CHAPTER 45
New York City
HAWK SHOEHORNED into a parking spot along the street just outside the new location for Tahir Nazari’s headquarters. Two men stood guard outside the white brick building, nodding politely at every passerby who looked at them. Hawk studied the situation for a moment, considering the best way to proceed.
“Any ideas how we’re going to penetrate the facility?” Big Earv asked.
“I could just let you handle it on your own,” Hawk said.
Big Earv smiled. “I’d take great pleasure in cracking the skulls of those two idiots.”
“While that’d be fun, big guy, we need to sneak inside because we don’t want to draw that much attention.”
“I’m on it,” Alex said. “Here’s the layout for the property.”
She spun her laptop around, the screen displaying the schematics for the facility.
“We might be able to use the fire escape on the west side of the building and surprise them that way,” Hawk said. “I doubt they have armed guards just sitting around waiting for someone in there.”
“Are you sure we can get up that fire escape without drawing too much attention?” Big Earv asked. “There are massive windows there, and they don’t look like they can be opened either.”
“If it’s made of glass, we can get inside,” Hawk said. “In fact, you’re better than a wrecking ball if I let you go first.”
A faint humming noise penetrated the SUV’s windows, coming from nearby. Alex leaned forward in her seat and looked up.
“Forget making a plan,” she said, gesturing toward the drones. “You just need to storm the castle and figure out on the fly how to stop it.”
“Already working on it,” Hawk said as he opened the door. “Let’s go, Big Earv.”
Hawk glanced skyward as the bulky drones soared overhead in a uniform motion. Flying in pairs, the machines zipped toward Central Park.
“At the speed they’re moving,” Alex said over the coms, “I’m estimating that we have about ten minutes to neutralize the threat.”
“I want to cut the power,” Hawk said as he and Big Earv crossed the street. “If they can’t pilot the drones, they won’t be able to activate the aerosolizing of the chemical agent.”
“Not a good idea,” Alex said.
“Why not?”
“Because then you’d have drones crashing all over the city with sarin gas in them. That’s not a plan I think we should run with.”
“Okay. What’s the alternative?”
“We need to be able to control those drones, but I can’t do it from here. They’ve created their own little network that won’t be easily hacked from the outside. Do you still have that transmitter device?”
Hawk dug into his pocket. “Yep.”
“Great. I’m gonna need access to one of the actual computers. You’ll have to connect it to one of the USB ports, and I can take it from there.”
“Roger that,” Hawk said. “And you have a way of controlling all those drones?”
“I’ve got a plan. Just get me access.”
Hawk and Big Earv stopped just short of the fire escape, and the two men looked upward.
“Oh, no,” Big Earv said. “You can’t expect me to go up there. You know how much I hate heights.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this to someone named Big Earv, but man up,” Hawk said. “You can set aside your fear for a few minutes to do this, can’t you?”
Big Earv sighed. “I’ll try.”
“There is no try, only do. Got it? Now give me a boost.”
Big Earv interlocked his fingers, creating a step for Hawk. Then the hulking man lifted Hawk’s foot up so he could reach the fire escape ladder. Once Hawk found firm footing, he lowered the ladder so Big Earv could join him.
After both men were on the escape, Hawk turned to Big Earv. “Whatever you do, don’t look down. We’ll make it through this and take these bastards out.”
Big Earv nodded and glanced down. He sucked in a quick breath through his teeth. “I don’t know about this, Hawk.”
“Just do what I say, and keep your focus upward.”
As they ascended each floor, Hawk peered through the windows in search of a hive of activity. He didn’t see anything of note until the fourth floor. Two armed guards stood outside a pair of double doors leading to another room.
Hawk pulled away from the window. “This is our stop. You ready?”
Big Earv nodded gingerly, his eyes starting to drop. Hawk put his hand under Big Earv’s chin, lifting it up.
“Remember what I said?” Hawk asked.
“Don’t look down.”
“Exactly. Now, are you ready to make a grand entrance?”
“After you,” Big Earv said, gesturing toward the window.
“Oh, no, big fella. You’re going first.”
Hawk fired a shot with his suppressor, spidering the glass. “You’re up.”
Big Earv took a couple of steps backward before crashing into the big plate-glass window. Shards flew in every direction as he penetrated the building. The guards outside the door reached for their weapons in response, but Hawk put both men down in quick succession. Big Earv scrambled to his feet, and Hawk followed him inside.
No more than ten seconds passed before the doors swung open and another guard entered the hallway with guns firing. Hawk and Big Earv had taken cover against the wall next to the opening. The first man went down with just one shot.
Several other guards poured into the corridor, following the first man. They all suffered the same fate. Eventually, they stopped coming.
“Three minutes to go,” Alex said over the coms. “How are you guys doing?”
“I’ll let you know soon enough,” Hawk said before turning to Big Earv. “I have no idea what we’re about to find behind that door, but can you cover me?”
Big Earv nodded.
Hawk didn’t hesitate once he received his answer. He broke into a dead sprint and crashed through the doors, drawing gunfire. Big Earv fired round after round into the room, peppering the handful of men left to defend their operation.
Hawk spied Tahir Nazari, who dashed toward a back exit. Hawk raced after him, while Big Earv unloaded on
