Vengeance

69 WOODMORE, MARYLAND

Jake Harrison and Khalila Dufour were monitoring the rapidly unfolding situation from Mixell’s rental property in Woodmore, debating what to do next. An aerial surveillance drone had picked up the white van Mixell was driving, following from a sufficient height to remain undetected. As long as Christine remained a hostage inside the vehicle, law enforcement was hesitant to engage Mixell, fearing an unfavorable outcome.

Shortly after the van departed the White House grounds, an explosion was reported in the District. On their cell phones, a video feed from the NCTC revealed a massive crater in the South Lawn, but the White House itself remained intact. After several queries, Harrison was assured that Maddy was safe.

Harrison and Khalila tapped into the aerial drone’s surveillance video as Mixell’s van worked its way through D.C. and merged onto Interstate 395 southbound, disappearing into the Third Street Tunnel a moment later.

The drone repositioned near the exit of the almost one-mile-long tunnel passing beneath the National Mall and Capitol Reflecting Pool, monitoring the possible routes: Mixell could continue west on I-395 toward Virginia, turn east onto I-695 toward Maryland, or slip into the D.C. neighborhoods via Virginia Ave SW or South Capitol Street SW. Unfortunately, white was the most popular van color in the country, with about a half-dozen white vans entering the tunnel in proximity to the Gordon’s Wholesale van.

The aerial drone was ordered to descend to obtain a better view of the vehicles exiting the tunnel, close enough to discern who the driver was and the markings on the van. The wait seemed interminable, with white van after white van emerging with no driver matching Mixell’s description or adorned with the Gordon’s Wholesale insignia. Harrison had become convinced that Mixell had somehow slipped away when the van finally emerged from the tunnel.

Mixell was driving, but there was no sign of Christine. He had either killed her and dumped her body in the tunnel, or perhaps he had knocked her unconscious, and she was hidden behind the van’s dashboard after slumping in her seat.

The van traveled east on I-695, and the chat thread associated with the surveillance video postulated where Mixell was headed, focused on where and how to engage him while minimizing the risk to the CIA director. As Harrison watched the van merge onto the Baltimore — Washington Parkway, he realized where Mixell was going.

He dialed the NCTC, requesting Jessica Del Rio, the supervisor overseeing the Mixell investigation. When she answered, he said, “Mixell doesn’t know we’ve located his hideout. He’s headed back to his rental home here in Woodmore. We can set up an ambush and take him out when we get a clear shot. Don’t engage him along the way. Let him think he’s slipped cleanly away.”

Jessica agreed and directives flowed out from the NCTC to the various law enforcement agencies, quickly reaching the FBI agents and police officers at Mixell’s rental home. Harrison and Khalila conferred with Singleton, the lead FBI agent, identifying several locations where personnel might get a clear shot when Mixell stepped from the vehicle, depending on where he parked the van.

Harrison wasn’t a trained sniper, but he trusted his marksmanship more than that of the FBI agents and police officers at the property, and Singleton agreed that Harrison would take the premier hiding spot, offering the highest probability of a clear shot once Mixell arrived. Khalila took the best location on the other side of the driveway.

He was no stranger to danger and adrenaline, but his pulse raced at the thought that Christine might already be dead. He took a deep breath and slowed his breathing, and his heart rate followed.