“Got it,” Young said. “Look for something from me within the hour.”
Hawk hung up and looked at Alex. They embraced, tears streaming down her face.
“Alex,” Hawk said as he drew back. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
CHAPTER 46
Sydney, Australia
SHIELDS LOOKED UP when the military policeman opened the door to the detainee quarters. She roused Mia, who’d spent the better part of the last hour asleep. As Shields eyed the man closely, she stood.
“Are you finally going to let us go?” Shields asked.
“I shouldn’t because of your attitude,” the soldier said, “but I always follow orders and play by the rules, unlike some of you scum.”
“Scum?” Shields said as she walked past the man. “I ought to stick a healthy load of carbon fiber and titanium up your ass for talking to me like that.”
“When you’re so close to being released?” the man said with a faint laugh. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Why?” Shields said, her eyes narrowing “Because it’d hurt my chances of getting out of here … or it’d hurt your pride?”
He led the two women out of the room and into a special interview area with a two-way mirror. After gesturing for them to sit down on a small sofa, he exited and locked the door behind him.
“Wonder what this is all about?” Mia asked.
Shields shook her head. “It can’t be good, especially if Falcon Sinclair is still alive.”
Moments later, a member of the U.S. consulate entered the room. The man introduced himself as Horace Volker and finger combed what was left of his wispy dark hair across his balding head.
“Let’s get right down to it,” Shields said. “Why are we here?”
Volker glanced down at a clipboard in his hand before locking eyes with Shields. “You should know the answer to that since you killed two of Falcon Sinclair’s body guards.”
“Says who?” Mia asked.
“Sinclair told the police that he was asleep and was awakened by a Christina Shields, which would be you,” Volker said, glancing at Shields.
“So, what am I doing here?” Mia asked.
“You were listed as an accomplice,” Volker said. “Now, I’m not here to argue the merits of your case. The fact of the matter is both of the men you killed were wanted by the South African police in the murder of a high-ranking member of parliament. In fact, you did them a favor. However, that’s not what earned you your release today.”
Shields’s eyes widened. “We’re going home?”
Volker nodded. “President Young has called and asked for you to be released. It’s conditional, of course, but something about a special assignment for you.”
“Wait. What?” Shields asked again, her head spinning from the news.
“I was told to get both your signatures on these documents and then to have you call this number as soon as you’re released.”
Volker slid the page across the table to the women.
“Just sign here and we walk free?” Shields asked.
“I trust that you’ll make the call,” Volker said, “but, yes, that’s the deal.”
Shields scribbled her name on the bottom of the page and pushed it back across to Volker. He handed them each a bag with all their personal effects that had been confiscated upon their detention.
“Good luck, ladies,” Volker said. “I trust you’ll make better choices in the future.”
Shields snarled at him before leaving the room with Mia on her heels.
“Is this what it’s like working for the government?” she asked. “They just let you walk out the door even if they have evidence on you?”
“They didn’t have any evidence,” Shields said. “This was all a political show. The authorities here were kowtowing to the most powerful man in this country. And somehow, the president has changed his tune, which makes me suspect about what’s going on.”
Once they left the building, Shields picked up her phone and dialed the number.
“This ought to be interesting,” Mia said.
“Finally, you’re out,” came the familiar voice on the other end of the line.
“Alex,” Shields said. “Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?”
“Look, I’ll fill you in on all the details later, but the down-and-dirty version is that we have a chance to expose Falcon Sinclair once and for all.”
“I like the sound of that,” Shields said. “Just tell us what we need to do.”
* * *
SHIELDS DONNED a crisp uniform shirt with Sydney Tech emblazoned on the left breast pocket. She approached the gate to Falcon Enterprises and rolled down her window.
“Got a maintenance call,” Shields said to the guard, who then scanned his clipboard.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not seeing anything.”
“Call Sabrina Estes at extension 214,” Shields said. “She’s the one who summoned us. Said it was an emergency.”
“Hold on one moment,” he said, raising his index finger in the air.
The guard dialed the extension, which Mia had wired ahead of time to forward to her phone.
“Sabrina Collins,” Mia said in her best Australian accent as she answered.
“Hi, Sabrina. This is Michael from the guardhouse. There’s a—” he paused as he leaned forward to read the name on Shields’s shirt. “Uh, a Shelia from Sydney Tech here to see you.”
“Oh, good. We’ve been waiting for her. Please buzz her through.”
The guard hung up and hit the button, opening the gate.
“Do you know where you’re going?” he asked.
“I’ve been out here more times than I can count,” she said.
“Good luck,” he said and then waved and smiled at Shields.
She returned the gesture before easing down the driveway leading into Falcon Enterprises.
“That went well,” she said in her coms.
Mia reprised her accent. “Well, that bloke was easy to fool.”
Then Mia gasped.
“What is it?” Shields asked.
Mia’s voice turned serious. “He’s calling me again. What do you think he wants?”
“Just play it cool,” Shields said.
Shields listened in on Mia’s half of the conversation.
“This is Sabrina Collins,” Mia said.
A pause followed. Then Mia spoke again.
“What for?”
Another moment of silence.
“What do you mean you just need her to
