If they ever do find that, it’ll be too late.
Michaels dusted his hands off and identified the path he’d chosen earlier. Pausing only to look behind him and noticing no one was searching for him yet, he blasted into the woods.
* * *
HAWK WATCHED AS MICHAELS tore through the forest, his head down and feet sure. Michaels leapt over a fallen pine and pumped his arms as he moved. For a moment, Hawk was mesmerized that Michaels hadn’t lost more than a step from his acclaimed career as a track star in college. Michaels pumped his arms and breathed heavily.
But with his head down, Michaels never saw Hawk—or his locked arm. Catching Michaels right in the throat, Hawk smiled wryly as the president went airborne and landed on his back.
Michaels hit the ground with a thud, followed almost immediately by a moan.
“Nice of you to stop by, Conrad. Seems like we always seem to meet when you’re in desperate need of some help.”
Michaels groaned before letting out a string of expletives directed at Hawk.
“I’m not sure denigrating me is the best approach when I’m the only person who can give you a hand.”
Wide-eyed, Michaels looked up at Hawk.
“You’ll help me?”
Hawk shook his head. “Not a chance. Today is when it all ends. You, me, the American people—we all need to come to a better understanding about who you really are and what you’re really doing during your presidency.”
“What are you gonna do to stop me?” Michaels jeered.
Hawk reached for his gun tucked in the back of his belt.
“Settle down,” a man said a few meters downhill from Hawk and Michaels’ position.
“Big Earv,” Hawk said. “About time you arrived.”
“Put the gun down, Hawk,” Big Earv said. “You don’t wanna do this. This isn’t you.”
Hawk cocked his head and frowned. “Isn’t me? What are you talking about? This is all I do. I take out the trash. And this sack here has a stench that’s overwhelming.”
“There are better ways to handle this.”
“Name one.”
Michaels sat up. “You let me go and I’ll appoint you to some position in the Pentagon.”
“Shut up,” Hawk said. “You couldn’t pay me all the money in the world to sit behind a desk and kiss bureaucratic ass all day long. Besides, my character isn’t up for sale.”
“There are legal channels to take him down,” Big Earv said, glancing at Michaels.
“So my own Secret Service agents aren’t even on my side?” Michaels said. “Unbelievable.”
“Is that really so hard to believe?” Hawk asked. “You’ve treated people as if they were your slaves doing your bidding for a long time. It’s how you got to the top, but it’s going to cost you everything now.”
“The attorney general has a plan,” Big Earv said. “He briefed us before sending us out to look for Michaels—and he said the most important thing is to bring him back alive.”
“That’s a change,” Michaels grumbled. “He was trying to get me to kill myself not even an hour ago.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t have pinned his hand to a desk with a knife,” Hawk said.
“How’d you see that?” Michaels asked.
Big Earv sighed. “Look, I’d love to discuss all the details leading up to this moment with both of you—and I’m sure we will at some point—but I need to get the president back to the cottage.”
“You really think that’s the best idea?” Hawk asked. “I think there’s another way we can handle all this.”
Michaels immediately began to hyperventilate.
“Would you simmer down?” Hawk said. “Your opinion doesn’t really matter at this point.”
“My chest,” Michaels said. “Look on my chest. There’s a red dot on it.”
Hawk and Big Earv both inspected the red point that danced around the center of Michaels’ chest.
“It’s over, Conrad,” Ackerman said as he lumbered toward them, his gun still trained on Michaels. “Let’s finish this now.”
Big Earv pulled his gun out and aimed it at Ackerman.
“Drop the weapon,” Big Earv said. “Whatever beef you have with Michaels, get in line. And just know that it isn’t worth it.”
Ackerman laughed. “You want me to have mercy on this lowlife con artist? I’m doing the American people a favor by taking him off the ticket next month.”
Michael glared at Ackerman. “Just do it already, but don’t try to take some sanctimonious position based on what you do. You’re lower than low.”
“You do nothing but use and abuse everyone around you,” Ackerman said. “You deal in the currency of terror while proclaiming to be the one who will protect us all against the threats of our enemies, enemies you helped create.”
“And you’re the one who carries out those orders,” Michaels said. “Are you seeing the disconnect here, Ollie?”
“The honesty from both of you is refreshing,” Hawk said. “And while I’d prefer to see both of you die right here and now, Big Earv has spoken. Now put your gun down, Ackerman.”
“Well, if Chuck Pearl tells me to do something, then I better do it. Ain’t that right, Brady Hawk?” Ackerman said with a sneer.
“I heard you were amused at making me stick with my legend,” Hawk said, “but I doubt you were amused at the mess I made of your scheduled delivery to Al Hasib. That’s probably what drove you here, isn’t it? You’re seeking sanctuary after the botched deal and Al Hasib made you public enemy number one. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Shut up,” Ackerman said. “I have half a mind to put a bullet in you first.”
“How about you and I both save all the bullets in our guns,” Big Earv said. “Now, drop your weapon before I handle your defiance in a way that I’m sure you won’t enjoy.”
“Why? So you can put me behind bars next to this piece of shit?” Ackerman said, gesturing toward Michaels.
“You and I both know I’m not going to prison,” Michaels said as a mocking grin spread
