“Excellent, Al.”
Blunt hung up and glanced back at the photo.
“We’re going to find out who you are soon enough,” Blunt said. “I just hope it’s not too late.”
CHAPTER 5
Three Days Later
Morocco
HAWK RAISED HIS ARMS to be checked for any weapons by the Al Fatihin guard. After a thorough frisking, Hawk was cleared and ushered into an empty room with Ramin Torabi. The two had only been together a few hours, united at the airport after Ramin took a CIA transport plane ride across the Atlantic and Hawk arrived on the Phoenix Foundation’s private jet.
Ramin's hands were zip-tied in front of him, further diminishing his stature. With wire-rimmed glasses and a thin physique, Ramin appeared unimposing. Hawk studied the man, wondering how he fell into fighting with Al Hasib.
“Are you looking forward to seeing your father again?” Hawk asked.
Ramin gave Hawk a sideways glance before looking away with a sneer.
“I never really knew my father,” Hawk said, continuing his effort to engage Ramin in conversation. “If he’s still alive and willing to be in your life—”
“You know nothing about my life,” Ramin snapped.
“Your father obviously wants you back.”
“He wants me back so he can parade me into public and brag about his son. Over the years, he made it clear to me that he doesn’t care what I want.”
Hawk nodded knowingly. “So, that’s what attending Stanford was all about? Fulfilling his dreams for you?”
“I hated being on that campus every day. All I heard were students complaining about how their parents wouldn’t let them fly first class on spring break vacations to Bali or how the sports car their father bought them was previously owned for a year. Meanwhile, people all across our region are barely surviving due to the unjust occupation by the Americans.”
“Stanford doesn’t look like the rest of America, that much I know. There are people who are struggling to survive there too.”
Ramin shrugged. “At least they don’t live in fear of dying from an explosion while walking to the market.”
“Based on how you loathe such things, I find it odd that you joined Al Hasib, the same group responsible for bombing plenty of markets.”
“We always go after the Americans and their war machine. Sometimes there is collateral damage.”
“That statement sounded just like ones I’ve heard from American generals. You don’t have any moral high ground to stand on.”
“I have the Quran, and it’s very detailed about how to handle infidels.”
Hawk scowled and shook his head. “You need to find true salam in your life.”
“I’m sure you would feel differently if you watched an American soldier slit the throat of your best friend in front of you.”
Hawk shifted restlessly in his chair. The conversation had grown uncomfortable, especially as he reflected on all the anger he harbored for his mother’s killer.
Moments later, the door swung open and Black entered the room, accompanied by Evana Bahar. She seemed different this time, almost eerily calm. Sliding into the chair across from him, she sat down and clasped her hands together in front of her on the table.
“Mr. Hawk,” she began, “I suspected you might be behind this, but I’m surprised to see you sitting here. You’re taking quite the risk in being the one to negotiate this exchange.”
“I didn’t take you for the assured mutual destruction type,” Hawk said. “I simply wanted to ask you a few questions.”
She eyed the manila folder lying in front of him. “What’s in there?”
Hawk placed his hand on top of it and shook his head. “After we’ve made the exchange.”
She nodded, and they both got up and ushered their respective prisoners across the room before leading them outside to stand with their armed guards. When Hawk and Evana returned, they took their previous seats and resumed their discussion.
“I was intrigued by your terms,” she said. “I couldn’t help but wonder what you wanted from me. And you, of all people, weren’t exactly cordial to me the last time we met.”
“You had a missile and were trying to kill the president. That will always make me a little hostile.”
“Very well then,” she said. “Let’s get on with it. What did you want to ask me?”
Hawk opened the folder and slid several pictures across the table. “I was wondering if you could help me identify the man in these pictures.”
She craned her neck and glanced at the images before leaning back and furrowing her brow. “Did you honestly think I would just blurt out the man’s name to you?” she said with a soft laugh. “You’re more naïve than I ever took you to be.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did,” Hawk said. “But there’s more to this story. For all our differing ideologies, we must put them aside for a moment.”
“You think it's as simple as our having a different ideology? There is a right and a wrong here—and I'm on the right side, no matter how brainwashed your country has made you.”
Hawk sighed. “If you don’t help me, you may not have anything to fight for.”
“Why? Is this man going to destroy the world?” she said while rolling her eyes. “You must know that you’re wasting both our time.” Evana stood up, pushing her chair back with her knees.
“Please, sit down,” Hawk said. “I’m not finished. There’s something you need to know about him. Have you ever heard of an organization called Obsidian?”
She shrugged. “I’ve heard the name, but it’s a legend. There’s no such group. It’s just a name thrown out to scare people from time to time.”
“No, it’s very real as my good friend Titus Black can attest to. And if Obsidian has their way, they’re going to control the entire world one way or another. Just last month, they intended to unleash a
