Brady Hawk 17 - Code Red by R. J. Patterson

Author:R. J. Patterson [Patterson, R. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, Crime, Suspense, Mystery & Detective, General, thriller, Espionage
ISBN: 9781786530387
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2016-07-13T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

HAWK COULDN’T QUITE REMEMBER where along his journey as an operative that he added contortionist to his résumé. With as many times as he’d hidden in the trunk of a car, he considered that was the source of this skill that had blossomed into fine art. He sat on his haunches in a space about the size of acceptable carry-on luggage, though he was certain if he had been a suitcase, the flight attendant would’ve had to have put him away wheels first before slamming the door on his head. But Hawk still would’ve fit. The only thing extending beyond that space was the tip of his gun.

“Couldn’t I have just stood against the back wall in the upper level of the chamber like everyone else?” Hawk asked over his coms. “No, Blunt thinks that if, Heaven forbid, anyone found out about us working in conjunction with the CIA that all the democracy in the universe would be at stake.”

“How could you say such a thing?” Alex asked.

“If you had to be crammed into a small space like this, you’d be saying the same thing.”

“No,” Alex said. “How could you mistake the amazing design of our government for a democracy? Everyone knows our country is a democratic republic. There’s a big difference between the two. It’s like confusing a rifle with an RPG.”

Hawk groaned. “Maybe I just say crazy things when as a grown man I’m being asked to fit into a spot that would be challenging for most toddlers.”

“Consider it a character building experience for you,” Alex said.

“There has to be a better way to build my character, much less protect the president,” Hawk said. “Wouldn’t my services be better served in some other capacity, like, I don’t know, conducting surveillance like a normal human being? My legs don’t collapse, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to accept any glory for my marksmanship. I’d be surprised if I could hit a watermelon from point-blank range while all snug like this.”

“It’ll all be over with soon enough,” Alex said. “Based on the transcript we received earlier, you’re only going to have to stay in that space for the next hour and a half, maybe a little bit more accounting for applause and any rabbit trails Young leads us down.”

“Alex, I’m shoehorned into a space about the size of a box. I don’t think I can stay in here another five minutes, much less ninety.”

“You know it was necessary for the mission,” Alex said. “We needed to keep you there in case another shooter took up a position in that virtual bird’s nest. Trust me, the presence of security guards on Capitol Hill is triple what it usually is, so they’ve got plenty of people everywhere. This entire building is undoubtedly secure.”

“I’d be careful of making such a sweeping statement, especially one of that nature,” Hawk said. “If we were all certain that no one was up here, I wouldn’t be here.”

“You’re there as part of an insurance plan,” Alex said.

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