“I forgot my tape measure,” Black said. “It’s so like Laura to know details like that.”
“I’m glad you were able to save her tonight, even if you did keep your whole situation a secret from the rest of the team,” Hawk said. “Sounds like you two are closer than I realized.”
“I don’t see her very often anymore due to this line of work, but when we get together, it’s like we never were apart. It’s a special bond, for sure.”
“Hang on,” Hawk said. “I think I found it. I’m gonna snap a picture and send it to you Alex. Let me know if this is it.”
After Hawk sent the image, he waited for her reply.
“Yep, that’s it,” she said. “That’s the room.”
Moments later, CIA agents spilled into the room and fanned out.
“Look for anything that could give us a clue about where they went,” Hawk said.
The hunt continued for no more than five minutes before one of the team members shouted at Hawk. “I think I found something.”
Hawk and Black hustled over. “I found this book that had a diagram of the Washington Monument that detailed the original design as well as the modern-day improvements. Think that’s where they’re headed?”
“Did you get that, Alex?” Hawk said.
“Roger that. Wood says all units head to the monument. The FBI will dispatch a couple of SWAT teams as well.”
“We’re on it,” Hawk said.
CHAPTER 25
A'ISHA INSPECTED HER NEW prosthetic leg as she relaxed on a bench near the platform at Union Station. She wanted to remove her leg and never see it again. Playing sports wasn't thatimportant. All she wanted was to be normal and walk without a limp. It’s not like anyone ever saw her legs anyway hidden beneath her jilbab. As long as she didn’t have a hitch in her gait, she would’ve been satisfied despite her dreams of playing football with her friends. But this leg came with a price, one so steep she couldn’t afford it. She’d become a pawn of Al Fatihin.
A'isha sighed and hung her head, unwilling to absorb the stares she'd felt boring through her from fellow travelers. While she expected to look different than everyone else while visiting the United States for her surgery, she had no idea just how much she would stand out. Everywhere she went, eyes followed her, a mix of curiosity and fear. She could sense some of the people were wondering if she had a suicide vest hidden beneath her cloak.
No, just my dismembered leg from a suicide bomber.
She figured her ability to detect fear so easily stemmed from the fact that she lived under the weight of that same terror each day in Garmsir. And then one day, her worst fear morphed into a sad reality, leaving her with wounds that extended far beyond the ones on her leg. The scars on her heart were the deepest, especially the ones left by her dad. His misguided zeal had left her fatherless and confused. And now her harsh journey had led her to a point where she’d become the weapon.
Agent Nelson patted her on the back as he settled onto the bench next to her. She withdrew from him, sliding a few feet beyond arms’ length.
“A’isha, don’t be like that,” he said in Arabic. “This will all be over soon.”
“Will it?” she asked. “I don’t even know you.”
“I understand,” he said. “But right now, I’m the only one who’s helping you.”
“Is that what you call this?”
“Look, I know it’s been tough for you. Your mother was supposed to be here but couldn’t make it. Then you get paraded onto the stage during the State of the Union address, unaware that someone had turned your brand new leg into a weapon. Just have a little faith, will you? It’s all going to be over with very soon.”
“What time does our train get here?” she asked.
“In half an hour or so. Just relax, okay? Nobody knows who you are here.”
“But I was on television with the president just a few hours ago.”
“Don’t worry. Nobody watches live television any more.”
No sooner had Agent Nelson uttered those words then a woman passing by stopped in front of them and eyed A’isha closely.
“You’re that girl who was on stage tonight with President Young, aren’t you?” the woman asked.
“What did she say?” A’isha asked.
Agent Nelson shook his head and rolled his eyes. “What are you, some racist? You see some girl wearing a jilbab like you saw tonight on television and assume that’s the same girl? Get a life.”
“That’s her,” she said. “I know it.”
“She’s an American, and she’s my daughter,” Nelson said. “And if you don’t get the hell outta here, I’m going to report you to security.”
The woman bristled as she turned and walked away. After a few steps, she cast a glance over her shoulder back at A’isha.
“I know you’re her,” the woman said.
“Just ignore her,” Nelson said, returning to speaking in Arabic. “People are always afraid of what they don’t understand.”
A’isha fought back tears as she scooted closer to Agent Nelson. He rubbed her back with his right hand for a moment before a phone call interrupted him.
“Excuse me,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
She smiled, touched by the genuine warmth she felt from him. As he paced across the platform while speaking on his cell, she watched him intently. His face fell as he glanced at her. When he hung up, he walked back slowly to her.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Thank you for helping me,” she said.
He nodded and started massaging her neck. That’s when she felt a sharp prick.
“Hey,” she said. “What was that?”
Everything around her began to get hazy, and after a few seconds, the world went dark as she slumped onto the bench.
CHAPTER 26
PRESIDENT YOUNG REFUSED to comply with the Al Fatihin terrorists who were dragging him toward the Washington Monument. He stumbled forward and remained
