Page 29 of Hayes
“It’s strange, lieutenant,” said the doctor. “Your wounds seem to be more in line with a bar fight, not an explosion.”
“Really?” said Bonds, swallowing. “Well, it’s my first time being blown off a mountain, so I wouldn’t know.”
The doctor played his role to an Oscar-worthy performance. When he was done, he escorted Bonds to the commander’s quarters.
“Lieutenant Bonds,” said the commander, standing and waving toward a chair. “You’re looking well considering what you’ve endured.”
“Thank you, sir,” he said, still standing.
“Sit. You look like you could use a seat,” he smirked. “Tell me why you want to go in and bomb this area where you believe Aamani is located.”
“He did this, sir. He killed my team. My entire team,” he said dramatically. “I want him to pay for what he’s done.”
“We don’t send multi-million-dollar aircraft and bombs because we want someone to pay for what they’ve done,” frowned the man.
“I didn’t mean it that way, sir. I just meant that I know he’s in the area, and we could send in the best pilot we have and be done with this issue.”
“I have a lot of great pilots,” said the commander.
“I know you do, sir. I’m familiar with a few of them. I believe you have Captain Wyatt O’Neal on board. I had his cousin on my team. I’m sure he’d like a little payback.”
“Well, the O’Neal’s are known for wanting to pay people back,” he smirked. “Let me meet with him and see what we can come up with. Until then, why don’t you get some rest?”
“Yes, sir,” he said, moaning as he stood.
As the commander opened the door, a medic stood waiting to walk Bonds to his bunk space. Bonds stared at the man, eyeing him for a moment.
“Right this way, sir,” he said.
“Do I know you?” he asked.
“No, sir,” said Mo. “Right this way.”
Mo left Bonds in the small guest quarters, gently closing the door and hoping to give him time to hang himself. The room was loaded with G.R.I.P. equipment, allowing for them to hearevery conversation the man might have, including the one he was most assuredly going to have with his satellite phone.
They’d immediately noted that he hid the phone, hoping to not allow anyone access to the Aamani phone.
“Where are you?” asked Aamani.
“I’m on the ship. They fell for it hook, line, and sinker.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Will I get the pilot?” asked Aamani.
“Yes. I’ll let you know when we have the flight plan, and you can time the shooting precisely. Just remember, you need him alive. If you shoot it down and he doesn’t eject, we’ve just got a dead pilot and a crashed plane.”
“Do not tell me what I need to do,” said Aamani. “I’m well aware of what I need to do to make this happen. I must have this man’s knowledge in order to fulfill my destiny.”
“Right,” nodded Bonds. “Fulfill your destiny, and then you’re going to give me my millions, and we part ways. If you fuck me over, Aamani, I’ll bring down the entire United States Navy on you.”
“You bore me, Bonds. Can you see me shaking? Get me my pilot.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“You wanted to see me, sir?” said Wyatt, stepping into the commander’s office. Bonds was sitting in one of the leather chairs, looking beaten and forlorn.
“Have a seat, captain. Captain O’Neal, Lieutenant Bonds.” The two men shook hands, and then Wyatt took his seat. The commander proceeded to run through what Bonds had endured and what his plan was to kill Aamani.
“Bastard deserves to die, sirs,” said Wyatt. “I’m happy to help where I can. Do we have coordinates of where he’s located, and are we certain he’s there?”
