The Lion's Prey

by Camden Mays

  “Cole . . .”

  “Hannah, I will kill every last one of them if I have to. I swear, as long as I have breath, I’m going to do everything in my power to protect us. I love you, and I want to be with you, and I pray we can make it through this together.” Cole cupped her hands.

  He paused and searched for the right words. “This is really messy, and not what I wanted for us. If you need to let go, I’ll understand . . . I’ll be crushed, but I’ll understand.”

  She pulled her hand out of his to wipe a tear. “Dammit, Cole.”

  “What?”

  “You made me cry. I never cried before I met you. I must really love you, because it hurts like hell.”

  “It really does, doesn’t it?” Cole agreed.

  She blew out her cheeks. “Alright, mister. You get the job done, be safe, and come back home to me.” She kissed him and excused herself to freshen up in the restroom.

  ✽✽✽

  As she stood over the sink fixing her makeup from the tears, a brunette with large librarian-type glasses stepped next to her. “Men, am I right?” the brunette consoled Hannah.

  “You have no idea,” Hannah laughed, looking at the woman’s reflection in the mirror.

  “I’m sure whoever he is, he is fortunate to have a woman like you,” the disguised Katrina Nikolin offered.

  Hannah tossed the tissue in the trash and smiled at the stranger on her way out the door.

  She rejoined Cole in the intimate booth and snuggled close to him. The piano man began playing Van Morrison selections, and “Someone Like You” resonated with the couple as they enjoyed their connection. Their troubles and worries faded. They only needed each other. They kissed, and Cole moved his hand up Hannah’s thigh underneath her short cocktail dress. She opened her legs slightly wider, inviting his touch. When Cole reached the prize, he grinned.

  “Took ’em off in the bathroom,” she said with a coy smile, batting her eyes.

  “Maybe I should get the check,” he suggested with growing excitement.

  “I think you should,” Hannah said, nodding her head and widening her eyes. “I hope you’ll be able to sleep on your plane ride tomorrow.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because you are not going to get any sleep tonight.”

  Cole frantically motioned for the check. Hannah took another sip, wanting to finish off her drink, but he pulled it back to the table.

  “The last time you teased me like this, you fell asleep before we got home. Here, drink some water,” Cole jokingly said as he waved his hands, motioning for the server to hurry up so he could sign the copy.

  “You drink some water. You’re the one who’s going to need it.” Hannah laughed. “Wait, are we going to your place or mine?”

  “Jess is home with her bionic ears.”

  “Good, my place, then,” she said. They couldn’t get there fast enough.

  ✽✽✽

  On Sunday morning, true to Hannah’s prediction, Cole struggled to get moving, but it was well worth it. Unsure of how long he would be in the field, he was glad they had the special night together. Hannah was driving him to Andrews Air Force Base to see him off after they stopped by to check on Jess. In just three short weeks, his daughter would be heading back to California as a junior at UCLA. She had taken off the summer quarter but wanted to be there a few weeks before school started to enjoy some beach time. Cole had wanted to make sure he saw her in case his trip was extended.

  Hannah and Cole sat parked in her Honda Accord near the visitors’ area of Andrews, regretting the goodbye but wanting every minute available with each other. Hannah drew a deep breath and released the accompanying sigh.

  “You should go. You’re going to be late, and that would ruin your reputation, Mr. Punctual.”

  “I know. I need to, but I don’t want to. I want more than anything to stay with you. I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you too. Now give me a kiss and get out before I start crying again. I swear I was never sentimental before I met you.”

  “Wait, before we do that, I need to let you know I’ve asked Amy to set you up with a secure tablet with a satellite feed so that we can video chat. She’ll need to drop it off for you and show you how to use it.”

  “How did you manage that?”

  “Hey, they owe me. Used me for publicity and now I’m a target. I’m going to leverage it for all that I can. But also I wanted to give you something.” Cole reached into his backpack and handed her a flat jewelry box.

  “Cole, what is this?” Hannah said with surprise.

  “Just something for you to remember me by,” he said, watching her warm smile as she opened the box to find a silver pendant necklace with a black pearl.

  “Oh my God, Cole. This is gorgeous. You shouldn’t have.”

  “I showed the girl at the store your picture, and she helped pick out what she thought would look good on you, and I hope you like it.”

  “I love it, Cole.”

  “I was going to give it to you last night. You looked so awesome in that black cocktail dress, but I got so excited when you started flirting with me that I nearly forgot about it,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Dammit, Cole,” Hannah said, wiping a tear. “You did make me cry.”

  Chapter 8

  Mogadishu, Somalia

  Right next to Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport was a CIA compound used for training anti-terrorism groups and running operations against members of Al Shabab, an Islamic militant group. Behind the gated community with Somalian guards, the base featured an underground prison used to carry out what is known as extraordinary rendition. Basically, it was a way to avoid US laws by moving the detainees secured through government-sponsored abductions from one country to another to interrogate or torture.

  Cole and his field team set up shop in their assigned quarters. Sinha and Wang plugged in their comms and monitors and played with their unique gadgets while Cole, Capps, and Robinson took care of the weapons.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” Robinson said as she moved from cleaning her Glock to her M4A1 carbine assault rifle.

  “The compound or the city?” Capps asked for clarity.

  “Both, actually,” she said.

  It had been two decades since the infamous Black Hawk Down incident in Mogadishu, but the city was still dangerous. The US increased its attacks in Somalia—mostly through drone strikes, over thirty just in the last year—but they also gave advisory support on the ground to African troops against Al Shabab.

  “Let’s remember we’re guests here, and our focus is Jawahir and the AIJB,” Cole said. “Sara, did you hear from Amy about the shipping manifests on Russian transports?”

  “She’s still sourcing them,” Wang responded. “Comms and body cams are up and ready to go.”

  “Good. Any word on Jawahir’s location?”

  “No, but I met with the lead here, and he put the word out to his assets in the city, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Wang replied.

  “At least it looks like they have a pretty good kitchen setup here. Ms. Bridgette, when do y’all want to eat supper?” Capps said as he put away his cleaning kit.

  “Good Lord. Does that Mississippi belly of yours ever get satisfied? I swear, if your mouth is moving, you are talking about food,” Robinson jested with her large friend.

  “Hey, us southern folk know how to eat. When we ain’t talking about it, we’re thinking about it. You understand?”

  “Being born and raised in Chicago, there’s a lot of things I understand, but your obsession with food isn’t one of them.”

  Their exchange had the rest of the team chuckling. It sparked a huge debate over what the evening meal was called. Capps was adamant that dinner was the noontime meal while supper was the evening, and Sinha asked, “If dinner is the midday meal, then when is lunch?”

  Then the cycle started all over again. They finally agreed to stop talking about food and actually go to mess hal
l in the compound and get some dinner. Everyone except Capps. He was getting supper.

  The team continued cracking up as they sat around a picnic table, but Cole noticed the regulars were keeping their distance and even giving them the stink eye.

  “Hey, does it seem weird to you guys how the people here are eyeing us?” Cole asked.

  “Dead man walking,” Sinha blurted out without any filter.

  “What?” Cole asked as Wang elbowed Sinha. Capps dropped his fork and shot his colleague across the table a dirty look, and then explained it to his friend.

  “They’ve all seen the video, Cole.”

  “Yeah, they’re thinking that us being here puts them at risk,” Wang explained further.

  “Wow. I guess I never really thought about how it was affecting anyone but my family and me.” Cole looked around the hall and watched as heads dropped to avoid eye contact.

  “Sara, you said us being here . . . guys, I’m sorry, it was pretty self-centered of me, but I never really thought about how the threat on me puts you all at much higher risk.”

  The table sat quietly, and Cole continued, “I’m really sorry to put you all in that position, and I never really asked if you all were up for it. I mean, I’d completely understand it if you weren’t.”

  “Cole, we’re here, aren’t we?” Capps said, putting his hand on Cole’s shoulder. Each person at the table added their affirming thoughts before Capps lightened the mood. “Hell, we’re just all trying to get medals and awards like your boney ass did.”

  “Again with the ass talk?” Cole laughed.

  The team went back to the lighthearted conversation when a long-legged woman stepped up to the table.

  “Cole Cameron?” she asked.

  “That’s me,” Cole said, standing to shake her hand.

  “Sasha Liski. Nancy McCune asked me to contact you when you arrived.”

  “Is this about the tablet?” Cole teased but was halfway serious, knowing he had pulled some strings and cut some corners to get the secure satellite tablet for Hannah’s and his personal use. The humor was lost on his European associate.

  “I don’t know anything about a tablet. I’m from the EU office. I worked with McCune several years ago when she was stationed there. I’m on assignment here tracking a lead, and she asked me to read you in on it.”

  Cole rebooted and made the introductions at the table and offered to have her join them.

  “No, no. Sorry to interrupt your meal. I’ll come by your team’s quarters later and read you in on my assignment,” Liski said.

  “The accent, is that Ukrainian?” Sinha sheepishly asked, obviously smitten by the tall, attractive woman.

  “Good ears,” she said, winking at him as she turned and left. Wang reached over and twisted Sinha’s ear.

  “Good ears, my ass,” Wang grunted with the twisting.

  ✽✽✽

  McClean, Virginia

  Hannah and Amy met up at a coffee shop off Chain Bridge Road near Dolley Madison Boulevard, sort of a halfway spot between the FBI’s NCTC office and the CIA offices. It had been a few weeks since they had seen each other at the barbecue. They gave each other a friendly hug and sat to catch up for a few minutes.

  “Your man pulled a few strings to get this set up,” Amy said, referring to the large, sturdy tablet device. “It’s got a secure satellite feed so you should have privacy. While Cole may hate all the publicity he’s getting, he sure knows how to leverage it to get things done.”

  “Wow, thank you. This is going to help so much. I hate not knowing anything about what Cole’s doing or when he’ll be back.” Hannah looked the device over, and Amy gave her instructions on its use and reminded her how expensive it was.

  “I think that’s more than my car is worth,” Hannah joked.

  Amy took a sip from the cup and smiled. “I am happy Cole was able to have time with you before he left.”

  “Yeah, it was great. He took me to Quill on Saturday night, and he also gave me this,” she said, pulling the necklace out for Amy to see.

  “Ah, that’s so pretty. Wait, Saturday? No, I was talking about Friday, the day after the fourth, around lunch. He came back to the den with your lipstick on his cheek.”

  Hannah’s expression must have telegraphed concern, and Amy began to backpedal. “Oh, I thought he had met with you.”

  Hannah scrunched her eyebrows, searching for what reason Cole would have to get lipstick on his cheek.

  “Probably just someone at the office giving him a greeting,” Amy attempted.

  “Hell, people at that office barely look at you or even shake your hand. No one’s getting kissed there . . . Well, maybe once,” she said, remembering the first time she kissed Cole. “Shit,” she added. “I can’t wait for that first video call on this damn thing.”

  “Hannah, I’m sure there’s an explanation,” Amy tried again.

  “Uh-huh,” Hannah said. “So I have to wait for his call on this thing? You sure I can’t call him up?”

  “No. It’s only set to receive because we couldn’t have you calling and interrupting the mission.”

  “That’s too bad, because right now I have a signal I’d like to send via satellite.”

  “Hannah!”

  ✽✽✽

  Mogadishu, Somalia

  Sasha Liski tossed her long brown hair with blonde highlights back over her shoulder as she concluded her briefing. McCune had joined via video satellite. Liski was responsible for tracking some of Gavriil Medvedm’s associates and their activities related to arms movements. The theory was that the Bear was acting without the Kremlin’s authority. The CIA hoped to build a case to leverage in negotiations with the head of the SVR and the Russian president. The Bear was a wild card that presented the gravest European threat to the US.

  The rub was that Cole and the team’s objective was to take down Jawahir and prevent the arms from getting in the hands of the enemy. But the CIA Director of Operations, referred to as the DO, insisted on gathering evidence of the arms’ ultimate destination to bolster their case against the rogue SVR deputy director. Cole’s team was ordered to support Liski and trail the shipment and had to stand down until the destination was confirmed. They could pursue Jawahir but would need to prioritize tracking the shipment.

  After Liski’s derailing brief, the head officer at the compound filled the team in on its network of assets and shared that they were to meet their Somalian guide in the morning. The guide, Ricky, had fled with other refugees to Kenya years earlier, but returned as Al Shabab lost their footing in Mogadishu. He would escort the team through the city to the suspected locations of Jawahir and other AIJB. The head officer left, and McCune disconnected as the team worked on details.

  “We go in civilian clothes,” Capps suggested as the veteran field officer. The typical loadout for the team included the desert tiger-striped uniform, which was a dead giveaway. The issued concealable body armor would work in low-visibility operations like this, and each team member was equipped with an MBITR radio, an M4 rifle, a folding knife, PVS-15 night vision goggles, and of course a kafiya, the mandatory scarf for the region. “Sidearms only, and leave the goggles,” Capps continued. “We need to keep it as light as possible.”

  Cole was glad that his formidable friend was on his team. He leaned on his experience and trusted his instincts, knowing they would always have each other’s back. He looked at his watch. It was 2145 in Mogadishu.

  It’s 1445 for Hannah, he thought. She’ll be at work. Between her schedule and the time zone difference, Cole doubted if they would get much use out of the tablet he had arranged for her.

  “Sara, do you have an extra comm for Sasha?”

  “Yep, already on it. We’re all set up for tomorrow,” Wang said. “What do you want to use as a call sign?”

  “Let’s go with Rebel, Cole,” Capps suggested. “You know, like the Ole Miss football team.”

  “I’d prefer the Wildcats,” Robinson said, offering homage to her
alma mater, Northwestern University.

  “Alright. The call sign is Wildcat,” Cole said.

  “Hey man,” Capps said, lifting his arms.

  “We’ll be changing it on each operation. You’ll get your turn. Ladies first,” Cole said.

  “Thanks, Cole,” Robinson smiled, digging it in deeper for Capps.

  “Hey, this is supposed to be an equal-opportunity agency. She doesn’t get no preferential treatment,” Capps argued.

  “Yeah, and you’re an equal-opportunity butthead!” Robinson fired back as the two continued to squabble like brother and sister.

  Liski watched the exchange and leaned against the wooden table that Cole was sitting on. “Are they always like this?” she asked, folding her arms. “Seems like a very casual team you have here.”

  “We enjoy each other’s company. Makes the job easier, and don’t mistake the fooling around here as a lack of discipline. There’s no finer operator in the field than Darryl Capps. I trust him with my life.” Cole pushed himself off the table, ready to get some rest.

  “Well, from the video threat I saw, you may need to rely on that at some point,” Liski said, looking Cole up and down.

  “What?” Cole asked, catching her examination.

  “Nothing really, I just thought you would be taller.”

  “What?”

  “Just your reputation within the agency.”

  Cole wasn’t sure if he should be offended or flattered.

  “I didn’t know I had a reputation.”

  “Oh please, you must know. The events that happened, the hotel, and your killing Hasni and al-Himyari.”

  “I didn’t kill Hasni,” Cole quickly corrected. He vividly remembered the sniper fire, likely Russian, that took out the AIJB leader as he had held his arm.

  “Well, you captured him, and he was killed. At any rate, you must know you are a hero for some and somewhat of a legend,” she continued. “Now I get to tell everyone I worked on an operation with the great Cole Cameron.”

  Cole shot her his signature dirty look. “So the myth grows, and the target on my back gets bigger.” Then he addressed the group. “Let’s try to get some rest, everyone.”