Hawk smiled. “Turn it up.”
Alex adjusted the volume and the Firestorm team listened in, getting a rare live account of the inner workings of the president’s office. Hawk appreciated the voyeuristic nature of taping Michaels. All they needed was one mistake out of the president and they would be able to safely return to the U.S.—if they survived their impending clash with Petrov.
Michaels’ voice was silent for a few moments before it came back on and he started talking. Based on the nature of the call, Hawk could tell it was a phone call. Then Michaels said he was going to place her on speaker phone. When the other voice became audible, the entire team gasped.
“Petrov,” Alex said.
They listened for another minute before the pair created a new plot.
“Can you believe that?” Alex asked, her mouth agape. “The public is going to go berserk if they hear this.”
“Just what I’m counting on,” Hawk said.
CHAPTER 24
Istanbul, Turkey
TWELVE HOURS BEFORE PETROV’S imposed deadline, Hawk and Samuels entered The Chamber’s headquarters, posing as computer repairmen and donning their masks. They stopped at the front desk and spoke with a receptionist, who wasn’t eager to let them enter.
“Who are you here to see again?” she asked.
“You’re there to see Ms. Ibrahamovic in accounting,” Alex said over the coms.
“A Ms. Ibrahamovic in accounting,” Hawk said, parroting back the instructions.
“Ah, just one moment,” the receptionist said. “Let me try her office.”
She dialed the number and Alex intercepted the call, posing as the accountant on the other end.
“Are you expecting some computer repairmen?” the receptionist asked.
“But of course,” Alex said. “Send them on through.”
The receptionist looked up at the men and unenthusiastically waved them inside.
“Follow those signs to the elevator. She’s on the second floor.”
“Thank you so much,” Hawk said.
Hawk and Samuels followed suit, confidently striding down the hallway toward the elevators. Less than a minute later, they were both standing on the second floor and ready to get to work.
Samuels served as the lookout on the floor, while Alex was watching through The Chamber’s security feeds.
“Make it quick, Hawk,” she said. “Two employees about ten seconds from coming around the corner.”
Hawk nodded slightly to acknowledge her comment and continued working on the lock. After a few tense seconds, he managed to gain access. He and Samuels eased inside and proceeded to the next part of their plan.
Hawk and Samuels worked quickly to open an access panel to the ventilation shaft. Once they unscrewed the door, they climbed inside.
As planned, Hawk went first and was to drop down and rescue Blunt. Samuels was to stay put and hoist them back up. Only in the event of an emergency was he to leave his post.
Hawk crawled slowly through the shaft until he reached the one that dropped down into the hidden basement. Easing his way down, Hawk applied pressure against both sides of the aluminum structure to slow his fall. Samuels stayed at the top and secured a cord with a winch. Once Hawk reached the floor, he listened for a moment in an attempt to determine if anyone else was in the room. The only sounds Hawk heard were Blunt’s moans.
Hawk kicked the vent door open and dropped to the floor. A rope followed quickly behind him. Looking up the shaft, he flashed the thumbs up sign to Samuels.
Hawk ripped off his mask. He rushed over to Blunt and started to untie him.
“You made it,” Blunt said followed by a groan as Hawk worked feverishly to release his boss.
“You didn’t think I was going to leave you here, did you?” Hawk asked.
“No, but I was afraid you might try to trade yourself for me.”
Hawk chuckled. “I wasn’t born that long ago, but it wasn’t yesterday. Petrov would never let you live if I did that.”
“Good boy,” Blunt said as his hands finally came free and he dropped to the floor. He hit the ground hard and moaned as he tried to clamber to his knees.
“Are you okay?” Hawk asked while rushing over to attend to the elderly man.
“You’ll have to be more specific,” Blunt said. “I’ve got some broken ribs from a previous incident, while my arms feel like they’ve been yanked out of their sockets. I’m dehydrated and I’m not entirely sure I can run. Other than that, I’m feeling just dandy.”
“Well, let’s get you out of here,” Hawk said, helping Blunt to his feet.
“I hope you have a good plan for escaping this fortress.”
Hawk nodded and looked upward.
Blunt waved dismissively at the rope hanging from the ceiling.
“If you think I’m climbing up that thing, you’re crazy,” he said.
“Samuels has a winch,” Hawk said. “He’ll pull you up.”
“A guard will be back in ten minutes to check on me,” Blunt said. “No way we’ve got enough time to get out that way.”
“Got any better ideas?” Hawk asked.
“There’s a door in that corner over there that might be easier for us to get out of and onto the street.”
“And what about Samuels?”
“Tell him to get his ass down here and join us. It’ll give us the best chance,” Blunt said.
“Did you hear that, Samuels?” Hawk shouted up toward the shaft.
“Roger that,” Samuels said over the com.
Blunt followed Hawk over toward the door and reached to open it. But the door crashed open and a dozen armed guards rushed inside. Hawk turned toward the back door and took a few steps before it flung wide and another dozen guards flooded the room.
In a matter of seconds, the guards formed a circle around Hawk and Blunt.
“I’d advise you to stay put,” one of the guards said.
“Great advice, too,” said Petrov, who strode through the front door clapping slowly.
Hawk cast a quick glace toward Blunt before turning an icy stare toward Petrov.
“Two for the price of one,” she said. “Mr. Hawk, I can’t thank you enough for making this far easier for me than it was going to be. I have to admit that you do know how to make an entrance.”
Hawk stopped
