“Fair enough,” Bull said.
“So, do you know how this is going down?” Vaughn asked.
“Why don’t you go over it one more time with me just so we’re clear,” Hawk suggested.
Vaughn nodded. “We’re going to park by the small tower and get inspected. Once the airport authority clears us—meaning we fork over a large enough bribe—we’ll be allowed to start adding passengers. Bull is going to handle that part. But you and I will march about a quarter of a mile north to the access terminal and retrieve Jahedah’s daughter and brother. Then we’ll promptly return to the plane, refuel, and get the hell outta Dodge. Simple enough?”
Hawk nodded. “Sounds simple, but I’ve been around these parts enough to know nothing ever goes as planned.”
“Well, today is going to be the day that all changes,” Vaughn said. “We’ll barely be out of this plane more than five minutes.”
The plane came to a stop by the traffic control tower just as Vaughn had explained. Toting a briefcase, Bull lumbered down the steps onto the tarmac, passing several parked vehicles before entering the office. After a couple of minutes, he reemerged with a knowing nod.
“Let’s go,” Vaughn said to Hawk.
After checking his weapon one final time, Hawk followed Vaughn outside. They strode across the runway, which was empty. As Hawk scanned the area, he didn’t see another plane in sight, not even in front of any hangars.
“Who flies into this place?” Hawk asked.
“Not much of anyone now that the base has pulled out,” Vaughn said. “But the people here are committed to making this an enticing feature for any businesses considering setting up shop in Garmsir.”
Hawk surveyed the area once more, which was eerily quiet, too quiet for his taste. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“What do you mean?” Vaughn asked. “There’s literally nobody here.”
“That we can see,” Hawk said. “Are you a parent, Vaughn?”
“Random subject change, but I’ve got a three-year-old son and a little girl on the way.”
“You ever been in the house with your son and he’s in another room and suddenly everything goes quiet?”
“That’s happened numerous times.”
“And what was going on?”
Vaughn chuckled. “Let’s see. One time he was marking on the walls with crayons. Another time he was dumping all the shampoo out in the tub. And then once he was taking a dump in the hallway.”
“They’re at their worst when it’s too quiet. I feel like I’m walking into a shootout in an old Western.”
Vaughn waved dismissively. “I studied the satellite images for this airstrip for the past two weeks. It’s a virtual ghost town. This is how it always was.”
“Alex, can you hear me?” Hawk asked, activating his coms.
“Loud and clear,” she said. “I’m watching you right now.”
“And what are we looking like here? Anything to be worried about?”
“Not from what I can tell. There are a few heat signatures near the lone terminal gate. But that’s to be expected. That’s where Jahedah’s daughter, A’isha, and her uncle, Tamir, are supposed to meet you.”
“Just keep me posted, okay?” Hawk said. “Something feels off to me.”
Hawk and Vaughn arrived at the terminal and spoke with a man wearing a Garmsir airport badge. Vaughn reached inside his coat pocket and produced a document, which he handed to the man. After a few seconds, the man looked up and motioned over to a colleague, who opened a door on the far side of the room. Moments later, A’isha and Tamir appeared. With her arm around her uncle, A’isha limped forward. Hawk couldn’t imagine how difficult life had become for the young girl in a country that wasn’t anywhere close to accommodating for her condition.
“Thank you,” she said as she reached the two American agents.
Hawk looked at the man standing by the terminal access door. “We need to get a cart for this girl,” Hawk said in Arabic.
The man scowled. “This isn’t the Kabul airport. We don’t have a cart. She’ll have to walk.”
Hawk sighed. “You don’t have anything we could use?”
The man shook his head and gestured toward the door.
“Is it okay if I carry you?” Hawk asked. “We have a long ways to go.”
She shook her head. “I can make it.”
Vaughn spoke briefly with Tamir, while Hawk held out his arm for A’isha to steady herself.
“You’re a brave girl,” Hawk said. “Going to a new country can be a frightening experience no matter how old you are, but especially if you do it as a kid without your parents.”
A’isha didn’t crack a smile, staring intently at the ground in front of her as she plodded along.
They continued on in silence and had reached the midway point when a loud noise behind them arrested Hawk’s attention and made him spin around to see all the commotion was about. Driving wildly onto the tarmac was a truck loaded with masked men shouting and waving their rifles.
“We’ve got a big problem,” Hawk said. “We need to run.”
He scooped up A’isha and started running toward the plane, outpacing Vaughn and Tamir for the first few yards. Then gunshots pierced the air.
“Everybody get down,” Hawk instructed.
He sank to his knees and helped A’isha lay prone as bullets sprayed all around them.
“Truman, can you hear me?” Hawk asked.
“Loud and clear,” Bull said. “What’s going on?”
“Look outside the damn plane,” Hawk said. “We’re under attack.”
Bull hustled down the steps and onto the tarmac before taking only a second to survey the scene. He rushed over to a nearby Jeep and jumped behind the steering wheel. Moments later, he was roaring toward their position.
The terrorists were still far off but rapidly approaching. Hawk glanced at both vehicles and realized the terrorists were going to arrive first.
“Stay down,” Hawk said to A’isha. He inched over toward Vaughn. “We need to provide Bull with some cover or else he’s not going to make it.”
Vaughn nodded as the two agents shifted their positions, looking south toward the oncoming truck.
“Go for the tires,” Hawk said. “We need to
