“Roger that,” Hawk said before he hung up.
He tossed the phone back to Alex before standing and striding toward the cockpit. He knocked on the door and handed the coordinates to the co-pilot.
“Change of plans, men,” Hawk said. “We need you guys to put this bird down in Marrakesh. You have the numbers in case you need them.”
The two men nodded and looked at Hawk.
“We’ll be there in less than ten minutes,” the co-pilot said.
Hawk returned to his seat and reported the status back to the rest of the passengers.
“You ready for this?” Alex asked.
“We’re about to find out, aren’t we?”
Once the plane touched down, the pilots maneuvered the jet to the assigned hangar and waited. As promised, a tanker rushed up next to the plane and started the refueling process.
“Think this is going to be some kind of game where Fazil sends us all over the world?” Alex asked.
“It already is.”
Gayle was wide awake at this point and on edge. She dipped into her purse and pulled out a flask, throwing back a few shots before slipping it back inside. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and leaned forward in her seat, straining to see out the window.
“What’s going to happen next?” she asked.
“They’ll let us know what to do,” Hawk said. “Just try to relax.”
“I just want Tommy home,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “I want this whole thing to be over with.”
“You’re in good hands, Mrs. Colton,” Alex said. “Don’t worry.”
Gayle’s phone rang, and she answered it immediately.
“Hello,” she said.
“Give the phone to Brady Hawk,” a man on the end said loud enough that they could all hear it.
She complied.
“What’s next?” Hawk asked.
“Take the money, and place it on the cart being delivered in front of the door of your plane,” the man said. “Then drive the cart east along the edge of the tarmac until you reach a giant white x. Once you reach there, open the suitcases to show us the money. Once we see the money, we’ll signal for you to step away from the cart and come toward our plane. At that time, we’ll release Mr. Colton.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“One more thing, Mr. Hawk.”
“What’s that?”
“No weapons. We’re watching you, and if we see you so much as pretend like you’re going to draw your gun, you’ll have a bullet in your head and be dead before you hit the ground. Understand?”
“I understand,” Hawk said, “but also understand this: Gayle Colton is coming with me. She’s not going to wait to see her husband.”
There was a brief pause and some murmuring.
“We will allow it,” the man said before he hung up.
Hawk handed the phone back to Gayle and explained the protocol as he understood it. Once the stairs were lowered, Hawk helped Gayle down them. He began loading the suitcases of cash onto the baggage cart Al Hasib dropped off nearby, while Blunt and Alex remained in the back of the plane and out of sight. If Al Hasib happened to notice the other Firestorm team members, Hawk warned that it could set off a gunfight.
After he finished loading the vehicle, Hawk flashed a quick salute to the pilots and wheeled the cart in the direction given to him by the Al Hasib agent. With each hangar situated about 300 meters apart, Hawk had some time for a few last-minute words with Gayle.
“It’s going to be over in just a few minutes,” Hawk said, placing his hand on top of Gayle’s.
She looked at him and forced a smile.
“You know, I always resented you and what you stood for, Brady. You were the constant reminder of Tommy’s indiscretions, his moral failings. Every time I saw you, I wanted to punch you and then punch Tommy. And even after I found out that you weren’t the result of one of his affairs, I couldn’t see you as anything else. But I don’t feel that way any more.”
Hawk smiled and squeezed her hands.
“You’re a good woman, Gayle, especially for sticking with Thomas. I can’t imagine he’d be an easy man to be married to.”
“No, he’s not. But he’s mine, and I still love him, despite all his faults.”
“Nobody’s perfect, but I hope he’s become more tame in his old age.”
She nodded. “He has. We dealt with the past and moved on. It wasn’t easy, but it’s helped me realize how much I appreciate him.”
“For what it’s worth, he always treated me well when I was younger. And as much as he’s done some irksome things lately, I would certainly never let him twist in the wind, especially at the hands of Al Hasib.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I know I’ve been hysterical, but I’m glad this is almost over.”
Hawk decided to let Gayle live in her dream world. He suspected they were only getting started.
“Looks like we’ve almost arrived at our destination,” she said, pointing to the freshly painted white x on the tarmac.
Hawk slowed the cart to a halt and then climbed out. He glanced around and noticed Colton’s plane lurking in the shadows of the next hangar.
“Do you see your husband’s plane in the hangar over there?” Hawk asked.
She craned her neck to see into the unlit building. “Are you sure? It’s so dark.”
“I’m sure. I’m going to hold the money up in that direction.”
Hawk proceeded to open the cases and turn toward the hangar. He hoisted stacks of cash and pointed inside. One by one, he went through the four suitcases in the same manner until he saw some men emerge from around the corner of the hangar. They motioned for Hawk and Gayle to walk toward them, just as had been explained on the earlier call.
Hawk and Gayle walked about a hundred meters, Gayle
