“I am,” Michaels said. “It was a poorly conceived plan; that much I’ll admit. But there wasn’t anything illegal about what we did. That operative survived as did the rest of his team. Besides, if the committee wants to make an issue out of that, I’ll grill them for starting such a clandestine operation under my nose without my knowledge.”
“But you knew—”
Michaels clucked his tongue and wagged his finger at Fullbright. “I knew nothing, remember?” Michaels smiled and stood. “I need to make some calls, but we’ll continue this conversation tomorrow.”
* * *
KATARINA PETROV’S EYES WIDENED as she glanced at the screen on her phone. She hadn’t expected to hear from Conrad Michaels so soon.
“What a pleasant surprise,” she said as she answered. “How are things coming along?”
“Better than expected.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I appreciate your help in making those documents go away.”
Petrov laughed softly. “Well, I’m afraid you’re thanking the wrong person. I’ve barely had time to formulate my next move, let alone get one of my people to do your dirty work for you.”
Michaels was silent for a moment.
“Conrad, are you still there?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m here. Just wondering who might have done that and why.”
“I’m sure you have plenty of friends in high places by this point in your career, do you not? It was likely someone there. But you can thank them for me, I suppose.”
“Just another person to owe a favor to.”
She smiled. “Just remember we’re on the same side. You’ll get what is owed to you in the end for your loyalty to The Chamber. Just be strong and weather the storm. If they don’t have the tapes, they don’t have anything.”
“But what if we missed something?”
“You’ll always miss something. Just don’t let it be the main thing. As long as it isn’t, you should be just fine.”
“I’m counting on you to be true to your word.”
“As am I,” she said. “I’ll be watching.”
She hung up and snapped her fingers, arresting Anatoly’s attention.
“Anatoly, I need your help.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember that document forger we worked with in the past?”
He nodded. “He wasn’t the easiest person to work with.”
“But his results were stellar, were they not?”
Anatoly shrugged. “No one ever figured out they were fake.”
“He could be as obnoxious as a Hollywood starlet, as long as he produces a perfect document.”
“I’m sure he can fulfill whatever request you have.”
She held out her hand, waiting for Anatoly to offer her a cigarette. He obliged. Resting the butt gently on her lips, she eyed him closely and waited for him to offer her a light. She watched him fumble around in his pockets for one.
“Get him on the phone with me,” she said. “I have a very important assignment for him.”
CHAPTER 12
Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
J.D. BLUNT WASTED little time in getting out to the cabin. He’d heard enough to make him nervous, even initially a little bit concerned. But when Alex explained Hawk had used Blunt’s motorcycle to pursue the assassin, Blunt initially dropped his phone as he hobbled toward his car. He stooped down to pick the phone up and kept moving. Hawk wasn’t being reckless, since Blunt’s bike was the only vehicle available to maintain pursuit of the mystery man. However, it was still Blunt’s bike, Blunt’s baby.
He exited his car and hustled up the steps, tapping on the front door with his cane.
When the door swung open, Hawk, with a furrowed brow, was standing in the doorway.
“Back to using the cane again, I see,” Hawk said.
Blunt grunted and pushed his way past. “Take me to her?”
“Alex?” Hawk asked.
“I want to see Matilda.”
Hawk seemed confused. “I’m afraid there’s no one on the Firestorm team by that name. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Matilda is the name of my bike. Take me to her,” Blunt said flatly.
“This way,” Hawk said, meandering through the house until they reached the back door. Walking down the steps and into the back yard, Blunt spied the storage shed, which was located about forty meters away from the house and held a wide variety of tools and supplies. Blunt’s sole focus was to inspect his bike. He wasn’t sure if he was going to beat Hawk with a cane or not, which happened to be the real reason Blunt had brought it along.
“Not a scratch on her,” Hawk said as they arrived in the storage shed. “Just like the day you bought her.”
Blunt stooped over and inspected Matilda more closely, running his fingers across the front chrome bumper. He climbed aboard and tested the seat.
“Apparently, it was much ado about nothing,” Blunt finally said when he spoke.
“Your opinion or what other people suggested?” Hawk asked.
“Both.”
“At least you’re honest,” Hawk said.
“Let’s get back inside,” Blunt said as he climbed off the bike. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Inside the cabin, Blunt took a seat at the head of the table and waited for Hawk, Alex, and Samuels to join. To get situated, Blunt pulled out a cigar and started to chew on it.
“We’re going to get you three out of here as soon as this conversation is done,” Blunt announced. “I don’t expect your little friend is coming back any time soon, but it won’t matter because there’s some pressing business that needs to be handled in the Middle East, namely Kuwait.”
“We’ve been talking about that, Senator,” Hawk said.
Blunt leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “And what can you tell me?”
“If Al Hasib strikes Verge, it’s going to be a mess in the desert,” Samuels said.
“Oil prices are going to spike, and every member of OPEC is going to be up in arms and wanting to join us in the mission to hunt down Al Hasib,” Alex added.
“So, good news, bad news?” Blunt asked.
“I think the fact that Karif Fazil is still alive can only be bad news,” Hawk said. “We thought he was gone, but
