“Yes, but—”
“But that was his choice. Everyone covering this administration knows what Michaels is capable of. His death was for a noble cause.”
“And now I’m afraid it will be for nothing.”
“Alex, that’s not like you to give up so easily,” Blunt said. “The Alex I know is tenacious and determined. You wouldn’t take something like this sitting down.”
“It’s just too many people are dying because of decisions I’ve made—people who I consider my friends.”
“This should make you more focused on figuring out a way to take Michaels down. None of us are going to get our lives back until that bastard is out of office—and preferably dead.”
“I just don’t know if I can go on like this,” she said. “So much senseless loss.”
“There’s gonna be a helluva lot more of it if we don’t do something. Today you cry for your friend; tomorrow you might weep for thousands who die senselessly at the hands of some terrorists armed and emboldened by Michaels. We can’t let our individual pain stop us from seeing this same kind of pain spread exponentially across this country. If we don’t do something, who will?”
Alex sniffled and dried the outer corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“You’re right,” she said. “I can grieve later.”
“And you will, but right now we need another plan of attack to get Michaels on his heels.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Given how Michaels has crushed stories by murdering journalists in the past, I only see one real option—Wikileaks.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Alex said. “That’s only going to be more difficult in convincing the American people that what the audio captured Michaels doing really happened.”
“Don’t underestimate the American people. They can be a fiercely loyal group, but when they feel betrayed, watch out. Hopefully, Michaels will bear the brunt of their wrath.”
“We can only hope,” Alex said. “I’ll contact Wikileaks as soon as I get off work.”
CHAPTER 12
Muscat, Oman
HAWK REMAINED FROZEN, unsure if the blade that had already pierced his shirt would continue to slide into his back. He considered turning around quickly to incite a fight, but he knew what he was up against. With just one wrong move, Hawk understood the consequences would be severe if not fatal.
Hawk stumbled forward as the man gave him a firm push in his back.
“You weren’t scared I was gonna kill you?” the man said.
Hawk turned around to look Ray Green in the eyes. With the knife at his side, Ray flashed a wide grin.
“Well, I wasn’t sure of anything based on the treatment your boss gave me a couple of days ago,” Hawk said, glancing at the blade in Ray’s hand.
Ray closed the knife and slid it into his pocket.
“That’s Ackerman’s way of telling you that he likes you,” Ray said with a wink. “Seriously, he was just wanting to test you and see your range of skills.”
“There are other ways of doing that besides sending an assassin after a prospective employee.”
Ray shrugged. “It’s a proven method for Ackerman. He’s lost some good men using that tactic—but if he does, he always gains a better one.”
Hawk shook his head. “That’s a twisted way of looking at it.”
“Perhaps, but you can’t argue with the results.”
Hawk walked to the edge of the railing surrounding the balcony and looked down at the street below.
“How did you find me, Ray?”
“It’s Muscat, Hawk. And you’re an expat. It’s difficult for people like us to hide in a city like this. On top of that, I’m very well connected. And anyone that doesn’t look like they belong here becomes the talk of the neighborhood. You’d have to damn near be a ghost to disappear in this city.”
“Look, I owe you an apology,” Hawk said.
“About the money?” Ray asked.
Hawk nodded.
Ray waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, man. I understand why you’d be wary of coming by. And I knew you needed it. No harm, no foul.”
“I was afraid I was in danger—and I didn’t know where your loyalties rested. At one time, we weren’t exactly the best of friends.”
“Water under the bridge as far as I’m concerned.”
Hawk paced around, glancing between the cityscape and Ray.
“So, why are you really here?”
“Ackerman wants to offer you a job.”
“Seriously? After all that I did to his men?”
“Well, you didn’t kill any of them, which will endear you to most of the guys. That much I know for a fact. Honestly, Ackerman was impressed that you could’ve killed them if you wanted to—but you chose not to. You had the power and exercised it judiciously. And that’s exactly the kind of man he wants for an upcoming operation we have.”
“What kind of operation?”
“I can’t tell you that just yet. Ackerman is the one who decides what and when to release information about upcoming missions. All I can really tell you is that the money is very good.”
“I’d need a dollar figure on that amount,” Hawk said. “We might have differing opinions on what constitutes good money.”
“It’s enough to get you out of this dump.”
Hawk chuckled. “If you think this is a dump, you should’ve seen where I lived when I was working as a tour guide in Al Hajar. This place is a virtual palace in comparison.”
“If it’s specifics you want, I’ll give them to you—a two-day mission, fifty thousand a day.”
“A hundred G’s? This must be some kind of assignment.”
Ray shrugged. “I’m sure Ackerman will be happy to give you all the details if you’re still interested and want to come down to the office and tell him personally that you’re going to accept.”
“You can let him know that I’ll plan on making my way down there tomorrow around noon.”
“I know he’ll be very pleased,” Ray said. “Now, you might want to shore up your defenses around this place. If I can get through here so easily, I’m sure there will be others to follow.”
“Some of Ackerman’s men?”
“No,” Ray said. “I’m talking about street rats—you know, those kids
