Hawk picked up a report from the table and scanned the document.
“The coordinates are all there,” Mia said. “But I’d hurry. If this isn’t a trap of some sort, who knows how often they’re moving around to avoid getting caught.”
“If the president is on television declaring victory, they may feel like they don’t have to keep switching locations,” Hawk said. “Keep your fingers crossed.”
Alex gave him a knowing nod. “Let’s go. I’ll handle your tech for this mission.”
* * *
HAWK PULLED OFF to the side of the road a few hundred meters from the entrance to the facility and parked the van. He climbed out along with Titus Black and secured all their gear. Alex handed them their coms.
“Make sure your body cams on so I can see everything,” she said.
“Roger that,” Black said.
Hawk nodded and looked at Black. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this.”
The two agents scaled the chain-link fence surrounding the property and crept up to the building. With the moon beaming brightly overhead, Hawk could see the grounds clearly. He noticed a security camera sweeping in their direction. Without hesitating, Hawk tapped Black, and the two men dashed around the far corner of the building to take cover. Once the camera started panning away from them, they hustled back up to the front.
With the doors sunk about six feet into the facility, the small relief provided cover for the roaming camera while Black worked to pick the lock. He jimmied it open, gaining them access.
They both entered and spread out, moving from room to room in silence. As they cleared the front offices, they worked toward the back of the open warehouse. Tucked behind a sea of shelves, a single lamp illuminated the far corner. As they neared the spot, Hawk didn’t see anyone.
“Is this some kind of joke?” Hawk asked in a hushed tone.
“There’s no operation running out of here now,” Black said.
Then Hawk heard a noise from somewhere nearby. He froze and glanced over his shoulder toward a closet. Putting his index finger to his lips, he nodded toward the door. Black crept up to it, weapon drawn.
Hawk trained his gun in front of him and signaled for Black to fling open the door. When he did, a loud clatter proceeded a shelving unit as it tumbled out. Black jumped out of the way, while Hawk prepared to shoot any threat. Instead, he noticed a man trembling in the corner.
“Don’t shoot,” he said. “Please don’t shoot.”
Hawk stepped over the supplies scattered across the floor and marched toward the man. He inched deeper into the corner, burying his head into his hands.
“Sir, please don’t hurt me.”
Hawk grabbed the man by his arm and yanked him to his feet. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”
The man threw his hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. “My name is Tom Vanguard. I work here.”
“What were you doing hiding in the closet?” Black asked.
“I left something here and came back after work to get it,” Tom said.
Hawk scowled. “That doesn’t explain why you were in the closet.”
“When I got here, there were some people talking in the back. I just thought it was somebody here working late, and I almost shouted something to them. But then I noticed their guns. So, I scrambled into the closet and have been hiding here until just now.”
“How long ago was that?” Hawk asked.
“Maybe a couple of hours. I don’t know. I left my phone in the car because I thought I’d only be in here a few minutes.”
“Dead end,” Hawk said into his coms. “They were here but gone now.”
“In that case, get back out here,” Alex said. “We have another mystery to solve.”
CHAPTER 30
July 4, 7:45 a.m.
Washington, D.C.
EVANA BAHAR LEANED on the railing of her hotel room balcony. She drew back and dabbed the sweat beading on her forehead. Although the sun had barely been up an hour, the city had already begun to cook. The pervasive heat reminded her of home, but not the humidity.
“Evana?” called a man.
She turned around. “Yes?”
“Are you ready to begin the live stream?”
She shrugged. “Depends on if everyone is packed up or not. We can’t stay here long.”
A knock on the door arrested their conversation. She peered through the peephole.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“Room service,” the man said.
She turned toward the man setting up the camera behind her. “Did you order room service?”
He nodded. “I know how important it is for you to get your coffee.”
“Of course,” she said as she opened the door. She took the tray from the man and set it down inside the room.
She took one sip from her mug and spit it out at the man. “This is cold. Nobody in their right mind would drink this.”
The hotel worker dabbed his shirt with a napkin before collecting the mug—and his wits—and leaving.
Another woman entered the room. “Would you like to join us for morning prayers?” she asked.
“What for?” Evana asked. “Who would I be praying to?”
“Allah, of course.”
“Never mind that,” Evana said. “After tonight, I’m going to be a god.”
"We can't delay anymore," the man said again in an attempt to get Evana back on task.
“Of course, of course. Are we going to be ready to roll after this?”
“All the computers and supplies have been loaded. Once you make your announcement, we are going to move to our final location.”
A wry smile crept across her lips. “In that case, let’s get started.”
Evana went back inside and smoothed her dark hair, which fell below her shoulders. She applied some lipstick and then blew a kiss at the mirror.
“I’m ready,” she said, returning to the balcony.
“In three . . . two
