“Agreed. I’m too big to hide behind this pillar much longer anyway.”
Hayden switched her position, coming around the other side of the display cases. For half a second her enemy was in her sights. She fired and he fell, gun clattering across the polished floor. His companion didn’t flinch, but trained his gun on her, then let loose a hail of lead on full auto.
“Shit!”
Hayden literally had nowhere to go. The deadly stream started at the exhibits, destroying them, and swung slowly in her direction. She hurdled a pile of glass, but came up against the side of a shop window. The flow of bullets drifted inexorably closer.
Kinimaka fell on his stomach, gun out in front and held in both hands, firing, but the shooter was hidden from him, his body blocked by a three-foot tree planter. Men fired back at him, their shots skipping off the floor three inches to the right of his body. He rolled back to safety, opening his mouth to shout—
— then saw Hayden shoot out the bottom of the glass window. Fragments cascaded like little bits of diamond, catching the sunlight, and Hayden dived right through them, rolling into the shop as the lead river blasted past.
Kinimaka let out a sigh of relief. He heard the shooter changing mags and rose a little to take advantage, but another shot pinned him down. This was a good team, working for each other, but they couldn’t do this forever. The airport guards and cops were assembling down toward the Diamond Head concourse, quite a group. He looked toward Hayden and saw she was trying to convey a message.
Hand signals. No phones necessary. She was going through the back of the shop and aiming to take them by surprise. Kinimaka nodded and surveyed the shop to the other side. The Duty Free was open plan, different to all the other shops, and might not have a back exit. If he tried and failed he’d be stuck. Beyond that was a Starbucks.
Hmmm…
It was in the hands of God. Kinimaka exploded out of hiding, sprinting across the exposed area in seconds, and hurled himself forward as shots began to track him. He hit the ground hard, rolled, and came up again, barreling past a couple who thought it prudent to crouch down in the middle of the concourse, before running into the coffee shop. An easy chair gave him the bounce he needed to lift off and clear the counter in one. A barista, kneeling behind the display cabinet, squealed, making him jump and shout back. The space behind the counter was narrow, the stockroom further on crammed with boxes, syrups and metal shelves full to bursting. He flew past, listening hard, hoping Hayden was waiting. A cascade of white plastic lids toppled off the shelves in his wake. At last. He reached the end and spied a door.
Thank you Great Kahuna, he thought. Then he paused, collected his wits and pushed.
CHAPTER FORTY NINE
Kinimaka paused as the back of his enemy came into view. The man sported a buzz cut, a padded jacket and cargo pants. He clutched a rifle, aimed low, and carried several other weapons thrust into a utility belt around his waist. He was staring at a black wristwatch as Kinimaka pushed gently at the door.
He saw Hayden step out across the other side of the concourse opposite him, separated by hundreds of yards and four well-armed killers. She pointed her gun and yelled. Kinimaka gave it a second and then did likewise, hoping to cause confusion.
But these men were trained. The one nearest Hayden lifted his gun arm calmly, taking aim. The one closest to Kinimaka turned carefully, bringing his weapon around.
“Stop!” Kinimaka cried.
The gunman suddenly swiveled hard and fired, catching the Hawaiian off guard. Chunks of green and white signage erupted from a nearby wall. Kinimaka returned fire instantly, dropping the shooter where he crouched. His body shuddered and jolted back into his partner, knocking the man’s weapon from his hand, but also making Hayden’s shot go wide. The man went for a side holster. Hayden didn’t miss the second time.
That leaves two. If he advanced here he would be totally exposed. Quickly Kinimaka ducked back inside the shop and sprinted through to the front. The barista squealed again, but at least had the good sense to cover her mouth. Kinimaka came around the front, just as one of the shooters advanced into the main concourse, rifle packed firmly into his shoulder. The Hawaiian could only duck and roll as the man opened fire.
He slid across the gleaming floor, stopping against a carpet. Rounds traced his movements, loud in the otherwise heavy silence. Something nicked the heel of his boot. He scrambled behind an abandoned airport electric vehicle, feeling ridiculously huge huddled behind it. Bullets smashed into it, spinning it one hundred and eighty degrees, actually opening up a firing line for Kinimaka as his opponent concentrated on blasting apart the vehicle.
Half a second, two shots, and the fourth assailant collapsed with two holes in the center of his skull. Kinimaka kissed his fingers and pressed them against the shattered side of the little buggy.
Thank you.
Now guards and cops hurtled down the concourse, shouting and screaming into radios. Kinimaka waved at them to slow down. There was still one more gunman. They didn’t slow. The Hawaiian cursed, feeling the huge pressure of losing so much precious time on their journey to the Diamond Head tomb, and the crushing responsibility of trying to save these men’s lives bearing down on him. He couldn’t see the last man.
And where was Hayden?
Praying that his luck held, he dug out his cell and hit her number. The call was answered immediately.
“I’m inside the shop, near the front.”
Kinimaka squinted. He could see her shape now as she peered through the open door. “Any idea where our last man went?”
“I have a good idea,” Hayden sputtered. “Asshole’s gone to ground, playing for time. This is for us, Mano. A delaying tactic.”
“Some freaking tactic.”
“Yeah. Look, tell those cops we have to get outta here. They’ll have to handle the mole.”
Kinimaka hesitated. “Are you sure?” He hated leaving anyone in harm’s way.
“I have to be. World’s safety’s at stake. Whoever seized that tomb ain’t just gonna wait until we get there.”
Kinimaka waved one of the cops forward and explained the situation. The man conferred for a second, then pointed further down the concourse, near the wing that led to the Ewa concourse, past a huge red Avis sign. ‘Exit’.
Kinimaka berated himself. He should have known that. “I’ll join you,” he told Hayden and pressed the red button. Pausing only to check his Glock for ammo, he ran hard toward Hayden, a juggernaut of solid flesh and muscle, all six senses firmly concentrated on his surroundings. One click, one shuffle, and he would hit the floor.
But nothing happened. Their quarry had to be well-hidden by now, probably expecting them to shut the airport down. But the SPEAR team had precedence here, and their mission was even more important than an offensive against Hawaii’s largest airport.
Hayden looked to the skies as they burst out through the doors. “Goddamn, I hope we’re not too late.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
Drake and Mai took Yorgi and Patterson with them on the short hop to Moscow. This time, Karin paved the way through Jonathan Gates to guarantee that local reinforcements were committed to the op. Karin revealed that President Coburn had actually spoken with the Russian Prime Minister to help get things moving. A group of Russian Spetsnaz troops were on hand as Drake stepped from the warm interior of the plane out into a brisk Russian chill. Their commander had already been briefed of the operation’s importance, and gave his full cooperation in perfect English, before standing aside and waiting expectantly with his men.