too tight.” He reached for the door, wanting to close it but the Colonel held it tightly. “I need to stay on top of this.”
“Trust me. There’s not much they can do in the time it would take you to recharge your batteries.” He practically pushed the young man from his office. “Take a Xanax, grab a night’s sleep. You’ll be better able to think this through if you do.”
Darren trudged out of the office and into the hallway. He was so tired that he wasn’t sure which direction to go. He made his way back to his office and sat on the couch facing the window. He glanced around but his mind simply couldn’t focus.
“Maybe just a quick power nap.” He lay down and closed his eyes.
Sleep hit him like a hammer.
Near Multan, Pakistan
MAMOON’S EYES POPPED open and he stared out the windshield and into the dark sky. “Where are we?”
“Approaching Multan.” Balil tapped the gas nozzle then placed it back at the rusty old pump. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of wadded bills. He handed them to the boy and patted his head as he ran inside to pay.
Mamoon rubbed at his eyes and sat up in the car. “We are in Punjab already?”
“Yes. We will be safe shortly.” Balil checked his cell phone and tapped a quick text to his sister. “They are ready for us.”
Mammon groaned as he rolled down the window, allowing the chill air to help wake him. “I do not know how safe we will be. Everybody believes that we are responsible.”
Balil shook his head as the boy ran back out and handed him his change. “I’ve been listening to the radio. They are still looking for Muhammed al-Abadi. There are reports that he fled the country with Americans.”
“Bah. I do not believe that. Muhammed is far too smart to work with the Americans.”
Balil hiked a brow at him. “Nobody said that he was working with them. Merely that there are reports that he left with them.” He turned the screwdriver shoved into the Toyota’s ignition and the car belched to life. “They may have taken him.”
Mamoon shook his head. “Then we are sunk.” He glanced nervously out of the window and felt the eyes of a thousand unseen people staring at him. “The early reports claimed we were responsible. Once they cannot find Muhammed, they will turn their
