“I think what you’ll see moving forward is the justice system working swiftly and fairly with all branches of the U.S. government to ensure that no rock is left unturned before this department announces any charges. These accusations are serious—ones that include conspiring with our enemies to kill hundreds if not thousands of American citizens all for political gain. The American people have my word that this will be our tireless focus until we’ve completed our findings and announce them publicly. What happens after that will depend on whether we discover that those recordings were all a very elaborate hoax or if we were all being led by a leader willing to commit acts of gross negligence if not outright treason in an effort to get elected.”
Lowell pointed at another reporter.
“On Twitter, the news just broke that President Michaels is demanding your resignation, claiming you are grandstanding and abusing your office. How do you respond to that?” the reporter asked.
Lowell pursed his lips before speaking. “That’s news to me, so I obviously would like to investigate that further before responding directly. However, I will say that I’m not going anywhere until this investigation is completed.”
Hawk turned to Alex and grinned. “Look what we did.”
“It sounds great, but we both know we really only did this to save our own asses.”
“And Blunt’s too.”
Alex took a sip of her drink. “Speaking of Blunt, you need to give him a call. We need to find out what to do in the interim while we wait for this to play out.”
“I’m on it,” Hawk said as he picked up his phone. He dialed Blunt’s number and waited to hear the former senator’s Texas drawl. Instead, Hawk was greeted by a different voice, one that was unfamiliar.
“We’ve been expecting your call, Mr. Hawk,” said the man in a thick New England accent.
“Who is this?” Hawk fired back.
“I’m John Earhardt, the deputy director for the CIA’s Special Activities Division. And I want to tell you that you’ve made a lot of people upset with your recent stunt in Saudi Arabia.”
“I didn’t join a black ops program to make friends.”
“No, you didn’t. But I do have someone you might consider a friend here with me. Want to say something to your top asset, J.D.?”
Hawk’s face flushed as he clenched his fist. In the background, he heard Blunt yelling. “Just ignore him, Hawk. Don’t do what he says.”
Hawk heard what sounded like a punch, and Blunt went silent.
“Now, where were we, Mr. Hawk?” Earhardt said. “Oh, right. I was telling you about all the people you upset when you were at Malik Bashir’s hideout and decided to confront one of my teams, which you also tied up. Do you recall all of this, or should I continue to jog your memory?”
Hawk laughed softly. “Your team needs more training. They were outwitted by a much smaller team of Army Rangers along with one of your own former employees who never saw action in the field.”
“So you do recall? Good. That brings me to why I’m here, standing in Scotland with your friend Mr. J.D. Blunt all tied up.”
“Before you go any further, Mr. Earhardt, I’d advise you to consider your words very carefully. I don’t appreciate being threatened.”
Earhardt cleared his throat. “I don’t make threats, Mr. Hawk. I make promises. And I’m going to make you one right now. If you don’t turn yourself in and hold a press conference where you read from a prepared statement we give you, Mr. Blunt here is going to meet an untimely death in a tragic traffic accident.”
“You know, I spend my life fighting against terrorist pukes to keep our nation free. Yet here is my own government—one that’s supposed to be by the people and for the people—ripping a page out of the terrorists’ handbook and trying to force me to read some propaganda bullshit so it can save face and score political points. Well, count me out, Mr. Earhardt. I’m sure Blunt would be proud to take a bullet for my decision.”
“You’re going to regret your decision, Mr. Hawk.”
“Is that a promise? Because I can promise you no matter you do, I’ll never regret sticking to my principles.”
Earhardt laughed for an uncomfortably long time. “Principles? An assassin is going to lecture me on principles?”
“Maybe I should just add you to my kill list and dispense with a lecture.”
“You do that, Mr. Hawk. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Click.
Hawk set his phone down on the counter and growled.
“What was that all about?” Alex asked.
“The CIA has Blunt, a guy named John Earhardt over the Special Activities Division. He threatened me and Blunt if I don’t turn myself in and read some prepared statement.”
Slack-jawed, Alex stared blankly at Hawk and shook her head. “The nerve.”
“Tell me about it, especially with what’s going on now.”
“Can you blame him? We just put the CIA on notice for their illegal activities under President Michaels’s administration. They’ll do anything to keep their lies hidden.”
Hawk narrowed his eyes. “Well, I say we keep digging and unearth all the dead bodies.”
Alex gently took hold of Hawk’s forearm. “Look, I know that’s what you want to do, but I think we’re the ones who need to stay hidden, at least until this situation gets sorted out.”
Hawk withdrew, pulling his arm away from her. “And just leave Blunt like that?”
“Do you know where he is? Has he been brought back to Washington or taken somewhere else?”
Hawk shook his head. “I have a guess, but I can’t say for sure.”
“I don’t know for sure either, but we can’t stay here now. The CIA has our phone number and will be triangulating every call you’ve made with that phone in the past week—and it’s going to lead them straight to us.”
CHAPTER 35
ANGELA BRENTWOOD FLUFFED a pair of pillows and doled out one each to Hawk and Alex. They watched
