Vengeance

by R. J. Patterson

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Alex said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “You’re about three miles away from here, and it just started snowing like crazy.”

  “The old man was right,” Hawk said with a chuckle.

  “What old man?”

  “Never mind. I'll explain later.”

  “So are you coming back now?” she asked. “I might be covered up by the time you get here if you don’t hurry.”

  Hawk sighed. “This is our chance to find out what this place is. We haven’t seen a single guard from here, and if we’re going to break inside, we at least need to know what we’re up against.”

  “I don’t like this, Hawk.”

  “We’ll make it quick. I promise.”

  Hawk nodded at Black before they moved forward and crossed the small tributary that wasn’t much more than a trickle. After hopping over it, Hawk looked up and noticed a large pole poorly disguised as a tree with several communication dishes attached near the top.

  “Think that’s where the magnetic field is being generated?” Hawk asked.

  Black stopped and stared up. “That’s what I’d put my money on. I see some devices pointed toward the ground and several aimed skyward.”

  “All right. Let’s keep moving. Just remember that.”

  After they plodded along for a few more minutes in silence, Black started a conversation.

  “You know, charging ahead without going back and forth about it is so much easier,” Black said.

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Hawk asked.

  Black nodded.

  “Yeah, well, we’re a team and we work together like one,” Hawk said. “You don’t just race into a potentially dangerous situation without discussing it first.”

  “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  Hawk shook his head. “You’ve got some nerve. I’ll tell you that much. I suppose you forgot that we’re down one less terrorist in custody because of your stunt in Sudan.”

  “I got quite a bit of intel on Evana Bahar and how Al Fatihin operates.”

  “That information is probably worthless by now as much as they move around. We speculated that Evana was making a move to retrieve Ramin Torabi so she could ingratiate herself to his father, Amir, who also is the head of HadithTel and could fund Al Fatihin for years. And if that’s the case, I think you know who got the short end of that trade.”

  “Not if I’m the one who brings them down.”

  “We will bring them down,” Hawk said. “But how many more innocent people might die before we do?”

  Black remained silent as they forged through the forest and made their way closer to Walsh’s property boundary. Hawk noticed a guard patrolling the area a few meters away and scrambled to the ground, dragging Black down as well.

  Hawk rolled into a prone position and looked at Black, who had pulled out his binoculars and was scanning the surrounding area.

  “How many men do you see?” Hawk asked in a whisper.

  Black held up his hand. “Five,” he said. “All armed. And these don’t look like stiffs with a weapon either.”

  “So, we’re in for a fight?”

  “If we try this now—and who knows how many more are behind that door.”

  “Door?” Hawk asked. “What door?”

  A large section of the rock against the side of the mountain began to slide upward.

  “Would you look at that,” Black said. “Those militiamen weren't kidding when they said some major construction was going on here. What is Obsidian hiding inside there?”

  “What else do you see?”

  “Looks like there’s a checkpoint of some kind and definitely more men inside. Oh, and there he is, Mr. Walsh himself.”

  Hawk snatched the binoculars from Black without a word and surveyed the scene.

  “I think I could take him out right now,” Hawk said.

  “Look who’s acting impulsively now,” Black said. “We need to bring him back alive, remember?”

  “Forget that. I want that asshole dead.”

  “We both do, but we need to think this through. We need to get a plan together and come back here and light these guys up—and bring Walsh back alive.”

  The snow started to come down harder as the wind picked up. With the flakes falling thick, Hawk’s visibility was reduced to little more than a hundred meters. He heard what sounded like a truck revving up its engine before a snowplow emerged from the entrance and started clearing a pathway.

  Hawk waited until the guard that was nearby retreated inside before standing up.

  “Let’s go,” Hawk said. “Tomorrow, we’re gonna burn this place to the ground.”

  CHAPTER 17

  AFTER DIGGING OUT their truck from the foot of snow that fell during the hour it took Black and Hawk to meet back up with Alex, they returned to their motel. Outside, the wind howled against their door, which allowed a frigid draft inside. Meanwhile, the snow continued to fall heavily.

  After grabbing some sandwiches from a sub shop next door, they retreated to their room to plot out their mission assignments for the next day. But Hawk seemed resistant to any idea that didn’t end with him shooting Walsh. All Hawk wanted was revenge.

  “The mission is to bring Walsh back alive,” Black said.

  “You’re the one who penetrated Obsidian,” Hawk said. “Why can’t you do it again? And maybe this time, you can find out more about them than just who their co-opted foot soldiers are.”

  “It doesn’t work like that,” Black said. “I’m familiar with how they operate, but it’s the who that we don’t know. Walsh is obviously over the operation here and would be a big get for us.”

  “I doubt he knows much of anything. And we’re out here wasting our time on trying to catch him.”

  “I get it, Hawk. You’re angry—and rightly so—over what he did to your mother. But this is the closest we’ve gotten to anyone other than Obsidian’s extensive network of underlings who are executing the group’s plans on the ground. If we’re going to stop them from murdering other innocent mothers and fathers and children, you need to set aside your vendetta. Walsh was obviously giving orders to Dr. Becker, and if Walsh can lead us one level higher, that’ll put us one step closer to shutting down Obsidian.”

  Hawk sighed and paced around the room. Alex stepped into his path and eyed him carefully, forcing him to stop.

  “It’s all right to be angry,” Alex said. “I think we all want the son of a bitch dead eventually. He needs to answer for what he did. But you of all people understand the importance of unraveling a terrorist cell from the inside out. You can’t expect to make any headway by avenging every terrible act they commit. We want the head of the snake, and right now, Walsh is the link we need to get us that.”

  Hawk looked down and remained quiet. He knew she was right about everything as usual. Yet he couldn't help but feel rage burning within him every time Walsh's name was mentioned. For the past six months, each night when Hawk put his head on his pillow, he imagined a final confrontation with his mother's killer and the conversation that would take place. Hawk rehearsed his lines and knew precisely what he would say before emptying every bullet he had into the man's chest and head. Coming to grips with the fact that Hawk's vengeful fantasy needed to be scuttled for the sake of the overall mission was challenging to accept.

  “Are you all right?” Alex asked, breaking the silence.

  Hawk shook his head. “I won’t be all right until Walsh has paid for what he did.”

  “I understand, but can you wait until we’ve got everything we need from him to drill deeper into Obsidian?”

  Hawk nodded confidently. “For the sake of the mission, I think I can.”

  “Good,” she said, placing her hands on his biceps and looking him directly in the eyes. “We need to be able to count on you and know that you’re not going to do something that would jeopardize the mission.”

  “I won’t let this team down,” h
e said.

  “There’s my Hawk,” she said as a faint smile crept across her lips. “Now, let’s get to work planning on how we’re going to conquer this mountain.”

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, the team slowly made its way along the roads blanketed with yet another fresh coat of snow. Plows had been cruising along Highway 93 all night long to keep the paved roads as clean as possible, but the U.S. Forest Service roads proved to be somewhat challenging. The storm had blown through, but thick gray clouds still hung overhead.

  As the team bumped along, they all craned their necks when the thumping beat of a helicopter blade interrupted the otherwise quiet drive.

  “What do you think that’s all about?” Alex asked.

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Hawk said. “But I can only imagine that it’s related to Obsidian. If we’re lucky, it’ll be a high-ranking official making his way to inspect whatever it is that’s going on here.”

  Struggling to keep their SUV moving straight due to the slick surface, Hawk worked hard not to spill his coffee. The rigorous hike the day before resulted in a solid night of sleep, but the fatigue from the physical demand as well as the emotional nature of the mission was starting to take a toll on him. He was hoping the caffeine would kick in soon.

  While they rode, they discussed the obstacles posed by the new snow. Hawk and Black decided that they would have to take snowmobiles to reduce their time reaching the entrance of the Obsidian facility. Alex would be left alone to fend for herself while tracking their progress from her computer terminal.

  “I’m not going to be much help once you reach the gate,” she said. “If that magnetic field that caused all those problems yesterday is still up and running, you’re flying blind without me.”

  “And if we turn it off?” Black asked.

  “That’d be great, but I wouldn’t make that a priority,” she said. “The objective is to apprehend Walsh.”

  Hawk nodded. “We’ll do our best to get that field down. It’d be helpful to have you watching our backs.”

  “I’m not sure how much good I’ll be able to do, especially if either one of you decides to charge into danger again.”

  “I’ll be good,” Black said. “I promise.”

  “Hawk?”

  “You know me.”

  “I know,” she said. “That’s why I’m wondering if you’re going to heed my warning. We don’t need to go over this again, do we?”

  Hawk shook his head. “I’m focused and don’t need to be reminded about what’s at stake here.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Now, let’s go get Mack Walsh.”

  Hawk and Black struck out toward the Obsidian facility, slogging their way through the fresh snow. Even with the proper equipment, their speed was hampered.

  Once they neared the spot where the magnetic field interfered with their communications, Hawk warned Alex that they might be losing contact.

  “Roger that,” she said.

  Hawk scaled the tower poorly disguised as a tree, ascending via the ladder welded to the side. Once he reached the top, he jimmied open an electrical box and cut a few wires before attempting to hail Alex.

  “Can you hear me?” he asked.

  Nothing.

  He went back to work, yanking out some wires and slashing others. Then he tried again.

  “Alex, can you hear me?”

  More silence.

  Without any other options to disrupt the field, Hawk scurried down the ladder to move away from the boundary to discuss the situation with Alex and Black.

  “Could you hear me at all a few minutes ago?” Hawk asked.

  “I just heard some static,” she said. “Did you disable the field?”

  Hawk shrugged. “I thought so, but maybe that isn’t the source of the magnetism. Maybe there’s something else.”

  “It’s probably coming from inside that mountain,” Black said.

  “Think they have some kind of reactor in there?” Alex asked.

  “We haven’t gotten close enough to see inside yet,” Hawk said. “But we’re going to do our best.”

  Black looked over Hawk’s shoulder and pointed. “We’ve gotta move.”

  Hawk turned and noticed several guards filing out of a hidden door beside the main entrance. “We’ve got company headed this way.”

  Then a large truck rumbled down the plowed road leading to the main checkpoint.

  “That’s our way in,” Hawk said.

  Black nodded. “Agreed. Let’s go.”

  “Alex, we need to go. This is a gift of a chance to gain access to the facility and find out what’s going on.”

  “Hawk! You’re not supposed to be making impulsive decisions here. We need to get inside, but both of you can’t be put at risk.”

  “Why not?” Black said. “You’re going to come save us if we’re captured, aren’t you?”

  “That’s not funny, you two. I’m telling you right now that this is a bad idea. Stay where you are, and don’t make any rash decisions.”

  “I’m sorry,” Hawk said. “You’re breaking . . . up . . . on . . . us.”

  He nodded at Black, and they both raced for the road.

  “She’s gonna kill us, man,” Black said.

  “Not if we don’t get caught,” Hawk replied.

  They scrambled up a small ridge and unhitched their snowshoes before darting right behind the slow-moving transport truck, which was inching its way toward the gate. Hawk and Black both grabbed onto the back, using the bumper for a foothold while clinging to the tailgate. The bed was exposed and packed full of wooden crates.

  “You ready to do this?” Hawk asked.

  Black nodded. “You?”

  “This is my favorite part of the job.”

  “Mine too. Let’s stick tight until we can get a lay of the land.”

  “Roger that,” Hawk said.

  The truck's brake lights flashed as the vehicle came to a stop. Hawk and Black scrambled underneath and used their belts to stay suspended above the ground by wrapping them around the axel.

  Hawk looked down at the ground around the driver’s side of the truck. A pair of boots crunched in the scant amount of snow that had survived a recent plowing.

  “You have any trouble getting in here?” a guard asked the driver.

  “Smooth sailing, all things considered.”

  “All right. Well, just sit tight while we make sure you don’t have any hitchhikers aboard.”

  “Take your time. I’ve got nowhere else to be today.”

  Hawk felt his hand slipping as he and Black both rolled onto the top of the axel. After repositioning, Hawk steadied himself and took a deep breath before slowly exhaling. He and Black stayed frozen while the guard did a cursory check. He gave a half-hearted attempt to see anything beneath the truck’s carriage but cleared it after less than a half-minute of searching.

  Hawk thought they were in the clear as the guard approached the driver’s side door again. But then he stopped and whistled.

  “Bring out the lads,” the guard said.

  Hawk swallowed hard as the sound of dogs barking echoed off the mountainside. Seconds later, they were sniffing all around the bottom of the truck. Hawk glanced down and looked eye-to-eye at one of the German Shepherds. It growled at Hawk.

  “Whoa, girl,” one of the guards said as he yanked on the dog’s leash. “You’re mighty testy this morning. You see something under there?”

  The dog barked several times, straining to escape its master’s grasp.

  “All right. Settle down. I’ll have a look,” the guard said.

  Hawk tightened his grip with his left hand before reaching for his gun. He slowly removed it from the holster and clicked off the safety.

  CHAPTER 18

  HAWK DIDN’T FLINCH as the guard fell to his knees in the snow. He let out a few expletives after he set down his coffee and it spilled when the German Shepherd’s wagging tail smacked the cup. The dog barked some more and tried to r
esist the harness, keeping him from returning beneath the truck.

  “Damn it, Brutus,” the guard said. “You’re always making a mess of things. Hal, can you hold this stupid mutt for me? There’s either twenty-five armed men under the carriage or a whole barrel of bacon.”

  “Sure thing, Doug. I’m hoping she smells bacon.”

  Doug chuckled. “You and me both.”

  Hawk watched as the guard stood upright and walked around to the other side of the truck. “Did you fellas check underneath here first?”

  “Yeah,” came the reply. “I didn’t see anything.”

  “Okay, well, Brutus is about to have a coronary over there. I just wanted to make sure you did your due diligence.”

  “Nothing in there, sir.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Doug said. “I’m going to check once more.”

  A few seconds later, Hawk noticed a mirror attached to a black stick eased beneath the edge of the vehicle. He couldn’t see the face of the man operating the device, though he was sure it was Doug based on the man’s shoes. And the fact that Hawk couldn’t see his face was a good thing, meaning the mirror wasn’t positioned at the correct angle.

  “I haven’t had to use this damn thing very much,” Doug said. “The mirror keeps slipping down.”

  “I just say the hell with it and let the truck pass,” another guard suggested.

  “Nope, gotta do this right,” Doug said. He pulled the stick back before reinserting it. This time, the mirror detached completely and fell off the rod before shattering on top of a large rock.

  “Not again,” Doug moaned. He fell to his knees and grabbed the broken mirror without glancing upward.

  “I’m done with this,” he said. “Let’s just let Brutus run around extra today to get some of that energy out. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “All right, move along,” one of the other guards said.

  The truck clicked into gear and rolled forward slowly into the mountain. Hawk was surprised at their good fortune, but it was cold and they likely had never had anyone attempt to infiltrate their fortress of a facility.