“You two work it out,” Blunt said. “I just don't want any stone unturned in our search for this guy. We need to find out more about Obsidian's plans and its hierarchy. All of our leads so far have been people co-opted into serving them. Once we can zero in on who's behind all this, maybe we can start to make some headway.”
“And more importantly right now, we can avenge my mother’s death,” Hawk said.
Blunt threw his hands in the air. “Now, wait a minute, Hawk. I understand how you feel, but we need this guy alive.”
Hawk scowled. “I’ll beat all the information out of him before I end his pathetic little life.”
Alex placed her hand on top of his. “Honey, it’s okay. We all want this guy dead for what he did to your mother. But let’s think big picture here. Your mother one day, millions of people the next. We’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him.”
Black nodded in agreement. “I believe it was Confucius who said, ‘Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’”
“Well, we’ve already dug one,” Hawk said. “And I fully intend to put that human piece of garbage in the second one.”
Blunt sighed. “Just promise me that you will at least give us a chance to speak with him first.”
“You have my word,” Hawk said. “But then I’m going to finish him.”
“Fair enough,” Blunt said before standing up. “You work it out where you’re going to find this punk and let me know. The jet will be fueled up and ready to take you wherever you decide.”
Blunt scooped up his documents and exited the room. He knew it was going to be a furious debate, but he wanted the fledgling team to reach a consensus on its own without his involvement.
It’ll be good for them.
* * *
HAWK EXHALED SLOWLY as he pondered the best way to convince Black and Alex that Idaho was a better location to hunt Hank Walsh. Looking up, Hawk scanned the ceiling as he thought.
“I’m not opposed to going to Texas,” Hawk began, “but I just think our chances of catching him off guard are going to be greater in Idaho.”
“We’re not even sure that he’s there,” Black countered.
Alex’s head popped up from behind her computer screen. “Yes, we do. I mean, we don’t know if he’s actually there now, but check this out.”
She spun her screen around so they could see the pictures she’d called up.
“Before that case, here are satellite images of that plot of land the government sought to seize on the left,” she said. “Now, look at this shot of the same area taken three years later. That’s a big structure of some sort built right into the side of the mountain. Look at all the supporting infrastructure, too. We might have just stumbled onto Obsidian’s headquarters.”
“But we don't know what that place is,” Black said, continuing his protest. “Walsh could've just been a hired gun to help fix a problem for whoever wanted to build that facility. If he were involved, you'd think the FBI would've captured Walsh by now.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Alex said. “We already know that Obsidian has its tentacles everywhere. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it reached into the FBI.”
Black nodded knowingly. “You make a good point, though that’s sheer conjecture.”
“But it’s a more solid lead than trying to comb through hours of surveillance footage to find out where Walsh went after his little trip to the stockyard.”
“If we go to Idaho and he’s not there, that lead out of Texas is going to be worthless.”
“It probably already is,” Hawk said. “I’d rather smoke him out on our terms.”
Black sighed. “You’re like a dog with a bone on this one, Hawk.”
“So, you agree we should go to Idaho?” Hawk asked.
“I’ll go along with it,” Black said, “but only because I know you won’t change your mind any time soon. Just let it be noted that I’d prefer to go to Texas first.”
“Noted,” Hawk said. “Now that that’s settled, let’s get moving.”
Black stood and collected his files. “I’ve always wanted to visit Idaho.”
Hawk remained in his chair while Alex packed up her computer.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
“In a minute,” he said. “I just need a moment alone.”
She patted him on the back and leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s gonna be all right,” she said.
“We’ll catch him.”
Hawk nodded knowingly and looked back down at the table, keeping his gaze there until Alex shut the door behind her. He glanced up and then pulled out his phone to text Mallory Kauffman.
I need a favor . . . and I need you to keep it between us.
CHAPTER 14
Two Days Later
River of No Return Wilderness Area
Idaho
HAWK AND THE TEAM reviewed the fine details of their plan of attack while flying from Washington to Missoula, Montana. The subsequent three-hour drive south to Salmon, Idaho was spent gawking at the rocky mountain faces and the beautiful scenery blanketing the uninhabited terrain.
“I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover Idaho,” Black said.
“Idaho was discovered long ago, my friend,” Hawk said. “You’re just getting to enjoy it for the first time in your life.”
“Well, that was far too long of a wait. Why don’t more people live out here?”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Alex said. “We’ll drive right through Cobalt, Idaho, and if things pan out like investors think it will, this place might be booming in a decade from now.”
“Cobalt, Idaho,” Black said with a chuckle, “as in the element cobalt?”
Alex nodded. “Someone finally found a vein of cobalt in the U.S. Supposedly, it’s high-level quality. So soak in this scene while it lasts.”
“It’d be criminal if this all went away,” Black said as he shook his head.
Hawk wheeled into the parking lot of an aging motel and checked in, securing keys for two
