“We’ll grab a bite to eat then head back to my room to map out our next move.”
“Do we even know whether this Barry guy is actually in Ankara?” Zade asked Gabe.
“Homeland’s latest intel says he is, though he has been keeping a low profile since last summer. The man is smart. He knows he’s a suspect in what happened to our SEALS, so he’s been staying out of sight.”
“If the Navy and Homeland have both been looking for this guy, what makes Ryker think we can find him?”
Though, Zade was the one who asked the question, Gabe directed his answer to the whole team.
“Ryker believes the way to Akmar is through Karas. Those above Ryker’s pay grade only want to focus on the big dogs, which is why he handed this to us.”
Matt groaned. “Ankara’s a big city, Boss. It would be hard enough to find someone who wanted to be found. Locating a guy who’s gone dark is gonna be like finding a goddamn needle in a Turkish haystack.”
“Better get your magnifying glasses out, boys. This is the job Ryker’s paying us to do.”
Four days later, after busting their asses, Bravo Team finally found their needle.
Spread out amongst the crowd, each man was strategically positioned in the seats of the amphitheater located in Segmenler Park, the central point of Ankara.
Tonight’s performance was a benefit concert consisting of songs sung by various local artists. Being forced to sit and listen to a bunch of lyrics he couldn’t understand was annoying as fuck.
Nate was fluent in several languages including Spanish, Dari, Pashto. But not Turkish.
“Anyone have eyes on our guy?”
Gabe’s low voice came through the covert earpiece each team member wore. They served as both receivers and mics, which made concealment that much easier, and their sensitivity was so high, a mere whisper came through clear as a bell.
Even more than the others, Nate appreciated the fact that McQueen spared no expense when it came to buying tools of the trade.
“Nothing yet,” he responded under his breath.
The bands were between sets, so several people had gotten out of their seats and were moving around.
“Hold that thought.” Zade’s voice came through next. Then, just as quickly, he said, “Nope. Never mind. That’s a negatory, Boss.”
“I’ve got nothing on my end,” Kole spoke up. “I don’t get it. If this guy’s supposed to be hiding out, why would he come here with all these people around?
“He’s hiding in plain sight,” Nate explained to his friend a split second before Matt chimed in.
“I’ve got him. My two o’clock. Second section from the stage. Fourth row, seven seats from the east.”
All coms were silent as they waited for Gabe to give the next directive.
“Stand down for now. Keep him in your sight, Turner. Carter, do you have a visual?”
Nate casually glanced that direction, but his view was obstructed by two young women standing nearby. They whispered and giggled like most women did, but it wasn’t until he moved his eyes upward that he realized one was smiling straight back at him.
Both women were attractive, and if he weren’t on the job…
Another woman’s face flashed through Nate’s mind. Suddenly, it wasn’t some strange woman smiling back at him. It was Gracie.
She was wearing the same yellow sundress she’d had on at Kole’s a few days ago. Like that night, her hair was down and falling across her bare shoulders.
Nate watched as she licked her lips and gave him a look that said she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He was about to stand up and go to her when Gabe’s voice hit his ear once more.
“Carter? Do you copy?”
Nate blinked and looked again. Of course, Gracie wasn’t there, and now the other woman whohadbeen smiling at him wore a wary expression.
