“I’m aware of that, and I’ve spoken with him. What I’ve got going on is pretty well off the reservation, but it’s critical. Has anyone countermanded your original orders to render me assistance?”
Again there was a hesitation, but then Hayes spoke. “Those orders have not been specifically countermanded,” he said. “What’s the gig?”
“Completing my mission and getting my people back. Let’s meet at the place where we first shook hands. Can you be there in an hour?”
“We’re there now. See you as soon as you can get here.”
Noah closed the little flip phone and shoved it into his shirt pocket, then put the car back in gear and headed toward the JSOC compound. The plan had weaknesses, that was true, but it was all he had.
The drive took forty-five minutes, but he saved time at the gate. Hayes was there waiting for him when he arrived, and the guards opened up without a question. Hayes slid into the passenger seat of the Chrysler and looked over at Noah.
“So what have we got going on?”
“Andropov set off a bomb in my hotel and stunned us all, then grabbed my whole team. He called me an hour ago and told me that he’ll give them back, alive and unharmed, provided I perform a service for him. I don’t know yet what that service is, but it’s a safe bet it involves the assassination of someone powerful. I told him I wouldn’t even consider it until I see my people face-to-face and know that they’re alive, so we have a meeting set for eight o’clock tonight. I’ve come up with an idea on how I can get my people back and kill Andropov, but I need backup.”
“I’ve only got a skeleton crew,” Hayes said. “When I got the call to escort you back home, I sent most of my people back to Bragg. There are ten of us here, teams one and two from this morning’s operation, and we’ll continue to follow your orders until I’m told otherwise.”
“That’s all I can ask. Right now, though, I need someplace I can set up some equipment.”
“Our TOC is in the same room where you briefed us yesterday. Let’s head up there.”
When Noah stepped out of the car and turned toward the trunk, Hayes saw that he was limping and offered to help carry in whatever Noah needed. Noah thanked him, and pulled Moose and Neil’s bags out of the trunk so that Hayes could grab the big case with the printer.
“I need that inside, and set up on a table. Then we’re going to hope I can figure out how to use it.”
“Damn thing’s heavy,” Hayes said. “What is it?”
“That’s a self-contained 3-D printer that makes high explosives, forming them into any shape and color. I need to make a few accessories for my little rendezvous tonight.”
Hayes put the case on a table and Noah opened it up. The rest of the men gathered around as the printer extended itself upward and the control computer unfolded from the side.
“Here’s what I’ve got in mind,” Noah said. “I’m meeting someone at Windmill Hill Park at eight o’clock tonight. That person will take me to where my people are being held, so that I can see them. Andropov will be there as well, so that he can try to get me to commit to doing what he wants. Since I don’t know where I’m going, there’s no way for me to prepare anything on site in advance. That means that the only things I’m going to have available to me are things I can carry in on my person.” Noah pulled the chair over to the table and sat down in it. “I need a Colt forty-five, the old army style. Any idea where I can get one in a hurry?”
“I’ve got one,” Hayes said. He went to a pile of gear on the floor near the wall and returned with it a moment later. He handed it to Noah, who laid it on the table beside the printer.
“I’m going to make some things with this printer that I’ll be able to carry in with me. My plan is to be able to place them around the area where my team is being held and use them to take out Andropov’s men and create a diversion. Then, if we can figure out some way you can follow me, I’m hoping you guys will come charging in to the rescue.”
Hayes frowned. “I could put a tracer on you, but these guys you’re dealing with are also pros. If they caught the signal, they’d either take it away from you or kill you.” He chewed his bottom lip for a moment, then turned and called one of his men. “Jimbo! What’s the range on your camera drone?”
Jimbo, a short but lanky Asian man, screwed up his face and thought for a moment. “Around here, all this city around us, I’d say about four miles for signal distance, but it can stay in the air for over three hours.”
“Could you follow a vehicle through the city with it at night?”
Jimbo grinned. “I can follow a firefly with it if you want me to. What’s up?”
Hayes indicated Noah with his head. “Our friend here is going to meet someone in a while and be taken to an undisclosed location. We need a way to follow him so that we can show up to save the day.”