Hawk slapped the table with an open palm. “It shouldn’t be that way. We can’t treat people who’ve sacrificed everything for their country like this.”
Morgan’s eyes widened as she cocked her head to one side. “We’ll go back for him when we can. In the meantime, we’ve got plenty of other unresolved issues going on here.”
“I’d say everything looks resolved to me,” Big Earv said with a chuckle. “North Korea is blaming Russia for sabotaging their warheads, which you have to admit was hilarious when one of them changed course and took out an entire aircraft carrier.”
Mia giggled. “That was me.”
“And using a device I designed,” Dr. Z said with a grin.
The two bumped fists as Big Earv continued.
“Apparently, all those Navy SEALs that Hawk ran into were wearing FSB gear and had fake Russian names and passports.”
Mia shifted in her chair as she started typing on her laptop. “Hawk, are you sure they were Navy SEALs?”
Hawk nodded. “Sure as I’m sitting here. The Reaper has too many unique tattoos. And I ought to know since I stared at them half the night during our training. He slept on the bunk next to me and snored louder than a freight train. Now that I think back about it, it’s truly amazing I ever got any sleep around that man.”
“Well, if you’re that sure, would you be willing to visit him?” Mia said.
The Magnum team stared at Mia in disbelief.
“You found him?” Morgan asked.
Mia nodded and smiled. “And he’s not that far away either.”
“Let’s go get him,” Hawk said.
Alex glanced at him. “You’re not in any condition to go bring the Reaper in.”
“I don’t have to do it by myself. Besides,” he said, shirking off the sling, “this thing’s just for show anyway.”
“Excellent,” Morgan said. “Hawk, Big Earv—I need the two of you to put together an operational plan and have it on my desk by the end of the day.”
“Roger that,” Hawk said.
“We’ll handle it, ma’am,” Big Earv said with a wink.
As the team started to file out of the room, Morgan remained in her seat. She grabbed Hawk’s arm and told him and Alex to remain behind. She repeated the order to Mia.
When only the four of them remained, Morgan stood. “I think we all know how unnerving it is that someone leaked information about our operation to someone that paid a rogue team of mercenaries to kill their own countrymen. I don’t know who’s behind this, but I want you guys to figure it out for me. Hawk, you’ve got an expansive knowledge of potential suspects. Mia, you have the technical skills to trace a digital leak. And Alex, you’ve got the kind of analyst skills that, quite frankly, are missing at this organization. I think the three of you can figure this out on your own. Agree?”
They all nodded.
“If you decide to loop anyone else in on your investigation, please notify me,” Morgan said. “That’s all.”
“We won’t let you down,” Hawk said.
“I know you won’t,” she said, patting Hawk on his wounded arm before leaving the room.
Mia sighed and shook her head. “As if things weren’t stressful enough already …”
“Well, why don’t you both join the field team? Getting out might do you both some good.”
Alex’s face lit up. “My aunt and uncle can handle John Daniel for a few extra days.”
“That works for me,” Mia said. “I’ll also send you an idea I have.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “I think I know how we can draw him out.”
“We?” Hawk asked. “So you think you’re fit for field duty again? As I recall, it’s been a while.”
Mia grinned. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I wouldn’t miss a trip to the Dominican for the world.”
CHAPTER 37
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
FROM A SECOND-STORY balcony, Hawk peered through a pair of high-tech sunglasses Dr. Z had designed, scanning the poolside at the Zoetry Agua resort on the water. Aside from blocking UV rays and providing a darkened field of vision, Dr. Z’s patented Sunglazzes enabled Hawk to run facial recognition searches on anyone in his line of sight. All he had to do was look straight-on at a person. Then the micro-processors embedded in the frames would analyze the person’s face and alert Hawk if they were in the database. The technology was especially helpful when trying to identify someone who was good at changing their look to hide in plain sight.
Near the south end of the pool, a man jammed on his guitar joined by the rest of his steel drum band. A group of bikini-clad women swayed to the music, careful not to spill their margaritas. Hawk’s glasses didn’t identify anyone among the group in the database. He checked a few people relaxing on the steps leading into the water. Still nothing.
“Are you sure he’s here?” Hawk asked into the coms.
“I got confirmation a half-hour ago when he showed up on the hotel’s security feed,” Mia said. “He’s here all right.”
“Maybe he’s in his room,” Hawk suggested.
“No, he was just leaving his room when he was spotted on camera. The image was black and white, but he appeared to be in a solid-colored bathing suit, which I would guess is a bright color.”
“So, what am I looking for?” Hawk asked. “A neon green or bright orange trunks?”
“Something like that,” Mia said.
“You’re going to have to walk down there,” Mia said. “It’s the only way.”
“Why don’t we give Dr. Gizmo’s gadget to Alex?” Hawk asked. “I’m sure she will turn enough heads to get men to look at her straight on.”
“I can’t blow my cover,” Alex chimed in on the coms. “I need to remain out of sight until the operation begins.”
“Oh, Alex, I didn’t know you were listening in,” Hawk said.
Alex chuckled. “Now, you’re just trying to score brownie points.”
“Either way, you’ve gotta admit that Hawk’s smooth,” Mia said.
“Yeah, I guess he’s all right,” Alex said. “I might keep him.”
“Just put your disguise on and go down there,” Mia said. “I want full confirmation that he’s still on site before we commence.”
“Roger that,” Hawk said.
He ambled into the closet and put on a faded t-shirt and flip-flops. Hawk tucked a sun hat low across his brow and shuffled downstairs. After wandering around for a few minutes, he bought a drink from the Tiki hut near the water and strolled casually around the pool. He searched for someone wearing a pair of brightly-colored trunks, but none of them even came close to matching the Reaper’s physique. His bulging biceps and thick neck would make it almost impossible to hide for very long, but Hawk struggled to identify the man.
After fifteen minutes, Hawk spotted a man sprawled out on a lounge chair near the band. He was lying on his back, his hat strategically positioned over his face and his arms crossed over his midsection. He wore a pair of neon green board shorts.
“I think I see him,” Hawk said, his lips moving imperceptibly.
“What do Dr. Z’s Sunglazzes say?” Mia asked.
“I can’t confirm anything because he won’t take that damn hat off his face,” Hawk said. “And I have no idea how long he’s going to remain in that position.”
“Just keep watching him,” Mia said.
“Or maybe buy him a drink and have it sent over,” Alex suggested.
“See, this is why you need to be down here instead of me,” Hawk said.
Hawk asked a woman if she’d buy a drink and have it sent over to the man he suspected was the Reaper. He handed her a fifty-dollar bill, telling her she could keep the change. She readily agreed.