Both men shook their head.
“In that case, let me make you another offer,” Sinclair said as he paced around the room. “Instead of pitting you against each other and starting a world war, I am amenable to a different type of arrangement, contingent upon the fact that you both agree to it.”
Karelin stroked his beard. “I’m listening.”
“I would like a place on your senior level cabinet, a guaranteed spot among the men you count as your trusted advisors. But it would be a secret position, one that would protect us from being impugned by the reckless press corps.”
Young waited, pausing to see if Karelin would speak first—and he did.
“I would prefer just to hand you the money,” Karelin said. “The defense system, if it’s as good as you say it is, is worth money. However, I would like to see it in action first.”
Young nodded and lied. “Perhaps we could come to agreement as well. But like my good comrade here, I’m not agreeing to anything until I see how it works.”
“In that case, let’s start with the man who made the winning bid, shall we?” Sinclair said.
Sinclair strode over to a computer terminal and typed on the keyboard. When he was finished, he looked up and smiled.
“You’re about to see the new course for the missiles appear on the screen,” he said.
As soon as he finished speaking, a new simulated image materialized, showing that one of the missiles was headed straight for Washington.
“All I have to do to make that happen is press this button,” Sinclair said. “Is everyone ready?”
Before he even finished asking the question, he pressed the button, initiating the strike sequence.
He grinned as he studied the picture on the screen in front of him. “T-minus ninety seconds and counting. Are you ready to be amazed?”
CHAPTER 27
HAWK STOOD, KEEPING his hands raised in the air. He moved slowly toward the mainframe and opened the door. Once the keyboard and terminal were exposed, he gestured toward them.
“If you’ll notice right here underneath the keyboard tray, you’ll see the transmitter,” Hawk said.
The commander nodded at one of the guards, who walked over to the terminal and inspected the machine. As he did, all eyes focused on his movements, giving Hawk the opportunity he needed to flip the room.
Hawk turned his body to the side so that his raised right hand remained visible but his left hand yanked a grenade off his belt.
“I got it,” the guard yelled. “How do I turn it off?”
“There’s a switch on the back that will allow you to cease all communications with any other devices,” Alex offered.
He flipped it over and followed Alex’s instructions.
“What just happened?” Mia asked over the coms.
Hawk and Alex remained quiet.
“Don’t leave me in the dark here, guys,” Mia said. “Somebody tell me what’s going on in there. I just lost my connection right as I entered in the new coordinates. I have no idea who’s in control of the missiles now.”
As Alex was talking, Hawk pulled out the pin of the grenade and held the explosive device tight. In the commotion, the guards took their eyes off him just long enough for him to attempt to regain the upper hand.
The mainframe was centered against the far wall. Aside from the small clearing directly around the computer, the rest of the room was filled with rows of servers, stacked one right on top of the other, floor to ceiling. However, a gap in the middle of each row provided an escape route for him and Alex. But that was all contingent upon his ability to create an opportunity to use it.
“You guys need to act now,” Mia said over the coms. “I just searched the coordinates that I captured earlier. Sinclair is aiming those missiles straight at Washington.”
Hawk didn’t move, wondering how long it would take before any of the guards realized he was holding a grenade.
One handed over the transmitter to his commander, who promptly dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his heel.
“Any questions?” the man asked.
One of the guards pointed at Hawk. “Why is this bloke holding a grenade?”
The commander glanced back at Hawk and growled. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Everyone, put your weapons down or we all die,” Hawk said.
Unmoved by Hawk’s threat, the commander just stared at him. “You’re going to kill yourself, too?”
“We’re just going to walk out of here,” Hawk said, helping Alex to her feet before kneeling down and picking up his rucksack.
“I don’t think so,” the commander said, his gun trained on Hawk.
“Just ask yourself this question: Is the work you’re doing for Falcon Sinclair worth dying for?”
Hawk tossed the grenade at the commander and then shoved Alex forward down the aisle. He darted a few meters before pulling her to the ground, utilizing the server units as cover.
The explosion rocked the room, leaving his ears ringing. He scrambled to his feet before retrieving another grenade from his pack. He pulled the pin out of the explosive device and slid it under the mainframe.
“Move,” Hawk said to Alex.
They sprinted toward the door. As they reached the exit, the second blast rattled the room again, this time sparking a fire. The remaining glass shards still clinging to the window frame broke loose and shattered on the floor. All Hawk could hear were moans coming from the men as well as a buzzing fire alarm. Alex stopped and stared at the scene.
“Come on,” Hawk said, tugging on her arm.
“Did you destroy the mainframe?” she asked.
“I hope so,” Hawk said. “But I’m not going to sift through the ashes to find out. This area will be crawling with Sinclair’s men any minute now if we don’t get the hell outta here.”
Alex nodded and took off running with Hawk.
A bullet whistled past, making Hawk rethink his exit strategy. He dashed to the right and hid behind a stack of wooden crates. When he peeked around the corner, he noticed two guards
