Court chuckled and shook his head. “I doubt it. Now leave—now.”
Blunt retraced his steps, exiting the office area in a huff. He stopped and looked behind him, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
CHAPTER 10
HAWK SAT BEHIND KRASNOFF, who was in the passenger’s seat next to Alex. Warning the Russian that there was a gun pointed at him, Hawk scanned the park where the assassin was supposed to appear. Ten minutes elapsed since the man was scheduled to meet Krasnoff but had yet to show up.
“Where is he?” Hawk growled.
“I don’t know,” Krasnoff said. “You can’t hold me accountable if he doesn’t make the meeting.”
“Don’t start making excuses,” Alex said. “We’ll do whatever necessary to catch this alleged assassin.”
“Alleged?” Krasnoff said incredulously. “He is an assassin. I’m telling you the truth.”
“Maybe you are or maybe you’re trying to wriggle your way out of this situation,” Hawk said. “Either way, someone will be held accountable for the death of Thaxton Thurman. If our mystery assassin doesn’t show up and follow protocol, then I’m going to blame you.”
“I swear to you, I’m telling the truth.”
“Are you a religious man, Krasnoff?” Hawk asked.
“Not really.”
“Well, you better get religious fast—and start praying. Your chance to save yourself with this bit of information is slipping away.”
“I swear on my mother’s—” Krasnoff said before stopping suddenly.
After a brief pause, Alex prodded him. “Your mother’s what?”
“That’s him,” Krasnoff said. “He’s got the newspaper folded just like he’s supposed to and the hat. It’s him.”
Alex jammed a needle into his neck when he wasn’t looking. Seconds later, the Russian collapsed against the window. She yanked him back toward her side of the car, letting him slump over so he wouldn’t be easily visible to anyone passing by.
She got out of her car and casually walked down the sidewalk. Meanwhile, Hawk hustled out of the vehicle and slipped into the park. He found a tree to shield himself from the oblivious public milling around and steadied his arms against the trunk. He took aim at the assassin’s neck and squeezed the trigger. A few seconds later, he crumpled over. Hawk then hustled back to his car parked behind Alex’s and awaited the next piece of the plan to fall into place.
Hawk watched as Alex rushed up to the man and started yelling frantically for help. Acting immediately, Hawk zipped around Alex’s car and drove up near the curb directly in front of the bench where Alex was now kneeling next to the assassin.
“Is anyone here a doctor?” Alex pleaded. “This man needs medical attention.”
Just before Hawk could arrive, another man rushed up to them.
“I’m a doctor,” he said. “I can help. What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Alex said, tucking the tranquilizing dart into her pocket. “I just found him here like this.”
“Let me see what I can do,” he said as he checked for a pulse.
Hawk took a deep breath and pondered for a moment the best way to get rid of the mysterious doctor impeding on their plans. Satisfied that there was a way to navigate this situation, Hawk raced up to the scene.
“Is everything all right?” Hawk asked as he leaned over the assassin and doctor.
“It’s fine,” the doctor said. “I’m a neurosurgeon at University Hospital.”
“Well, I’m an ER doc at Providence right down the street, and I’m on my way to work now,” Hawk said. “Why don’t you let me take him in?”
“It’s not a rush,” the doctor said. “He’s got a steady pulse. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“All the more reason to let me handle this,” Hawk said. “I’ll get him taken care of immediately and find out what’s going on.”
“At Providence?” the doctor said with a sneer.
“If you aren’t willing to take him in yourself, then don’t feign some medical superiority over me, okay?”
“Fine,” the doctor said, yielding his ground. “He’s your problem now.”
The doctor exhaled and put his hands on his hips. After watching Hawk work for a few second, the doc shook his head and rolled his eyes before walking away.
By this point, a small crowd had gathered around them, watching what was happening.
“Move it, people,” Hawk said as he scooped up the assassin. He stood and lugged the man toward the waiting car.
A few people clapped as Hawk carried away the guy.
Three minutes later, Hawk was in a nearby parking deck and waiting for Alex to arrive. She skidded to a stop in the spot next to him and then hopped out.
“That went well,” Hawk said.
“What do you want me to do with Krasnoff over here?” she asked.
Hawk held up his index finger, signaling for her to wait. He unbuckled his seatbelt and walked around to the passenger side of Alex’s car. After opening the door, he dragged Krasnoff out and onto the ground, placing him against the wall.
“You’re just going to leave him there?” she asked.
Hawk nodded. “He’ll wake up in a few minutes and be fine.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“He’ll put the pieces together rather quickly. He’s no idiot.”
She shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s just get out of here before someone sees us.”
* * *
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Hawk hauled the assassin out of the car. He was still unconscious from the tranquilizer dart.
“Sorry I can’t be of more help,” Alex said. “Moving large objects isn’t exactly my area of expertise.”
Hawk chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ve got him.”
Hawk dragged the man inside the CIA's underground interrogation facility. The agency owned several throughout the city, but this one was the least used and the farthest from downtown.
After chaining the incapacitated assassin to a table, Hawk retreated to the adjacent room behind a two-way mirror. Alex was sitting at a desk with her computer.
“Got a name for me yet?” he asked.
“He has to wake up first,” Alex said. “I need his eyes to do a full scan for facial recognition.”
A few minutes later, the assassin started to stir. He opened his eyes and studied his surroundings. Attempting to
