“I don’t care what the public thinks about Hawk; I want to know what you think about him in terms of his threat to this organization.”
“Searchlight isn’t exactly his primary concern right now. However, kidnapping his little girlfriend probably put you on his radar.”
“I guess the only real question I want answered today is this: Do you think we’ll still be able to use them?”
Emily took a deep breath, her gaze cutting back and forth around the room as she thought. She needed to give the right answer to Parker, one that wouldn’t raise any suspicion.
“It’s possible,” she finally said.
“If you’re not one hundred percent sure, we need to eliminate them,” Parker snapped.
“Trying to gauge that right now is a big challenge. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with—”
“You’ve got a week to make your definitive conclusion,” Parker said before he stood up. “One week, and then I want your final answer.”
She nodded.
“Do you know where they are?” he asked.
“They’re in Somalia now.”
“Good. I’ll put Thor on alert and have him ready on standby.”
“How am I supposed to make that determination from here?” she asked.
“Better book a flight for Somalia.”
CHAPTER 7
Berbera, Somalia
RASHID QURESHI RELOADED and peered through his binoculars across the compound for any more traitors. The Al Hasib operative engaged in a quid pro quo with Al-Shabaab. When Al Hasib entered into negotiations to secure a chemical weapon from Al-Shabaab’s top chemical engineer, the proposed exchange involved more than just money. Al-Shabaab was losing the battle when it came to recruits due to the CIA’s covert training facility in Berbera. The CIA had built a compound to help Somali military develop a special ops program to combat the guerilla tactics of Al-Shabaab. And after watching dozens of potential recruits flock to the CIA-sponsored program, Al-Shabaab leadership decided to eliminate it.
Qureshi had worked for weeks to prepare Al-Shabaab forces for a surprise attack on the compound. And so far, everything had gone as planned with one small exception: Inexplicably, only a little over two dozen of the more than two hundred recruits were present when Qureshi began the attack. While dead bodies littered the training grounds, Qureshi hoped for a much better result.
We must have a spy.
Qureshi scanned the area once more through his binoculars and noted at least one figure standing in the doorway of the barracks. He gave the order to fire again, unleashing another round of munitions at the building. Then everything fell silent.
Qureshi reloaded again when the voice of Pendar, Qureshi’s tech expert, pleaded with Qureshi to look at his phone.
“I sent you some screenshots off the security feed,” Pendar said. “It appears as though there are some important guests visiting the compound this week.”
Qureshi unlocked his phone and called up the pictures Pendar had sent. Qureshi squinted at the image before enlarging it.
“Is that who I think it is?” Qureshi asked.
“If you think it’s Brady Hawk, then yes.”
Qureshi broke into a wide grin.
Allah must love me. I will avenge my brother’s murder.
Qureshi needed to tell Al Hasib chief Karif Fazil about the new developments taking place in their raid on the secret CIA training camp. Qureshi dialed Fazil’s number.
“Is everything all right?” Fazil asked.
“It’s better than all right,” Qureshi said. “This might be a far more productive trip than you ever imagined.”
“How so?”
“We have all but secured the compound as we speak. However, there are some surprising guests paying a visit to the facility this week who might be of interest to you.”
“And who would that be?”
“Brady Hawk and Alex Duncan.”
Fazil laughed. “Never question that Allah is on our side.”
“I thought the same thing.”
“I don’t care about the girl, but make sure you capture Hawk alive and bring him back to me.”
Qureshi hung up.
I’ll try, but I’m not going to make any promises.
CHAPTER 8
HAWK CRAWLED ON HIS STOMACH back to his room and grabbed another gun and a couple clips out of his pack, which he threw over hs shoulder. He made his way back into the hallway and glanced at McGinn and Alex. The shooting had stopped, and they hadn’t heard much noise other than a few commands shouted intermittently.
“I need to see what’s going on out there,” Hawk said.
McGinn grabbed Hawk’s arm and pulled it down. “Don’t even think about it.”
Hawk shook his arm free of McGinn’s grip. “I’m not asking for your permission.”
“Don’t move,” McGinn said. “We need each other to stay alive. We don’t need your cowboy bullshit right now.”
“If you knew how to actually secure a compound, maybe I wouldn’t have to take a chance,” Hawk said as he started to stand up.
McGinn yanked Hawk’s arm down again. “What’s your problem? You’re going to get us all killed.”
Hawk slunk to the ground and clicked his safety on.
“Thank you,” McGinn said. “Now, we’re safe for the moment, but don’t think I haven’t planned for this moment.”
“What kind of moment are you talking about? The kind where one of your trusted men betrays you?” Alex asked.
“That’s exactly the moment,” McGinn said. “Rule number one of working in East Africa is simple: trust no one. It’s also rules two through ten. So, yeah, I don’t even trust you two yet, but I’ll take my chances since you’ve only hit me while those guys out there are shooting bullets at me.”
“You have a way to get us to safety?” Hawk asked.
McGinn nodded. “Follow me.”
He got up, remaining hunched over and low to the ground. Alex and Hawk followed the man’s lead. They all hustled down the hallway and took a sharp left into a cozy office about ten meters before they reached the far end of the building. McGinn locked the door behind them and went to work.
He slid a shelving unit to the side, revealing a small panel in the wall. Opening the panel, McGinn revealed a passageway out
