Page 136 of Shadow Strike
Shocked, I said, “A dirty bomb?”
“Yes. Apparently, the RDD is made up of the enriched uranium Iran’s been hiding. It’ll create a disaster like Chernobyl. We’ve got to get the word out.”
I looked at the prime minister and asked, “Do you know the location?”
“No. It’s just somewhere in the West Bank.”
I said, “Jesus, there’s no way they’ll find that anytime soon.” I turned to Veep and said, “Check those footlockers for another SATPHONE.”
He did, saying, “Nothing but food and clothing left. Looks like they expected to stay a day or two.”
I went to the third man and said, “Are you the pilot?”
He nodded and I said, “Can you fly out of here in total darkness in that toy?”
He looked insulted and said, “I basically flew in like that. I can retrace my steps. I flew for the federal police for thirty years.”
I said, “Okay, Veep, call Shoshana, tell her we have Jackpot. Tell her to land at the old airport where the helicopters are and the precious cargo will meet her there.”
Jennifer said, “Why not the main airport?”
“Because I don’t want to get roped into a shit show. That attack is somehow predicated on this hostage crisis, and I don’t want anyone to know we have them until we figure that out. I don’t want to force their hand. We’ll load them on the Rock Star Bird, get airborne, and contact the Taskforce. Jennifer, you’re first out with the PC.”
She nodded and I turned back to the pilot, saying, “You can return and get us?”
He said, “Yeah. I’ll have to refuel, but I can do that quickly. It’ll be maybe a forty-five-minute turnaround.”
I said, “Let’s get busy.” We left Veep to work the radio, leading the hostages back through the woods and across the river.
We boarded them on the helicopter, me helping Amanda and Aaron helping the prime minister, with Jennifer getting in the seat next to the pilot.
I cinched Amanda’s harness tight, and she asked, “Where’s Knuckles?”
I smiled, saying, “He really wanted to be here, but he’s got another problem in DC. You’ll hear all about it when you reach the Rock Star Bird, trust me.”
In five minutes, the pilot had the rotors turning and lifted off.
When it was silent again, Aaron said, “I hope the attack in the United States isn’t a dirty bomb too.”
Chapter 82
Driving up North Capitol Street, Shane said, “I hate moving this truck through traffic.”
In the passenger seat, following the GPS map on his phone, Flynn said, “Just don’t get in a wreck. If we get pulled over here, we’re done.”
Shane said, “Freeways are fine, but this inner city shit is nerve-racking. We didn’t spend enough time in class on this stuff.”
Flynn said, “Would you shut the fuck up. We’re almost there.”
Shane reached a red light and stopped, remaining silent. Flynn said, “It’s about a hundred meters up. Take your next left.”
The light turned green and Shane began moving forward slowly. The car behind him honked, then raced around the truck in the right lane. Flynn barked, “Fuck, man, drive like you know what you’re doing.”
They passed a park, then reached what looked like three brick silos in a row going away from the road, with two sets of stairs and a wheelchair ramp rising up a berm in front of them.
Flynn said, “What the fuck? That’s the location. There’s not a fucking entrance.”
Shane continued on, saying, “Look at the map for another entrance. Maybe the GPS is just screwed up. You don’t have it on walking, do you?”
