Page 55 of Smoke and Shadows

Viktor looked at Derek, Jack, and Nathan. “Ready?”

Rafiq Shadidand his crew navigated the century old subterranean tunnels that snaked under Washington DC. They weresupposed to be sealed off, but the city planners lied—brought about by government agencies’ plan to facilitate spying on their citizens and planting bugs at foreign embassies.

Not many people outside the CIA knew about this network of underground conduits, but this was another lead that Matthews provided them. A microfilm chip of the blueprints were in a CIA station in Morocco. His uncle, Stuart Kwon, paid a handsome amount to a double agent to make a copy of the microfilm.

“This is it,” Ali said, checking the location on his GPS device and looking at the map.

“Are you sure?” Rafiq pressed. “Precision is important, Ali.”

“I’m sure, my brother.”

Rafiq nodded for his men to attach the explosive device on the ancient brick wall. It pained him to destroy something so old, but the infidel had plundered their land, this was payback.

Partnering with Al-Qaeda was a slippery slope to navigate. It was an uneasy alliance, aimed at targeting a common enemy. But motivations were different. Very different.

“It’s ready.” His ordnance expert informed him, handing him the triggering device.

Rafiq looped his index finger in the air to signal his men to take cover. He pressed the trigger.

The explosion was instantaneous, a loud rumbling sound that echoed deeply in the tunnel. The billow of dust was so thick, Rafiq thought for a moment that the tunnel had collapsed. But when the cloud of debris cleared, a light illuminated the tunnel through the hole the C-4 had punched open.

They had to be quick, the element of surprise was crucial. Rafiq had memorized the building layout by heart.

He stepped through the craggy opening in the wall, straight into the underbelly of AGS.

Matsuda had losta lot of blood. In the backseat of Sophie’s Escalade, a red pool formed from the kendo master’s gunshot wounds to the leg and shoulder. They were not fatal shots, but Marissa needed to get him a transfusion quickly and seal the wounds before he bled to death. When Sophie zipped into the AGS parking, Marissa and Maia were already waiting with a gurney. They had some guards help them load him up since he was almost unconscious.

Marissa had not wanted the female Guardian along because she was still struggling with movement, but there was no stopping Maia when she had set her mind on something. In some ways, Maia and Viktor were cut from the same mold.

“You okay, Sophie?” Marissa asked, turning her attention to the blonde woman. They wheeled the gurney into the waiting elevator.

Sophie nodded, but her lips were trembling like she was controlling a sob. “Derek said the Hudson Building is currently under attack. He said he was okay and they were handling it, but I don’t think he’s telling me—”

“Sophie,” Marissa said firmly. “Derek is with Jack and Viktor, and I believe, Nathan Stark. Do you think any of the attackers stand a chance?”

Sophie considered this and then, “Will Sensei Jiro be okay?”

“He’s lost a lot of blood.” Marissa was not about to give false hope. Too many people died last night and to downplay the situation was an affront to the lives that were lost. She caught some footage of what was happening at the Hudson Building. The terrorists took an ambitious gamble in hopes of crippling the city’s defenses, and she was taking heart that Viktor had capable people to watch his back.

The medical bay was located on the second subterranean level, adjacent to the bunkers and a floor below the datacenter. A nurse was waiting for them when the elevator doors opened.

“Dr. Henderson was held up at New Park Medical. Newsof the attack on the Hudson Building required all hands on deck because of the numerous casualties reported,” the nurse informed them as they rushed into the medical bay.

“Do you have Matsuda’s record pulled up?” Maia turned to the nurse.

“We’ll have to do what we can,” Marissa said.

“What do you mean?” Sophie’s gray eyes were wide with concern.

“Can you deal with the gunshot wound and transfusion?” Marissa asked the nurse.

“Yes. I’ve prepared his blood type,” the nurse said confidently as she began snipping away at Matsuda’s jeans to inspect the injury. “There’s an exit wound, so we’ll just have to clean the area and stitch him up.”

Maia took a look at Matsuda’s shoulder. “None in this one. You’ll have to dig it out.”

A rumbling sound shook the frosted glass panes of the medical bay. The women exchanged alarmed looks.

Maia grabbed the intercom and buzzed security. “What the hell was that?”

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