Young took a deep breath before striding toward the door that led to the main stage.
“And now, the President of the United States,” an announcer boomed on the house floor.
Here we go.
CHAPTER 14
HAWK COULDN’T QUITE REMEMBER where along his journey as an operative that he added contortionist to his résumé. With as many times as he’d hidden in the trunk of a car, he considered that was the source of this skill that had blossomed into fine art. He sat on his haunches in a space about the size of acceptable carry-on luggage, though he was certain if he had been a suitcase, the flight attendant would’ve had to have put him away wheels first before slamming the door on his head. But Hawk still would’ve fit. The only thing extending beyond that space was the tip of his gun.
“Couldn’t I have just stood against the back wall in the upper level of the chamber like everyone else?” Hawk asked over his coms. “No, Blunt thinks that if, Heaven forbid, anyone found out about us working in conjunction with the CIA that all the democracy in the universe would be at stake.”
“How could you say such a thing?” Alex asked.
“If you had to be crammed into a small space like this, you’d be saying the same thing.”
“No,” Alex said. “How could you mistake the amazing design of our government for a democracy? Everyone knows our country is a democratic republic. There’s a big difference between the two. It’s like confusing a rifle with an RPG.”
Hawk groaned. “Maybe I just say crazy things when as a grown man I’m being asked to fit into a spot that would be challenging for most toddlers.”
“Consider it a character building experience for you,” Alex said.
“There has to be a better way to build my character, much less protect the president,” Hawk said. “Wouldn’t my services be better served in some other capacity, like, I don’t know, conducting surveillance like a normal human being? My legs don’t collapse, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to accept any glory for my marksmanship. I’d be surprised if I could hit a watermelon from point-blank range while all snug like this.”
“It’ll all be over with soon enough,” Alex said. “Based on the transcript we received earlier, you’re only going to have to stay in that space for the next hour and a half, maybe a little bit more accounting for applause and any rabbit trails Young leads us down.”
“Alex, I’m shoehorned into a space about the size of a box. I don’t think I can stay in here another five minutes, much less ninety.”
“You know it was necessary for the mission,” Alex said. “We needed to keep you there in case another shooter took up a position in that virtual bird’s nest. Trust me, the presence of security guards on Capitol Hill is triple what it usually is, so they’ve got plenty of people everywhere. This entire building is undoubtedly secure.”
“I’d be careful of making such a sweeping statement, especially one of that nature,” Hawk said. “If we were all certain that no one was up here, I wouldn’t be here.”
“You’re there as part of an insurance plan,” Alex said. “We’re trying to make sure we’ve covered all our bases.”
“Insurance plan?” Hawk asked as he shifted in the box. “Surely you could’ve come up with a better lame excuse than that.”
“Look, it got you in the building, and we might need you. When the time calls for it, you can just shed the box and make sure you catch Evana Bahar.”
“There’s no way she’s going to show her ugly face here.”
Alex moaned. “What did you just say about making sweeping statements?”
“I’ve followed that woman for far longer than I ever wanted to, and she’s not about to risk everything she’s built just to make a statement.”
“Why not?” Alex asked. “It’d be a stroke of genius and a way to shake things up a bit recruiting wise for Al Fatihin. You’re the one always saying that the only thing about her that’s predictable is her unpredictability.”
“Yes, but I don’t think I agree with your presumption on what she’s willing to do for the cause. She’s above dying for it, at least when it comes to martyrdom. If there’s anything she wants, it’s to ascend to the throne as the leader of this movement. And she can’t get there if she’s dead.”
“Regardless, keep an eye out for her up there, will you?” Alex said.
Hawk sighed. “Of course. I’ve got nothing else to do.”
Below him, both Republicans and Democrats alike stood and applauded as President Young plodded up the steps. Hawk glanced at the scene and shrugged.
It’s gonna be one big, fat I-told-you-so session when this is over—and I’m going to send my chiropractor bill to Blunt for the next three months.
A half hour into the speech, Hawk was still well secured, out of the sight lines of every person in the building. And he was bored as ever.
“This reminds me of a stakeout,” Hawk said. “Except it’s without all the great food and coffee and bonding moments, which are the three best elements of a stakeout.”
“Just keep watching,” Alex said. “You never know when something might—”
“Alex?” Hawk called. “Alex, are you there? Can you hear me?”
“I’m here,” she said. “Something just went funky with my monitor, well, all the monitors really.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, but the screen was acting really glitchy for a few seconds. But everything seems to be working fine now.”
“Strange,” Hawk said. “But maybe that also means you’re the one who needs to keep an eye out for anomalies in the cyber world.”
“There it is again,” Alex said. “Hawk, my screen isn’t working any longer. And neither are the other surveillance cameras.”
“Don’t worry, Alex,” Hawk said. “That’s why I’m here, remember? I’m your insurance plan.”
CHAPTER 15
TITUS BLACK CROUCHED low, confident that no one could see him as he prepared to take aim on
