“What makes you say that?” Blunt asked.
Hawk leaned back in his chair. “For one thing, the flash drive is heavily encrypted, protecting anyone who got caught with it, himself included.”
“From what you told me about the incident, it doesn’t sound like anyone gave him an opportunity to explain himself, did they?”
Hawk shook his head. “The Obsidian guards certainly weren’t attempting to make a capture. And based on the fact that they were firing rockets at us, they weren’t interested in questioning us either.”
“So, what’s the status of the decryption?” Blunt asked. “Anything yet?”
Alex shook her head. “I reached out to a couple of local people first, but neither one of them think they can crack it within a month.”
Blunt’s jaw fell slack. “A month? I don’t think we have that kind of time.”
“I agree, sir, which is why we need to go a different route,” Alex said.
“I’m listening,” Blunt said. “But why do I have the feeling I’m not going to like this?”
“Just keep an open mind,” she said.
“I can tell you right now the answer is going to be no.”
“The only hacker I know who can handle a job like this in a timely manner is Helenos-9.”
Blunt shook his head emphatically. “Absolutely not. Out of the question.”
“But, sir—”
“No,” Blunt continued. “He penetrated all the Pentagon’s firewalls and started distributing names of our assets. He’s certainly not a friend of the U.S. government, and I wouldn’t trust his intel as far as I could throw him.”
Alex cocked her head to one side. “There’s nobody else who has his expertise. We can’t afford to be bullheaded if Obsidian is about to launch an attack that threatens the security of this country and maybe others as well.”
Blunt bit down hard on his cigar and then pulled it out of his mouth. “How do we know that he’s not already in Obsidian’s pocket? They’ve been so many steps ahead of us at every turn that I’m reticent to turn over the one piece of intel we have.”
“Sir, it’s a chance we have to take if we expect to snuff out their plot,” Alex said.
“She’s right. According to every intelligence report I’ve read, the world is a tinderbox right now. And if Obsidian tosses a spark into the mix, it’s going to explode. If we sit on this and something happens, we’re no better off than if we give it to Helenos-9 and he betrays us. We’ll only have ourselves to blame for inaction. We can’t wait out what Obsidian is doing.”
“The problem is we don’t even really know what they’re planning to do yet,” Blunt said.
“We know enough to know that whatever they are plotting is going to compromise our security and put thousands, if not millions, at risk,” Hawk said. “I mean, this is why we do what we do. We make the hard calls, appearances be damned. People are counting on us to keep them safe, and we can’t do that by hoping for the best.”
Blunt stood and began pacing around the room. “I know you’re right. It’s just that sometimes these decisions can be multi-layered and more complicated than they seem.”
Hawk eyed his boss closely. “They haven’t gotten to you, have they?”
Blunt drew back and scowled. “Of course not. Why would you even suggest such a thing?”
“I don’t know,” Hawk said. “Usually you’re a bit more decisive than this.”
“Helenos-9 has burned me in the past,” Blunt said. “I’m just a little hesitant to put any trust in him.”
“He’s the best,” Alex said. “If there was anyone else—”
Blunt sighed. “I know, I know. Okay, fine. Go find him and see if he’s willing to help us.”
“If I know Helenos-9, he’s going to ask us to expunge the charges against him,” she said. “Do you have the authority to do that?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get that cleared with Randy Wood at the CIA. If we’re desperate enough to reach out to him, we have to be willing to make some concessions. Now, are you sure you can find him?”
Alex nodded. “I have a girlfriend who used to date him. I know where he hangs out.”
“You should’ve told me about that earlier,” Blunt said.
“Hackers code,” she said with a wink.
“Go on,” Blunt said. “Get outta here. Report back as soon as you know something.”
“Roger that,” Hawk said.
“Good luck at the First Lady’s funeral,” Alex said.
Blunt furrowed his brow. “Good luck? Why would I need luck?”
“You’re a terrible actor,” she said. “Just try your best to keep a somber face.”
“I’ll show you my angry face if you don’t get moving.”
“Your resting face is your angry face,” Alex quipped.
Blunt shook his finger at her. “I’m warning you, Alex. You’re going to make me really mad in a minute.”
Hawk took Alex by the wrist and gave her a gentle tug. “Let’s go, dear.”
She followed him out of the room, and they headed toward the exit.
“You think something’s up with Blunt?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“Without a doubt,” Hawk said. “I just don’t know what yet.”
* * *
BLUNT SHUT THE DOOR to his office and then fished his cell phone out of his pocket. He dialed a number and waited for someone to answer.
“Well done,” the man said as he answered the phone. “Your niece will be home before you know it.”
“I did what you asked,” Blunt said. “Now, where can I pick her up?”
“You didn’t think it was that simple, did you? The first part of your assignment was to secure an invitation to the First Lady’s funeral this afternoon.”
“First part?” Blunt asked. “Nobody ever mentioned anything about becoming an errand boy for Falcon Sinclair.”
The man clucked his tongue. “You looked at the invitation, Mr. Blunt. You’re a bad boy.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“What was that?” the man asked.
“I said—”
Sounds of Morgan screaming
