There was too much desert, Hawke thought as he piloted Airwolf over the sandy terrain toward the address that Caitlin had left for him.
She had left an address for him hoping he would change his mind. He never wanted to go to a resort, but what would it have hurt him to hang out by a pool with Caitlin. There would have been no urgent calls from Archangel, no stunt work, and no threat of violence or death. Or so they would have thought.
What would have changed if he had gone with her? With two minds working together, could they have gotten away from Horn or if all hope was lost, could he have at least been sitting next to Caitlin holding her hand when they died? Instead, he watched her death on a nine inch TV screen. It was something he never wanted to do again.
"How's the stick?" Dominic's voice came through his headset.
"Smooth," Hawke answered him, after clearing his throat. "It's like nothing ever happened to her. You did good, Dom."
"You have your ways of grieving and I have mine," Dominic said.
"How are weapons?" Hawke asked.
Dominic was silent for a few minutes and then, "Guns, missiles, and sunbursts are online. Turbos are fully functioning."
A loud beep rang through the cockpit like a doorbell.
"Trouble with Airwolf?" Hawke asked, thinking the worst.
"No," Dominic punched a few buttons and brought what he was seeing to the front screen so Hawke could see it. "Airwolf found the address. It's approximately three miles ahead and appears to be a house."
"Any occupants?" Hawke asked, staring straight ahead.
"She can't see any, but we may be too far away. I'll radio Michael's people on the ground and tell them how close we are. We could use the backup."
"If Horns down there, he's mine," Hawke said through gritted teeth.
They came up on the house quickly and it shocked Hawke to see the elaborate set up Horn had fixed just to get Airwolf. There was a wrought iron gate around the brick house and a large pool connected to the side of the house. A two door garage was connected to the other side.
"What do you say, Dominic, do we ring the doorbell or knock?"
"Michael's people are five minutes away. Let's ring the doorbell." Dominic pressed a button and a whirring sound came out of Airwolf's sides.
"First gun," Hawke said before clicking a button on the stick. Two small pings were heard as the bullets were ejected from the gun and the front door of the house blew to pieces.
People began running out of the house in all directions.
"Tell Michael's people they're scattering like field mice in a fire." Hawke saw the garage door open and a black bronco came flying out of the garage.
"Horn?" Dominic asked seeing the same thing.
"I'd bet on it."
"Is there anyone left in the house?" Hawke asked.
Dominic was silent and then, "No one."
"Transfer missiles to me," Hawke ordered.
After a few seconds, Hawke's missile button lightened showing him he had control. He punched the button and another whirring sound was heard as the missiles came out of Airwolf's belly.
"Blow it up," Hawke said before squeezing the trigger that sent two missiles into the house where Caitlin was killed.
Hawke transferred power over to Dominic, turned Airwolf around, and headed down the main road to Horn. He had a good head start on them, but Hawke knew the lady would catch up.
Seven minutes later, Airwolf was flying over the black bronco.
"Dropping five hundred feet," Hawke told Dominic. Now they were even closer to the Bronco.
"Guns, Dominic. Shoot his tires."
Dominic shot the tires on the Bronco and they watched as the Bronco ran up on a hill and tumbled over on its side.
Hawke set her down, took off his helmet, and got out of Airwolf. Horn was trying to get out of the Bronco even as Hawke ran up and yanked him out.
Before he spoke, Hawke laid a right hook on Horn knocking him down on the hill. Hawke picked him up by the lapels of his shirt and pulled him close. "Why, Horn?" Hawke yelled at him. "Why, Cait?"
Horn started laughing. Seething, Hawke hit him again and walked away.
As Hawke was walking away, he heard Cait's voice in his head.
"Don't walk away, Hawke."
Hawke grabbed his sidearm and whirled around. Horn was holding a handgun on him. He shot missing Hawke, but the ping from the bullet ricocheting off Airwolf was loud. Hawke got Horn in his sites, squeezed the trigger, and shot Horn in the chest.
He holstered his sidearm and walked back to Airwolf.
"Call Michael's men and tell them there's roadkill that needs cleaned up." Hawke put on his helmet, grabbed the stick, and put Airwolf back in the air.