“No, but my analyst friend said they would be taking urgent action.”
“This is turning into a nightmare,” Alex said.
“I’m right there with you,” Mallory said. “I would’ve taken this to some people here, but I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
“That makes two of us. Thanks for the heads up, and we’ll look into it. Keep me posted if anything changes by calling me back on this sat phone.”
“Got it. Good luck.”
Alex hung up and stared down at her keyboard, almost too frozen to type.
“What is it?” Big Earv asked.
“We’ve got a big problem, starting with the fact that Falcon Sinclair isn’t dead yet.”
“Maybe you better get up, Hawk,” Black said.
“Get me up for what?” Hawk asked as he walked into the kitchen.
Alex recounted her conversation with Mallory before turning her attention back to her laptop. Hawk peered over her shoulder.
“You’re trying to find legitimate conspiracies at Hacker Haunt? Oh, goodness, Alex.”
She pursed her lips and glared at him. “I’ve found things in here before.”
Hawk chuckled. “Better hurry up because we’ve got to figure out a way to stop Tahir Nazari from getting into the country … and do it without getting spotted.”
Alex clapped her hands triumphantly and then smacked the counter. “I knew it. You two make fun of me, but I’ve got a good one right here.”
“What is it?” Hawk asked.
“It’s a guy who worked for Zeus Chemical,” Alex said. “Said he was fired and his social media accounts scrubbed when he mentioned that the night of the gas leak the workers were all ordered to go home early and were replaced by a temporary team. Nobody knew who they were.”
“That sounds sketchy,” Hawk admitted.
“There’s a lot here that we need to investigate,” she said, “but first we’ve got to get to New York City.”
“I hear the Stones are playing there in a few days,” Black said, raising his mug as if offering a toast.
“Now you’re talking,” Hawk said. “Mixing work and pleasure is the only way to go.”
* * *
BLUNT HEARD the conversation through the door to his room. He knew that Sinclair was evil, but bringing in Nazari was diabolical. The Aussie wanted to inflict maximum pain on innocent citizens of the United States to achieve his end game. And Blunt wasn’t about to let that happen.
He pulled out the burner phone Alex had given him and dialed his cell number. When the message came on, he entered his code to listen to his messages.
The first one was a recording offering him the opportunity to get an extended warranty for his car. The second one made him shudder.
“Uncle J.D., this is Morgan. I don’t know what’s going on, but I heard you are in a little bit of trouble to say the least. So, I don’t know if you can do anything about this now, but I’m in some trouble of my own. I think somebody’s following me and has been since late last night. Do you think someone found out about me? Please call … and hurry.”
Blunt hung up and buried his head in his hands.
Putting Morgan at risk is something I’ll never forgive Noah Young for.
He got up and got dressed before entering the kitchen. “Black, I’ve got a special assignment for you.”
CHAPTER 40
New York City
TWO DAYS LATER, Tahir Nazari paced around the former ballroom before stopping near the window to look at the street below. He turned his attention to the paint chipping off the walls. While the wooden floor squeaked as he shuffled across it, he tried to imagine the former splendor of the facility.
“I bet this place was a jewel fifty years ago, Pendar,” Nazari said to his top lieutenant.
Pendar nodded. “It would’ve been a beautiful venue to have a wedding.”
“Perhaps after we’re done here, you can marry your second wife here.”
Pendar shook his head and laughed. “One wife is all I can handle.”
“Haadiya is a feisty one, no?”
“I love her like no other, but she knows how to try a man.”
Nazari leaned in close and spoke in a whisper. “I’ll give you a tip, Pendar. All women are like that.”
“Such curious wisdom from a man who’s yet to marry.”
“Or perhaps you might say I have unbridled wisdom, because I can assure you that it’s not for lack of prospects,” Nazari said, patting Pendar on the back. “No, I’m married to our cause. And once I’ve achieved what Allah has destined for me, I will settle down with a woman and raise a family. But not until then.”
“Perhaps tomorrow then you’ll be released to indulge yourself.”
Nazari winked. “Who says I’m not already?”
Another man descended from the balcony stairs that wrapped around the wall and spilled out near one side of the room.
“Sir,” the man called, “the men are ready for you.”
“Thank you,” Nazari said. “Tell them I’ll join them in a moment.”
The man darted back up the stairs.
Nazari looked at Pendar. “What we’re about to do tomorrow is a dream that my brother, Karif, had years ago. He came close to raining down destruction on this city, but he failed. Tomorrow, we will see his vision fulfilled. And I will remember the sacrifice that he made and honor his death as we celebrate our ultimate victory over the evil west.”
“May it be so,” Pendar said, gesturing toward the stairs. “Your men await.”
Nazari smiled as he plodded up the steps toward the meeting hall. He’d read the news reports of what happened to his step-brother’s failed attempt to destroy New York City with a dirty atomic bomb. The way the articles depicted his brother angered Nazari. He took issue with the way reporters called Karif a terrorist.
Karif was no terrorist. He was leading a revolution against the people who have oppressed our part of the world for nearly a half-century. Tomorrow, they will receive justice for what they’ve done to my good brother’s name.
Nazari strode through the doors, and a raucous applause broke out among the men. They started chanting his name as they raised
