No Fortunate Son (Pike Logan, #7)(106)

Billings said, “Yeah, Iraq is working out perfectly.”

Surprised at the statement, Kurt said, “That’s coming from the State Department? We were ordered out, and when we left, there was a smoking hole instead of a terrorist network.” He looked to President Warren and said, “I’m asking for permission to do the same here. You want them back, I’ll get them. But it won’t be without cost. Secretary Billings is correct. We’ll be exposed, but we’ll have them home. It’s your call, but you already made it with your order earlier.”

A ghost of a smile on his face, President Warren said, “And what was that?”

“You told me that if I could resolve this, and it meant compromise, I would do so. Well, I can resolve it. Right now.”

President Warren said, “You’re that sure?”

“Yes, sir.”

The president looked around the room, then said, “Time for a vote. Perhaps the last the Oversight Council will ever take. Blanket Omega? Or dead son?”

The words were intentionally biased, and Kurt appreciated it. The first hand up was the vice president’s, followed by the hand of Easton Clute. The secretary of defense, Mark Oglethorpe, raised his, and there was nobody on the Council who would vote no after that.

Kurt nodded, then looked to Wolffe at the back of the room, catching his eye. Wolffe pulled out a cell phone and began dialing.

President Warren saw the exchange and said, “What’s coming?”

“The takedown of the Croatian arms dealer. In the next few minutes.”

Taken aback, Warren said, “I thought you were still redirecting a team to his location?”

“That’s correct. They were flying from Okinawa after the recovery of the Clute twins. They were over the European continent, headed to France when I redirected them. They’re on the ground, ready to execute.”

“And they know everything you do? They know what they’re looking for?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s what I meant about closing the loop. For the first time in this whole sorry mess, we’re going to be ahead of the terrorists. They know exactly what to look for.”






75




Johnny peered out the side window of the panel van, waiting on his teammate to return, when his second in command, a guy with the callsign Axe, said, “Why are we taking this guy down again? I mean, specifically? Did they give you our intel requirements?”

“Not really. Just that he’s associated with the kidnappings. We take him and interrogate as fast as possible. We dig until we hit something worthwhile. Pike’s apparently waiting on intel, and we’re it.”

“That’s great. Pike. I should have known.”

Johnny said, “What the hell is taking Crash so long?”

Axe said, “Maybe he’s already accomplished the mission.”

Johnny laughed. “Doubt it. Not with the security he called in.”

“We going in as soon as he briefs?”

Looking out the window, Johnny said, “Still waiting on the call. Nothing until we get the execute authority.” He stiffened and said, “Crash is inbound.”

The door opened and the teammate called Crash entered the back of the van. He said, “Okay, I’ve got at least four PSD. Maybe one extra, but the last guy seems more like a secretary than actual physical protection. That guy called the Frog just left the bar and went back to his suite, taking some local talent with him. Real hammers.”

“So our biggest threat is a couple of hookers?”

“I wish. They’ve got one PSD at the elevator on the floor, then two outside the door, then the rest inside.”

“Going to be a fight?”

“Looks that way. He’s on the fourth floor, so we could climb, but that would take some time. And that’s after we waited for them to go to sleep.”

Axe said, “It’s close to two A.M., so it might not be that long.”

“I don’t know about that. You should have seen the chicks. They’re going to be busy for a while.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Johnny replied. “Kurt was pretty clear. No waiting. Pike’s standing by, and this is apparently critical. How can we get down the hall? Do we have cover?”

“Not really. The elevator opens at a T intersection, but once you turn the corner, they’ll have eyes on.”

“What’s the distance?”

“About fifty meters.”

Axe said, “Shit, I’m not sprinting half a football field.”

“I was thinking about the drunk routine. The one we did in Sudan? You good with that?”

Axe said, “Yeah. That might work. Better than running and gunning down a linear target.”

Johnny said, “Okay. Axe and I head down the hall. You deal with the security at the elevator. We get as close as possible. Anyone escalates, and it’s game on.”

Axe said, “I cannot believe I’m acting like a drunk to help out Pike. That bastard is going to owe me big time.”

Johnny’s phone vibrated, and he answered. Axe knew the decision by the look on his face. He hung up and said, “Okay, this is it. We hit hard, suppressed weapons. We interrogate in the room. We get whatever we can, and we leave. But we can’t kill everyone. Only self-defense. No offensive shooting.”