With full knowledge of Hawk’s skill, Blunt had begun to consider giving up the protocol for contacting Firestorm’s most dangerous operative. Earhardt’s CIA team stood a strong chance of meeting an untimely demise at Hawk’s hands.
But there were two things stopping Blunt. First, he knew that Hawk and Alex were likely together. And while Hawk could handle himself, he wasn’t sure if Alex was ready yet to thwart a CIA-led raid. No matter what, he couldn’t put her in harm’s way. Second, Blunt figured that information was the only thing keeping him alive. The moment the directions rolled off his lips, a bullet would likely rip through his brain.
But the waterboarding still had Blunt hedging.
Earhardt lumbered over to Blunt’s chair and hovered over him. Earhardt cast a large shadow that temporarily shielded Blunt’s eyes from the blinding lightbulb swaying a few feet away. The interrogation tactics didn’t surprise Blunt. He’d witnessed plenty of interviews as the CIA preferred to term them. Blunt had even participated in a few himself, operating strictly from the questioning side of the table. But none of that knowledge could truly prepare him for the moment when the table was turned.
“I can go all night,” Earhardt roared. He leaned forward and stopped only a couple of inches from Blunt’s face. “What about you, J.D.? Can you go all night?”
Earhardt whistled and motioned for one of the other guards, who repeated the barbaric interrogation technique.
Blunt lost all resolve in the most recent round of torture. He didn’t care if he was about to get shot or stuffed into a box and kept in a hole in the ground for the rest of his life. And Alex? He was ready to make a bet that Hawk would protect her. Blunt just wanted to make it all go away.
Gasping for air, Blunt struggled to lift his head and look at Earhardt. The whole ordeal had been exhausting.
“Okay, okay,” Blunt said. “I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“Attaboy,” Earhardt said, slapping Blunt on the back. “I knew you’d eventually see it my way. Let’s get you all dried off and give you a place to sit down and write it all out.”
***
HAWK DRAGGED THE ROWBOAT ashore and secured the rope around a log. However, he had no intention of using the small vessel as a means of escape. If he did, it likely meant he had failed and death would be stalking him in the form of ruthless CIA agents working under Earhardt’s thumb—all along with a complicit President Michaels.
Hawk moved stealthily toward the facility entrance that Young had cleared him to gain knowledge of. Rescuing Blunt would require ample technical skill, according to the Secret Service agent who briefed Hawk. He’d need to hack the security panel to access the entrance without anyone knowing about it, put down about half a dozen guards, and then sneak Blunt out without a gun fight. But Hawk wasn’t planning on taking on this mission by himself.
Alex opened her laptop and directed Hawk toward the hidden entrance.
“It shouldn’t be much farther,” she said. “I’m showing we’re about fifty meters away.”
Hawk slipped through the low-hanging branches until he came to a small berm.
“It’s right there,” Alex said.
Hawk ripped away several vines used to conceal the door. For the next minute, he worked to uncover the door and give Alex easy access to the security panel.
“You’re up,” he said.
Alex pulled out a few cords from her backpack, connecting them between the panel’s electronic interface and her computer. Two minutes later, the door unlocked, sliding open.
“You’re a genius,” Hawk said. “Keep me posted using the feed from the security cameras.”
Alex winked at him. “It’s already on my screen.”
“You won’t need to save me this time,” he said.
“I hope not. One of these days I’m going to miss.”
“Funny,” Hawk quipped before ducking inside.
He wound his way through a series of tunnels until he came to a long hallway. At the far end was a door guarded by a pair of armed men.
Hawk inserted a pair of tranq darts into his gun and shot both men from the shadows. They crumpled to the floor. Hustling toward the exit, Hawk proceeded to drag the bodies into a small room off to the side.
“How are we looking?” Hawk asked.
“It looks like Blunt is done,” Alex said through her comlink.
“What do you mean done?”
“He’s sitting down at a desk and is about to write something.”
“I’ll put an end to that,” Hawk said as he opened the door.
Striding through the door, Hawk trained his gun on Earhardt.
“That won’t be necessary,” Hawk shouted.
Earhardt turned in the direction of Hawk. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Here I am, in the flesh,” Hawk said. “Now, untie the senator and let him leave.”
Earhardt laughed. “I hardly think you’re in any position to start making demands.”
Hawk shrugged. “Perhaps, but your men outside aren’t in any position to defend you either. They’re in what I like to call the fetal position, wrapped up all tight. If it’s me you’re after, let Senator Blunt go, and let’s handle this between the two of us.”
Earhardt pulled his gun out and held it at Blunt’s head. “It’s a little too late for you to be giving the orders. You had your chance. So, here’s how this is going to go. My good friend Cory over here is going to frisk you. If you’re
