“Forget that. I want that asshole dead.”
“We both do, but we need to think this through. We need to get a plan together and come back here and light these guys up—and bring Walsh back alive.”
The snow started to come down harder as the wind picked up. With the flakes falling thick, Hawk’s visibility was reduced to little more than a hundred meters. He heard what sounded like a truck revving up its engine before a snowplow emerged from the entrance and started clearing a pathway.
Hawk waited until the guard that was nearby retreated inside before standing up.
“Let’s go,” Hawk said. “Tomorrow, we’re gonna burn this place to the ground.”
CHAPTER 17
AFTER DIGGING OUT their truck from the foot of snow that fell during the hour it took Black and Hawk to meet back up with Alex, they returned to their motel. Outside, the wind howled against their door, which allowed a frigid draft inside. Meanwhile, the snow continued to fall heavily.
After grabbing some sandwiches from a sub shop next door, they retreated to their room to plot out their mission assignments for the next day. But Hawk seemed resistant to any idea that didn’t end with him shooting Walsh. All Hawk wanted was revenge.
“The mission is to bring Walsh back alive,” Black said.
“You’re the one who penetrated Obsidian,” Hawk said. “Why can’t you do it again? And maybe this time, you can find out more about them than just who their co-opted foot soldiers are.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Black said. “I’m familiar with how they operate, but it’s the who that we don’t know. Walsh is obviously over the operation here and would be a big get for us.”
“I doubt he knows much of anything. And we’re out here wasting our time on trying to catch him.”
“I get it, Hawk. You’re angry—and rightly so—over what he did to your mother. But this is the closest we’ve gotten to anyone other than Obsidian’s extensive network of underlings who are executing the group’s plans on the ground. If we’re going to stop them from murdering other innocent mothers and fathers and children, you need to set aside your vendetta. Walsh was obviously giving orders to Dr. Becker, and if Walsh can lead us one level higher, that’ll put us one step closer to shutting down Obsidian.”
Hawk sighed and paced around the room. Alex stepped into his path and eyed him carefully, forcing him to stop.
“It’s all right to be angry,” Alex said. “I think we all want the son of a bitch dead eventually. He needs to answer for what he did. But you of all people understand the importance of unraveling a terrorist cell from the inside out. You can’t expect to make any headway by avenging every terrible act they commit. We want the head of the snake, and right now, Walsh is the link we need to get us that.”
Hawk looked down and remained quiet. He knew she was right about everything as usual. Yet he couldn't help but feel rage burning within him every time Walsh's name was mentioned. For the past six months, each night when Hawk put his head on his pillow, he imagined a final confrontation with his mother's killer and the conversation that would take place. Hawk rehearsed his lines and knew precisely what he would say before emptying every bullet he had into the man's chest and head. Coming to grips with the fact that Hawk's vengeful fantasy needed to be scuttled for the sake of the overall mission was challenging to accept.
“Are you all right?” Alex asked, breaking the silence.
Hawk shook his head. “I won’t be all right until Walsh has paid for what he did.”
“I understand, but can you wait until we’ve got everything we need from him to drill deeper into Obsidian?”
Hawk nodded confidently. “For the sake of the mission, I think I can.”
“Good,” she said, placing her hands on his biceps and looking him directly in the eyes. “We need to be able to count on you and know that you’re not going to do something that would jeopardize the mission.”
“I won’t let this team down,” he said.
“There’s my Hawk,” she said as a faint smile crept across her lips. “Now, let’s get to work planning on how we’re going to conquer this mountain.”
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, the team slowly made its way along the roads blanketed with yet another fresh coat of snow. Plows had been cruising along Highway 93 all night long to keep the paved roads as clean as possible, but the U.S. Forest Service roads proved to be somewhat challenging. The storm had blown through, but thick gray clouds still hung overhead.
As the team bumped along, they all craned their necks when the thumping beat of a helicopter blade interrupted the otherwise quiet drive.
“What do you think that’s all about?” Alex asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Hawk said. “But I can only imagine that it’s related to Obsidian. If we’re lucky, it’ll be a high-ranking official making his way to inspect whatever it is that’s going on here.”
Struggling to keep their SUV moving straight due to the slick surface, Hawk worked hard not to spill his coffee. The rigorous hike the day before resulted in a solid night of sleep, but the fatigue from the physical demand as well as the emotional nature of the mission was starting to take a toll on him. He was hoping the caffeine would kick in soon.
While they rode, they discussed the obstacles posed by the new snow. Hawk and Black decided that they would have to take snowmobiles to reduce their time reaching the entrance of the Obsidian facility. Alex would be left alone to fend for herself while tracking their progress from her computer terminal.
“I’m not going to be much help once you reach the gate,” she said. “If that magnetic field that caused all those problems yesterday is still up
