CHAPTER NINE

      “Hegre is involved in a deal to supply uranium for the Iranians. I don’t have the full details, but it looks likely the stuff came from Kazakhstan. Hegre will do the deal on behalf of the Iranian connection. Iran finds it difficult to buy uranium on the open market, especially since the nuclear deal it struck with the six world powers. Once Iran’s name comes up, most countries back away. Hegre steps in and does the buy for them, shunts it around locations until they can finally ship it to Iran undercover. The stolen diamonds help Hegre raise plenty of cash for working the deal, and they’ll get it back in triplicate once the client pays up.” Bolan added, “Hegre lost a big load of cash when a North Korean deal went sour. The diamond heist will have helped boost their reserves.”

      “Not if we could take it away from them,” Mitchell said.

      Bolan did not fail to pick up on the we. The look on Mitchell’s face told him that she was not joking. The FBI agent, already deep into the Hegre mythology, was as committed to the organization’s downfall as Bolan. She had already proved her worth under fire and she had a sharp brain. Her unflinching attitude was well suited to Bolan’s way of operating.

      “Hong Kong isn’t downtown U.S.A.,” he pointed out.

      “Don’t you believe I can handle it?”

      “I do. I’m not so sure China can.”

      Mitchell smiled across Bolan’s shoulder as she spotted a familiar figure crossing the diner’s parking lot.

      “Here’s someone else who probably feels the same,” she said, watching as SAC Drake Duncan pushed open the door and stepped inside.

      He spotted them and made his way to where they were sitting.

      “Sir,” Mitchell said.

      “They told me you two had headed out for some peace and quiet,” Duncan said, not unkindly.

      “That was my idea,” Bolan said.

      “I’m not complaining.” Duncan surveyed the meals they were eating. “Looks good. I haven’t eaten all damn day.”

      Bolan waved the server over and ordered a meal for Duncan, adding a request for more coffee.

      “Coffee would be good,” Duncan said. “My head is still reeling after that flight from Washington. I got the go-ahead to get a flight courtesy of the Air Force. And I thought regular airlines moved fast.”

      Bolan ran through what they had learned about Hegre, the diamonds and the uranium. Duncan listened patiently.

      His coffee arrived and he sipped it.

      “Good,” he said. He looked from Bolan, to Mitchell, his thoughts almost visible as he digested the information. “I am getting the feeling there’s something unspoken, and I’m certain I’m not going be too happy about it.”

      To his credit SAC Duncan did not explode with righteous anger as Bolan brought him up-to-date. He remained silent as Bolan gave him the details of Stony Man’s revelations, though he refrained from revealing his information source. The FBI man only glanced at Mitchell a couple of times as he absorbed what Bolan had to say, especially when the soldier asked for Mitchell to be allowed to accompany him on the mission.

      Mitchell remained silent, for once holding back from making any kind of remarks, facetious or otherwise. She realized the big man was in her corner and his quiet stating of the facts got his request listened to and considered without there being any raised voices or impassioned pleading.

      When Bolan had finished Duncan leaned back, catching the server’s eye and asked for more coffee.

      “I need this,” he said when the coffee had been delivered. “Truth be told I could do with a splash of whisky in it.”

      “If we want to take advantage of this,” Bolan said, “we need to move. A flight to Hong Kong should allow us to be there when that ship docks.”

      “To do what?”

      “Ideally take that cache of diamonds away from Hegre, stop them from rebuilding their cash stores and try to get a line on where the uranium is.”

      “That all sounds damn fanciful to me.”

      “There’s always Lise Delaware,” Mitchell said quietly.

      “I understand your need to settle this because of your dead teammates,” Duncan said. “The FBI does not go in for personal vengeance, Agent Mitchell—Sarah.”

      Mitchell took a breath. “Sir, Hegre is the cause of those deaths. They need to take responsibility for them. In a court of law if possible. We’re talking about a major criminal organization here. One that uses bribery of law enforcement officials and anyone they can get their hands on to protect their interests. Who murder at will.”

      “You make a good case,” Duncan said. “You have the means to get to your destination, Cooper?”

      Bolan nodded. “Yes.”

      Duncan shook his head. “I must be crazy to allow this. If it backfires, Sarah, we’ll both be out of a job. If anyone asks, you’re on special assignment, undercover and out of contact.” He threw up his hands. “What the hell am I doing? Just get out of here, the pair of you, before I get all righteous and lock you both up.”

      * * *

      MITCHELL DROVE WHILE Bolan contacted Hal Brognola, director of the Sensitive Operations Group, whose base was at Stony Man Farm.

      “Are you sure about this?” Brognola asked after Bolan had laid out his next move.

      “Hegre is leaving a trail of bodies while they wheel and deal. FBI agents, truckers in Australia, and there’s the possibility of a deal with Iran for uranium. Hegre needs to be shut down, put out of business for good.”

      “I should know better than to even question what you’re up to. Tell me what you need. Barb will arrange to have tickets ready for you at Seattle-Tacoma airport. We have your photo, and Aaron will access Mitchell’s from the FBI database. I’ll have passports couriered to you by first thing tomorrow morning and left at the hotel desk.”

      “Hotel?”

      “We’ll book you in for an overnight stay. Details on which hotel will follow.”

      “Have Andy Chen meet us at the airport in Hong Kong. We’ll have to leave weapons behind.