Page 35 of Hawk on the Hunt

Tiger was already wiping his fingerprints off the EMP device and shoved it back into the backpack. “Let’s get rid of this.”

While Dylan and Tiger crossed the street to get away from the White House, Fox spoke again.

“Guys, I’m handing communications over to Michelle.”

“What’s going on?” Dylan asked concerned.

“We picked up something on the surveillance of Smith’s house in Fort Washington. I’ve gotta get over there. Something is going on.”

“But you’re needed if we need any technical help,” Dylan protested.

“Michelle is more than capable of doing what I do, if not more so. Besides, according to my doomsday vision, I’m at Smith’s house on the Potomac, trying to stop a countdown. I need to go there. There’s a chance that the trigger for the bomb is there.”

“Fine,” Dylan said. “But you can’t go alone.”

“Don’t worry, I’m taking Yankee as backup.”

“You should take Ace too,” Tiger suggested. “Don’t underestimate Smith. He’s probably not alone. He might have one of his goons there to protect him.”

“Can’t do. Ace has to stay at the mansion. Phoebe just went into labor.”

“Fuck!” Dylan cursed. “Bad timing.”

“Yeah, but Lilly and Olivia will help with the delivery. It leaves us a little short on manpower, but it can’t be helped.”

Dylan nodded to himself. “We’ll make do.”

“Signing off,” Fox announced.

“Good luck!” Tiger said.

“I’m taking over comms,” Michelle said through the earpiece. “Don’t worry, boys, I’m keeping an eye on everything. You’re in good hands.”

“Appreciate it, Michelle.”

“And don’t forget to remove your earpieces before you go through security at the Senate building, or you might look suspicious,” she reminded them.

“Got it,” Dylan said. “We’ll check in later.”

“Roger that.”

Dylan nodded to Tiger as they passed a trashcan. With a quick glance around them to make sure they weren’t being watched, Tiger dumped the backpack, and they continued walking.

20

Zara had arrived at her office in the Dirksen Senate office building on time. Clara, as well as the senator, had arrived before her, and Nicky and Ben had shown up a few minutes later. She’d made a point of mentioning that she’d bitten on something hard the night before, and that her tooth was still aching this morning. On and off during the morning, she faked pain when she drank hot coffee, and Clara had looked at her with compassion.

She glanced at her cell phone when she felt it vibrate. It was the signal that Dylan and Tiger were only ten minutes away from the building. Time to finalize her excuse to leave the office.

Zara took another sip from her coffee. She pulled a painful grimace and hissed. “Ouch!”

“Maybe you should go to the dentist,” Clara suggested.

She pressed her hand against her cheek. “Maybe you’re right.” She lifted her cell and scrolled to Dylan’s number. “I hope they can squeeze me in. They’re always so busy.”

Zara tapped on Dylan’s number and brought the cell phone to her ear. When Dylan answered it, she said, “Oh, hello, Tanja, uhm, this is Zara Richardson. I wonder whether you could squeeze me in with Dr. Brown. I bit on something last night, and I think I might have cracked my tooth. And now I’m in a lot of pain.” She paused.

“We’re almost there,” Dylan said. “All went well. The chopper is disabled.”