Katari scratched out a string of numbers on a scrap piece of paper and held it out to Hawk. “Don’t let me down.”
Hawk looked Katari in the eyes as he took the paper. “I won’t. You have my word.”
Hawk and Alex departed the ship and watched as it churned back out into the channel.
“So you’re going to deposit a large sum of money into the captain’s banking account?” she asked.
Hawk maintained his gaze across the water and nodded. “I’m sure Blunt can find enough money underneath his couch cushions to pay this.” He held out the piece of paper Katari had scrawled on.
“That’s how much he wants you to deposit?”
“He said that’s how much he was getting from McGinn.”
“Blunt better have a mighty big couch.”
Hawk smiled. “He’s good for it.”
Then he stopped, cocking his head and glancing skyward.
“Do you hear that?” he asked.
Alex furrowed her brow. “Hear what?”
The hum Hawk had heard grew louder, and he was sure Alex could hear it.
“That,” he said, pointing toward the horizon.
A drone descended and was headed straight toward them.
“We need to get to cover now,” Hawk said.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I saw a mosque around the corner. They should be starting their Fajr prayers soon. They wouldn’t dare fire on us in a place like that.”
Hawk and Alex broke into a dead sprint, racing up the docks and back toward the street. Glancing over his shoulder to catch a glimpse at how close the drone was, Hawk suddenly stopped.
“Come on, Hawk,” said Alex, who continued running.
Hawk held up his hand. “No, they’re not after us—not now anyway.”
Alex jogged back to his side, and they both watched the drone bank hard left and head out across the water.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Alex asked.
“They’re covering their tracks,” Hawk said nodding.
The drone narrowed in on The Ajagar and unleashed four Hellfire missiles on the vessel. All four were direct hits. The drone peeled back east across the Arabian Sea and vanished on the horizon.
Hawk looked at the ship, which was engulfed in flames. In less than a minute, Katari’s pride and joy tipped on its side and descended beneath the surface.
Alex bit her lip. “They know we’re still alive.”
“And I don’t care,” Hawk said. “Because I’m going to be coming for them.”
“Who’s them exactly?”
“I think I have an idea.”
CHAPTER 39
Sunday
Tangier, Morocco
BLUNT AWAKENED TO THE LIGHT streaming through a small crack in his curtains. The sunrises across the Mediterranean were stunning, and most days Blunt would’ve fetched a complimentary cup of coffee from the lobby and enjoyed it outside on the small deck adjacent to his room. But his guest made such pleasures slightly more challenging. At the moment, Blunt cared more about getting answers out of the man than soaking up sunbeams.
Blunt was anxious to get answers, real answers. After capturing Christopher Roland’s henchman, Blunt wanted to learn more about who was behind this operation. His attempts to reach Hawk and warn him had failed, likely because Hawk had gone dark, choosing to rely only on local radio transmissions to communicate with his team.
Blunt’s first interrogation session with the mystery man didn’t go so well. He was too loud to get anything out of him. Blunt tried several tactics to get the man to talk but to no avail. When the man began thrashing about, Blunt injected his captive with a sedative, knocking him out for several hours. When he woke up, he proceeded to do more of the same.
Not that Blunt could really blame the man either. If put in a similar situation, Blunt concluded he would likely take a similar approach. The fact that Blunt was using his hotel room to harbor an unplanned prisoner created a less than ideal situation to avoid detection, especially if Blunt wanted to maintain his low profile abroad. If he started to look suspicious, it could give the local authorities reason enough to assign a surveillance team to him.
Needing to clear his head and think, Blunt decided to inject the man with another dose of sedative to extend his long nap. After ensuring at least another few hours of peace, Blunt hung the Do Not Disturb sign on his door and lumbered upstairs to the veranda for a cup of coffee.
He was settling into his seat when his phone rang with a call from Hawk.
“Sorry I didn’t call you back until now,” Hawk said. “I’d already gone dark by the time you called. I wish I’d heard your message sooner.”
“Apparently it didn’t matter,” Blunt said with a laugh. “Where’s McGinn?”
“What’s left of him is feeding the sharks.”
“What’s left of him?”
“Drone strike. Wiped out The Ajagar. Guess somebody in Washington didn’t want to take any chances with the truth leaking out about what was going on.”
“A drone strike? Unreal.” He paused to take a sip of his coffee. “But why didn’t they go after you? Seems rather odd, doesn’t it?”
“We were running toward a more populated area before the drone changed course and zeroed in on the ship.”
“Where were you when this happened? In Berbera?”
“We were near the port there, yes.”
“Whoever was behind that drone strike has a helluva lot of explaining to do,” Blunt said.
“We’re heading back your way,” Hawk said. “Can you send the plane?”
“I’ve been compromised, so I’ve got my hands full at the moment.”
“Of what? A glass of scotch?”
Blunt forced a laugh. “Too early for that. No, I’ve captured a man, and I’m still holding him.”
“You’re catching about as many breaks as we are. Got any plans for him?”
“At the moment, I’m trying to make sure this remains hush-hush. But I need to get some answers out of the guy. Any suggestions?”
“I wouldn’t waste my time,” Hawk said. “We know who is coming after us.”
“And who’s that?”
“Someone from within the CIA. Don’t know any names though.”
“Perhaps you’re right. You and I both have plenty of enemies, even within the borders of our fine country.”
“I’d
