Blunt laughed nervously. “I wasn’t the one flaunting my power in the face of the Constitution just to increase my popularity in the polls.”
“And neither was I. That was about keeping America safe, nothing more.”
“Just keep telling yourself that. I used to have respect for you, but now all I see is a pathetic liar who escaped the consequences of his ill-conceived actions. People died because of what you did. Their blood is on your hands.”
“And you’re one to talk,” Michaels snapped. “I don’t know where you’re hiding out right now, but eventually I’m going to find you. And you’re going to wish you’d never dared to challenge my authority.”
“This isn’t over, but I can promise you that it won’t end well for you,” Blunt said sneeringly. “Besides, you have far more to lose than I do.”
Blunt ended the call and removed the battery from the phone.
I’ll see Michaels go down if it’s the last thing I do.
CHAPTER 40
Washington, D.C.
HAWK WAS LESS THAN A BLOCK from their new safe house when he spotted two SWAT team members closing in on Alex and Samuels’s location. Hawk pulled off to the side and dialed Alex’s number.
“Why aren’t you using the coms?” she asked. “I’m in the middle of something here.”
“Listen, you two are in danger,” Hawk said. “There’s a SWAT team getting into position around you.”
“That’s the last thing I need right now.”
“It’s the last thing any of us need right now,” Hawk said. “Michaels is on a rampage and sees us as the enemy, even though our names have been cleared. Since we haven’t been technically released yet, if we’re caught and dealt with, who’s going to know?”
“Save your philosophical diatribes for another time,” she said. “Right now, we need a way out of here.”
“They’re not inside yet, so do the only thing you can do at this point, pull the—”
Before Hawk could finish his statement, he heard the fire alarm going off, followed by Samuels’s voice.
“Pull the fire alarm,” Samuels said. “That’s protocol for escaping a situation like this.”
“Now, grab your stuff and get outta there,” Hawk said. “I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. I would stick around and sneak you out of here, but I can’t risk being seen right now.”
“Roger that,” she said.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Hawk pulled up to the park where he’d pre-arranged to meet Alex and Samuels in the event of a separation. Hawk glanced at his watch.
Five minutes early.
But there was no sign of them anywhere. Hawk noticed a police officer scanning the area. He kept returning his gaze to Hawk’s car.
Come on, come on. Where are you guys?
He wanted to call them but knew it was unwise. If there was one tenet Hawk felt was necessary to uphold in these types of situations, it was that of avoiding communication of any kind. Opening a channel to speak with Alex—whether over coms or by cell phone or text or email—could give those in pursuit the upper hand. Hawk wasn’t about to risk capture because he’d arrived early and was suspicious of a cop.
The sound of a cell phone buzzing jolted Hawk.
Alex, what are you—?
He looked at his phone and saw a number appear on his screen, one that didn’t belong to Alex or Samuels.
“Hello?” Hawk answered.
“Hawk, this Big Earv.”
Hawk hadn’t heard from Malik Earvin since Navy Seal training. Through the grapevine, Hawk had heard that Earvin left after a couple tours to join the Secret Service.
“How did you get my number?” Hawk asked, bewildered.
“I work for the president,” Big Earv said with a laugh. “You don’t think I can’t get your number? I even know that you drank a craft beer last night. IPA, right?”
“Big Earv, I drink one of those almost every night.”
Big Earv laughed. “Look, enough of the fun and games. I didn’t call to catch up. I called because I need your help. We need your help. Your country needs your help.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s the president. He’s been abducted.”
“And there isn’t anyone else better equipped to handle that than me?”
“I’m sure there is, but you know his abductor better than anyone. We could really use your help with this one.”
“Who took him?”
“Katarina Petrov.”
“How’s that—?”
“She broke out of a secure facility last night,” Big Earv said. “Apparently, she had some inside help.”
“And you think I can find her?”
“Commander Stone over at the Pentagon thinks so.”
Hawk glanced at his watch. It was now three minutes past ten and still no sign of Alex or Samuels.
“Okay, fine. I’ll help. But I need your help too. I’m supposed to pick up a couple of team members at this park I’m at. They had to run, thanks to the FBI milling around. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it all right now, but Alex Duncan and Shane Samuels are who you need to pick up. I don’t know why they’re running late, but they’re going to be looking for me. I’ll text you the address and Alex’s number. Maybe you can return the favor by keeping them safe and their whereabouts from the FBI until I get back. Sound like a deal?”
“Sending you the number of our lead agent working the case,” Big Earv said. “And I’ll grab your friends for you. And, Hawk?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful. I hear this woman is a loose cannon.”
“More than you know.”
Hawk peeled out of the parking lot and called the number of the Secret Service agent coordinating the recovery operation.
“Brady Hawk, boy am I glad you agreed to help us on this case,” the agent said. “The last known address for them was—”
“I know where she took him,” Hawk said.
“How could you? Big Earv just told you about this.”
Hawk chuckled. “Yeah, but I know all about Petrov and how she operates, including her safe houses in the Washington area.”
“She has multiple safe houses?”
“Yeah, but there’s only one
