CHAPTER 4

A Week Later

12:15 PM

Ronnie's Diner

Weaving through traffic at thirty over the speed limit, Lexa swung around a dark colored SUV that was only doing five over and slipped between two other cars as she skidded into the parking lot and screeched to a halt about six inches in front of the glass front door.

Swinging off the motorcycle, she pulled off her helmet, causing long golden blond locks to come tumbling across her back and effectively gaining the attention of every person in the area, she strode purposefully into the dining room, a large manila envelope in hand.

Sitting down at the table in the chair across from Hawke, the sudden, shocked silence gradually changed into a steady murmuring.

"Nothing like subtlety."

"It wasn't necessary in this case," Lexa retorted, sending him an arrogant smile, "besides, I like making a memorable entrance."

"It will be memorable alright, memorable enough for me to wonder how you ever got in the spy game and even more how you've stayed alive this long."

"I've got the skills they need, the rest isn't important. Now, are you ready to see what your money bought you?"

"I've been ready."

She held up the envelope which he snatched up greedily and immediately tore open to start sifting through the contents, stopping only at a dark picture of too many soldiers cramped into a tiny cage. At least two of them appeared to already be dead or at least well on the way, and the others all looked quite a bit worse for wear.

"Your brother is believed to be being held by Tran van Long the son of his warlord father and believes this is a just punishment for the tragic accidental napalm bombing of his village. He says that he isn't going to make any trades and anyone sent to bargain or attempt a rescue will immediately be shot on site, no questions asked," Lexa explained. "He is very well armed, and to make matters worse, rumor has it he is planning to move the surviving prisoners some time in the next week, but no one knows exactly when or where."

"So I have to get over there, the faster the better."

"You going isn't good enough; you're going to need backup. I know you're the unstoppable Stringfellow Hawke paired with your indestructible monster copter, but this guy isn't going to go down easily and you're going to need more than an improvised plan you make up as you go along. And that whole flying by the seat of your pants thing is fine if you can handle it, but there are some things you need to know first."

"I'm listening."

"In appearance maybe, your mind is already off in la la land imagining the perfect reunion between two brothers that were separated who knows how long ago."

"It'll be eighteen years this July fourth."

"Exactly my point. Get the reunion out of your head until you have him out of Vietnam in one piece, then ya'll can talk and hug and all that until your heart is content.

"Now, you're going to need an engineer, someone who knows the controls well and can load a Hellfire or Bullpup at a moment's notice. Secondly, since I'm assuming you'll insist on piloting, you need a co-pilot who can handle things if you're injured, gone, or in any other way hindered from doing your job. Personally, I'd take at least another person or two who are good on the ground but can also fly if necessary, the more people who can serve double duty the better. You need to warn anyone you hire or con into coming with you about all the inherent risks too because there will be plenty of them and no guarantees you'll come back in one piece, if at all."

He had resumed flipping through the papers, hoping for a better shot of his brother, when Lexa laid her hand over the papers, impeding his view.

"Think about it, String," she told him earnestly. "Really think about it and don't jump in head first before you realize what you're getting yourself into."

He stopped short for a sobering moment. Lexa didn't call him String. Hawke yes, a teasing Stringfellow, yes, but String no, not since way back in Germany. She was deadly serious. She knew him well enough to know he had a tendency to let the emotions take control especially when his brother was involved, and from her tone…. It sounded almost like she actually cared. Since when did that happen?

"I don't know he is there, but I do know this guy in dangerous and there is a very good possibility you and part of the team you take in with you won't make it back. Is that a chance you are willing to take for a brother who might or might not be alive?"

"I'd do anything to get him back."

"What about the others?"

"I'll warn them of the risks," he promised, "I'm going though whether or not anyone else comes with me."

"I do know of one person you could take with you. She already knows about Airwolf and her capabilities so she's not an additional security risk, good on the ground, can fly if necessary, lots of covert experience, pretty cheap pay too."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I need you to drop me off in Germany on the way back though."

"You? You don't even like me, I don't like you, and you don't even believe Saint John is alive. Why would come with me?"

"It'd be a new challenge, and I need to find a way to Germany without flying commercial."

"The FIRM doesn't even take care of dropping off their agents anymore?"

"The FIRM yes, but they would probably rather I didn't go, not too fond of trigger happy agents in the middle of their peace conferences I guess, the CIA, on the other hand, needs me to pickup a special aircraft and the flight options didn't quite work out. So what do you say? Ride to Germany for an extra team member?"

"What if you don't make it out? Who will go to Germany then?"

Lexa shrugged, "they'll figure out something. Is it a deal?"

"Fine, I'll take you, but no funny stuff, got it?"

"Crystal clear, there is one more little favor I need to ask of you though….."