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situation.
Karl understood what was about to happen. Without a word, Vince motioned Christian to remain behind but to take cover. The boy looked upset, but he nodded his assent, and he hunkered down further. No sense getting the kid killed; he had his whole life in front of him.
Vince had just taken his first step out of the creek bed and had sighted in on his first target when a roar from behind made him turn. Not one, but two Russian-made Hinds blasted overhead low enough that the rotor blast sent plumes of dust and debris up all around them.
For a split second, he thought that maybe it had been just a coincidence, they were going to fly by, and he'd have to come up with some other way of getting the old man out. But then the attack helicopters turned and weren't pointing in the direction of the mortar tubes. They were pointing straight at Vince Sweeney and his companions.
In the face of all that armament and then the swiveled weapons of every man who had been in the camp, Vince had no choice but to raise his hands and cast the weapon aside to the ground.
Chapter 10
Cal couldn't wait to leave Cairo. It wasn't that the place didn't have its charm; the country itself was steeped in a millennium of history. However, all Cal could think about was Vince Sweeney and Karl Schneider.
His team needed to get close to the action which involved flying into Djibouti. The president hadn't liked that idea and insisted that they wait for more precise satellite imagery, but Cal and his men were through with waiting. First they'd fly into Djibouti City and drop off Gaucho and Top. Then he, Daniel, and Doc Higgins, with Liberty, of course, would hitch a ride over to Camp Lemonnier. Gaucho thought he might still have some friends on the ground in the capital city, and Cal figured he and Daniel could probably pull a couple strings with the Marines at the American Forward Operating Base.
To make matters worse, the Chinese, and now the Djibouti government, were putting a full court press on the American president. Complaints were being drafted for the U.N. Cal knew that could spell trouble, not just for his friend, but also for them as they sought entrance into the country. A ban placed on travel could prevent The Jefferson Group from getting into Djibouti which would make their operation tricky. It wasn't that they couldn't find a way around it, but a straight shot sure would be preferable.
Everyone, except for the Powers brothers, were now gathered in Cal's suite making their final preparations. They were just beginning to discuss worst-case scenarios and the contingencies. All of a sudden Liberty bolted up from where she had been lying at Cal's feet. She was holding her head low and growling, pointing straight at the hotel room door.
Three seconds later came a knock, soft and unobtrusive, like room service or the maid would give in an attempt not disturb the guests inside. Liberty growled louder and more menacingly. Every man was up on his feet, and even Dr. Higgins had his hand in his coat pocket where Cal knew he kept his sidearm.
"Who is it?" Cal called out.
"Turndown service," came a female voice from the door.
"No, thank you. We'll be leaving soon," Cal said. They were met with the sound of silence, except for Liberty's growling. Cal moved to the center of the room while the others peeled off to the walls on either side of the door.
Trent scooted to the back wall where he could look out the window. "All clear back here," he said.
The next sound wasn't a knock but a crash. Three burly men burst into the room, their eyes straight ahead, and immediately locked onto Cal who had his hands behind his back. He tried to appear as nonthreatening as possible. He even smiled when the three thugs came to a halt.
"How can I help you gentlemen?" Cal asked, smiling.
"Where is he?" inquired the man standing in front.
"He who?"
"You know who I talk
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