“How many have you gone through?” Hawk asked.
“Thoroughly, we’ve checked about fifty so far,” she said. “We’re marking each one that we’ve already seen to avoid turning this project into a wasted exercise.”
“It’s hardly something I would consider a project.”
“Until Fazil actually does something on American soil, I consider him little more than a pest.”
“Don’t underestimate him,” Hawk said. “He’s sly.”
“And you’re the great Brady Hawk who’s supposedly interacted personally with him on his turf?” she said in a mocking manner. “Obviously, you’re still alive, so he can’t be that elusive.”
“I’m very fortunate to be standing here,” Hawk said.
“Right now, all you’re doing is standing here depleting my oxygen while you yammer on about past exploits.”
Hawk eyed her closely. “Have you had any coffee yet this morning? Perhaps I could get you a cup.”
“Just find the damn terrorist so Paxton will stop crawling all over us, okay?”
Hawk nodded and stepped back from the bank of screens, scanning them as cameras zoomed in on men wearing the same suit and carrying the same briefcase by all the Fazil clones. He noticed a dark flash of something across one of the images as the camera swept across the street.
Hawk rushed up to the screen and pointed at it. “This one right here,” he said. “Can someone zoom out with this camera and tell me where this is?”
“It’s the corner of 28 th and Broadway,” one of the agents said.
Hawk waited for the camera to pull back and show a broader view of the surrounding area. Once he could see the whole street, he looked in the upper part of the picture and waited.
“What exactly are you looking for?” the woman asked.
Hawk waved her off.
“Maybe I can help,” she persisted.
“I think I know,” Alex said as she stepped next to Hawk. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Hawk nodded. “Fazil brought his damn bird with him. He won’t go anywhere without it.”
After a few seconds, Hawk watched Jafar soar above the street. Hawk pointed to the picture.
“Find the man on that street,” he said. “That’s where Fazil is.”
“There’s nobody that matches his suit anywhere on either sidewalk,” one of the agents said.
“Alex, keep an eye out on that street for me,” Hawk said as he walked hurriedly toward the door before stopping and tossing an earpiece at her.
“What are you doing?” Alex asked, glancing down at the device she’d caught.
“I’m going to go down there and find him myself,” he said. “Get in my ear, and keep me informed about what’s going on.”
CHAPTER 32
HAWK RACED OUT OF THE DOORS of the FBI offices and headed toward 28 th Street. As he ran, he went through a number of scenarios in his mind about what Fazil’s next move might be. Ruling out a suicide bomb, Hawk knew Fazil was intent on making a splash but—in his arrogance—wanted to receive full credit for Al Hasib. Hawk was determined to prevent any such twisted glory for Fazil.
Hawk touched his finger to his ear, re-securing the device.
“Alex, can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear,” she said. “I’m following you on our cameras here. You’re about a block away.”
“Have you been able to find Fazil yet?”
“Not yet. I’m starting to think he’s fooled us all.”
“Well, if that bird is there, he is too. But perhaps he’s not dressed like everyone else.”
“I’ll bet he’s wearing a different mask, too.”
“Bastard,” Hawk said. “Don’t worry. I’ll be able to spot him once I get there.”
“I just hope it’s not too late,” Alex said, her voice starting to tremble. “You better come back, Hawk.”
“You’re scared aren’t you?”
“And you’re not?”
“I’m always a little frightened when I’m running into something like this,” Hawk said. “But I can’t dwell on it. I’ve got a job to do—and I damn well better succeed. I don’t have time to think about the consequences, and you shouldn’t either. Let’s stay focused. We’ll get through this. This isn’t any different than every other mission we’ve gone on.”
She exhaled slowly. “Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Just something about this seems bigger.”
“It’s New York,” he said. “Everything here seems more dramatic.”
She laughed softly. “How can you be so calm?”
“This is what I do, Alex. And I’m going to come back. I promise.”
Hawk rounded the corner and looked up. After scanning the skyline, he spotted the bird circling overhead. Hawk looked directly beneath the bird and searched for Fazil.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Hawk said.
He spotted a man leaning up against the wall of a building adjacent to a razed lot. A few feet away from him were the steps leading down into the 28 th Street subway station.
That’s gotta be Fazil.
Approaching the man cautiously, Hawk froze when the man looked up. He stared right at Hawk.
“Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Hawk,” the man said.
Hawk reached for his gun and trained it on Karif Fazil.
“I bet you didn’t think we’d meet like this again, did you?”
“Your eye has healed quite nicely,” Fazil said as Jafar landed on his shoulder. “Too bad you’re going to die today.”
Hawk shook his head. “I think you’ve got it all wrong, that is unless you’re prepared to die right now, too.”
“Oh, I am,” Fazil said, nodding. “I’m ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, if necessary. I’m just wondering if you’re prepared to sacrifice all these innocent people here as well.”
“You actually found the courage to blow yourself up for your cause instead of sending your men to do the dirty work for you?” Hawk said. “That’s some bold leadership.”
Fazil bit his lip and swung his briefcase in front of him, clutching it with both hands.
“Do you know what’s inside here, Mr. Hawk?”
“I’ve heard you stole a suitcase nuke from Colton Industries, so I’m going to assume that’s what you’re carrying.”
Fazil held up his briefcase and studied it for a moment. “I think this is more
