“Yes, we do,” piped Hawk.
“I was talking about Black and me. For some reason, we just haven't fought as much as you and I do, Hawk, when we're out in the field.”
“That’s good to hear,” Hawk said with a sarcastic chuckle. “Can you please just save the commentary until after you’re all done with the operation?”
“If I didn’t know any better, Hawk, I’d think you were jealous,” she said.
“Can you blame me?” Hawk said. “You’re dazzling tonight.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Black tapped Alex’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Look over there. Dr. Becker is preparing to speak.”
Becker tapped a microphone and cleared his throat. “May I have your attention, please? I want to thank you all for coming tonight to this benefit. I can't tell you how much it means to me to see so many friends taking time out of your busy schedules to be here to support a cause that I feel is important for the future of our planet.”
He sipped his drink before continuing.
“As you know, I've written several papers on the impact our degenerating environment is having on children, and if we don't take action now, we're going to do irreparable damage to this beautiful world that we live in. And as you all know, this message isn't one widely accepted.”
“Here we go,” Black said under his breath to Alex. “Can I just rush the doc right now and carry him out of here before he continues this fear-mongering speech?”
Alex glared at him. “I warned you about that. Control yourself.”
“It was a joke,” Black said. “I’m not going to jeopardize this mission.”
Becker rambled on for another five minutes before closing with a pitch to donate to the Defenders of the Earth Society or, as he later referenced it, DOE. Alex had researched the non-profit beforehand to see Becker’s level of involvement. He was easily the most prominent board member among a list of names she didn’t recognize. Her attempts to dig up more information on the others resulted in dead ends. It was almost as if they didn’t exist, which was curious for a group that was raising large amounts of cash.
“Okay, maybe I wasn’t joking,” Black said. “This is bordering on the absurd.”
“Be patient,” Alex said. “He’s wrapping this up, and then we’ll talk to him in private.”
“His study is down the corridor directly behind him,” Hawk said over the coms. “From what I can see, there aren’t any guards patrolling that area, so you should be able to get in there without being seen.”
Several guests approached Becker after his presentation, irking Alex that they got to him first. Once he was finally free, Alex looked at Black.
“Now’s our chance,” she said. “Time to go.”
Black wove through the crowd, grabbing a drink off one of the wine trays held by a server as he went. Alex sauntered up to Becker.
“Thank you so much for inviting us,” Alex said. “My husband and I are just delighted to be a part of such a wonderful organization doing so many great things for the world.”
“You’re welcome,” Becker said, pausing as he stared blankly at Alex’s face. “Remind me of your name again. I can’t quite place it at the moment.”
“Angela,” she said. “Angela Muncie. You invited me and my husband, Phillip.”
“Ah, yes,” Becker said. “Please forgive me for not remembering. Events like these have a way of exposing my weak memory skills.”
“All is forgiven. I was interested in making a sizeable donation, but I wanted to speak with you about it—in private.”
“Of course. Just follow me this way to my office. Hopefully, that will give you all the privacy you require.”
Becker led Alex down the corridor and then unlocked his office door. He gestured for her to enter and followed his lead, easing inside.
“So, what concerns do you have or questions can I answer for you?” he asked as he followed her into the room. He closed the door behind him but didn't see Black wedged between the wall and a briefcase near the far corner.
“Before I give you a dime of my money, I was wondering if you could tell me why you were meeting with an international terrorist mastermind,” Alex said as she produced a picture from her clutch.
Becker’s mouth fell agape as he stared at the photo of him in a café with Evana Bahar. He scowled for a moment but remained quiet.
“What’s the matter, Dr. Becker? Is your memory failing you again?”
“Who are you?” he demanded.
Black jammed his gun into Becker’s back. “I think the lady asked you a question. I suggest you answer it.”
Becker glanced over his shoulder at Black. “You do realize you’ll never get out of here alive.”
“That’s not the first time we’ve been told that,” Black said. “Yet, here we are.”
“What do you people want?” Becker asked as his face turned pale.
“We need to know how you contact Obsidian,” Alex said.
“Contact who?”
Black used his gun barrel to apply more pressure on Becker’s back. “We’re through playing games, Doc. Think long and hard about what your next response is going to be.”
Becker swallowed hard. “Okay, I know some people involved in the organization.”
Alex furrowed her brow. “You just know some people involved? I would hope that your relationship would be stronger than acquaintances if you’re partnering with them on missions.”
“What are on Earth are you talking about?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,” Alex said. “Six months ago you were in New York at the U.N. building when a bomber slipped inside and threatened to kill everyone. There was the threat of a virus, but you found a way out of the building and took something with you, too.”
“You must have me mistaken for someone else, I never—”
She wagged her finger at Becker. “Would you like to see the video from that day where you slipped through the barricade and escaped into the city streets?”
After opening her phone, Alex scrolled to the video of Becker weaving his way through the crowd and breaking free before hustling down
