Teddy glanced at his watch. It was nine o’clock. He had no idea if he’d be there a few hours or several days.
“I’ll keep you posted,” he replied. “You got hotel rooms?”
“We’re all set,” she said.
“Regardless, we’re on standby,” the copilot added.
After an airport crewman secured the portable stairs, the copilot opened the craft’s door. As Teddy descended to the tarmac, the smack of chilly air felt great against his warm skin. He was laser-focused on his target—or targets—running through possible scenarios as he strode into the terminal.
Finding the eleven Haqazzii terrorists would be a challenge, but he wasn’t deterred. He’d spent his career training for this opportunity and he was going to see it through… to the bloody end.
After climbing into the rental car, Teddy adjusted the seat to accommodate his long legs, then opened the IDware app on his phone. Seconds later, that same match populated on the screen. Once the software got a hit, the integrated GPS system tracked that person’s movements.
Haqazzii soldier Sunjib Farquin was driving south onPennsylvania State Road 79. Feeling bolstered by the find, Teddy drove out.
I’m coming for you.
Forty minutes later, he parked at a big box hardware store, the parking lot littered with a smattering of cars. Ten minutes to closing. Teddy extracted his laptop from the duffle, then opened a web developer’s program he used. After spending more time than he’d hoped, he was able to get past the store’s firewall and turn off its security cameras, both inside and outside. Up went his hoodie and into the store he strode.
“We’re closing for the night,” said an employee posted near the entrance.
“Two minutes,” Teddy said as he hurried past.
The app showed Farquin in the hardware section, so Teddy picked up his pace, scanning each aisle for his target.
Gotcha.
A lone man, dressed in a sweatshirt and pants, was loading up his cart with boxes of nails. Boxes and boxes of nails.
He’s making bombs.
As Teddy got closer, he murmured, “Sunjib.”
The man jerked his head toward Teddy, then threw an open box of nails in his direction. Teddy spun away as the nails pelted his back, falling like pebbles onto the concrete floor. When Teddy turned back, his target had vanished. Rather than follow, he kept his gaze trained on the aisles as he strode toward the exit. Once there, he spied the terrorist running out.
“Did you find what you need?” asked the clerk.
As Teddy bolted outside, a two-door car took off. He jumped in the vehicle, started the rental car. The engine sputtered, then nothing.
No fucking way.
He tapped the ignition button again, and the engine started.
Let’s do this, motherfucker.
He glanced at the IDware, but couldn’t tell where Farquinwas headed. He maximized the map on his phone, then floored it. He hit a red light, had to stop at the intersection. While he wanted to run it, cars were coming from both sides.
The light changed, he soared through. When he checked the screen, the blip that was Farquin had vanished.
No, no, no. Where the hell’d you go?
Teddy was doing well over 60 mph when he spotted a parked vehicle tucked back on a side street.
It’s a cop.
He took his foot off the gas, but didn’t slam on the brakes. Seconds later, another vehicle sped by him. And that’s all the cop needed.
The strobe of flashing red and blue lights brightened the darkness as the patrol car caught up to him, tailed him for a few seconds before moving into the other lane and taking off, siren blaring.
