Monk (K19 Security Solutions 7)

Instead, Ghafor made arrangements to have the arms shipped to Colombia. With that kind of fire-power, Franz and the Islamic State would have the combined ability to take down the Santos administration as well as FARC, and thus, put the CIA’s man back in office.

If word of this got out, that the company collaborated with one of the largest drug cartels in Colombia, it might bring the agency itself down. The US had recently lost one president due to one of the biggest conspiracies in the nation’s history. The one K19 found themselves in the middle of was almost as big.

“How high up does this go, Trap?”

“I can’t answer that.”

Striker looked as angry as Monk had a few minutes ago. “Three of our team are critically injured. One is dead. I want to know

who’s responsible.”

Trap shook his head. “I’m sorry, Striker.”

“Why was our plane in the air in the first place? No one from K19 authorized Onyx’s flight plan. No one pulled the trigger on that part of the mission. I want to know who did, when, and why.”

When Trap shook his head again, Striker pushed past him and got off the plane. A few minutes later, he came back and got right in Trap’s face.

“Someone on that plane was in on this. Who was it? Tell me right fucking now.”

“Corazón.”

“Who was she working for?”

“Santos.”

Monk sat down when Striker did. If he hadn’t, his legs would’ve given out. Razor walked over and put his hand on Monk’s shoulder.

“I gave you specific orders to finish out the op. This isn’t on you, Monk.”

“The fuck it isn’t. I knew she was dirty. Knew it.” What he left unsaid was that because he’d followed orders, there was a chance either Onyx, Tackle, or Halo were dead. Unless she was the one who died, the minute he had the opportunity, he’d kill Corazón with his bare fucking hands.

Trap and Striker were still talking about her, but Monk tuned them out. When he heard Striker say, “She was the fatality,” his head shot up.

“Affirmative,” said Trap. “We believe she was able to convince Onyx that they had the go-ahead to deploy.”

Onyx must’ve somehow figured out Corazón was intercepting the messages and then knew she’d lied to him. Maybe he even realized she was working for the other side. His guess was that once Corazón realized he was on to her, she’d tried to kill him. Or vice versa. They wouldn’t know the whole story until Onyx was able to tell it.

“I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this,” said Dutch. “Corazón and Onyx were tight.”

“The rest of your team has arrived,” said Trap, looking out the window.

Before anyone could stop him, Monk stalked out onto the tarmac. When Doc got off the plane, Monk walked up to him.

“Corazón is dead. She was the double-agent.”

Doc looked into his eyes but didn’t say anything.

“I need to go in and get Onyx out of there. Not just him. Tackle and Halo too. Don’t fight me on this, Doc.”

Like Razor had, the man put his hand on Monk’s shoulder. “Name your team, and before you say anything, I’m your second.”

“Mantis and Dutch.”

“You got it.”

23

“Oh my God,” said Saylor when Razor came to her house a few days later to tell her everything that had happened.