Extreme Measures (A Brady Hawk Novel Book 20)

clear everything up.”
Nelson leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “I doubt it. For starters, she’s undergoing a medical procedure today and won’t be available. Secondly, if you don’t have a paper granting you access, it doesn’t matter who you are or what my boss told you because you’re not getting in.”
“We’re on the same team,” Alex said. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Nelson shook his head vigorously. “We are not on the same team, at least not when it comes to your discriminating policies that want to remove hard-working people from this country. Just know that no person is illegal.”
“We’re not here for a policy debate,” Hawk said. “We just need to do our job. I’m sure you understand.”
“And I’m sure you understand that I am doing my job by refusing to grant you access to Nicolo’s warehouse,” Nelson said. “If you want to get inside, get a warrant. Otherwise, I think we’re done here.”
Hawk didn’t budge. “We’re not going to be done until you let us inside.”
Nelson stood and strode toward the door and opened it. He pointed into the hallway. “Don’t make me call security, Agent Wells. With my boss out of the office today and you clearly not in possession of a warrant, you’re not going to say or do anything that will suddenly change the situation and give you permission to go inside the Nicolo warehouse.”
“Fine,” Alex said, slapping the table before she got up. “We won’t take up any more of your time. But we’d appreciate extreme discretion regarding our conversation. If anyone finds out that we’re here, it has the potential to ruin our inspection, not to mention compromise security within our own borders. And I’m sure you don’t want that to happen, do you?”
Nelson glared at Alex. “You can see yourself out.”
Alex walked past Nelson, while Hawk offered his hand as he patted the zealous port deputy on the shoulder. Nelson ignored Hawk’s gesture as he nodded toward the door.
The two agents exited the building and waited until they were in their vehicle to speak.
“That went over like a lead balloon,” Alex said.
“We’ll just have to get creative,” Hawk said.
“What are you thinking?”
“Don’t worry,” he said, turning his hand over to reveal the security card he palmed off Nelson. “I’ve already got a plan.”
* * *
JUST AFTER DARK, Hawk and Alex returned to the port. The guard at the station granted them access after they flashed their DHS badges. Using Nelson’s card, they were able to enter the secure portion of the facility.
“That was too easy,” Alex said.
“There’s still the matter of getting into Nicolo’s storage area where all the products are held before being cleared to enter the country,” Hawk said.
“Leave that to me,” she said.
Hawk gestured for Alex to take the lead. He appreciated plenty of things about his wife, especially her sense of confidence.
Alex walked up to the gatehouse and flashed her badge as she began talking. “I’m Agent Clark with the Department of Homeland Security, and we’re running some random checks on several importers. And lucky you, your company has been selected.”
The guard scowled as he took a closer look at Alex’s badge. “I’m not familiar with this process. And I’m not authorized to open up the warehouse to anyone.”
“You don’t need anyone’s permission to do this,” she said. “Uncle Sam gives us all the authority we need to inspect this place.”
“Well, Agent Clark, I’m not on Uncle Sam’s payroll, and the man who signs my checks told me not to open the gates for anyone under any circumstances.”
Alex leaned in a little closer. “Don’t you find that a little fishy, Mr.”—she paused as she glanced at his name tag—“Collier?”
“I’ve been working here three years and I’ve never heard of such a thing, so the only thing that’s truly fishy right now is you.”
“Being stubborn can be bad for your physical health,” she said. “Now, are you the only one on duty right now?”
“Look, lady, I’m not opening this gate for you, no matter how much you threaten me. So, I would appreciate it if you would back away from the window and be on your way.”
“Have it your way,” she said as she stepped aside.
Hawk, who had stayed out of view during Alex’s conversation, loaded a tranquilizer dart into his gun. He slid in front of the window and fired at the guard. After a brief struggle, the guard slumped to the floor.
Alex opened the door to the guardhouse and knelt next to the man as she searched for his keys.
“I warned you,” she said.
“Let’s hurry up,” Hawk said. “We don’t have much time.”
The keychain contained about two dozen keys. Hawk tried a handful of them before finding one that opened the gate. They hustled inside as they both pulled out their flashlights and weapons.
“You take the left side of the room,” Hawk said. “I’ll take the right.”
They darted off in opposite directions, searching for containers from Bolivia. After prying open several wooden cartons, Hawk found little of interest. Plastic toys, candles, stuffed animals. He inspected a few of the items, even ripping the stuffing out of a teddy bear. Nothing but fluff.
“You finding anything?” Hawk called to Alex.
“Nada,” she said. “All the shipping labels are matching up with what I’m finding inside. And I’m not seeing anything close to weapons.”
Hawk shined his light near the back corner of the warehouse. He furrowed his brow as he hustled toward the container.
"Now, what do we have here?" he asked aloud.
Hawk shoved his gun in the back of his pants and placed the flashlight in his mouth. He needed both hands to operate the bolt cutters. As he prepared to slice into the metal, he staggered forward after getting hit in the back with a baton. Hawk dropped the tool so he had both hands free to catch himself. He hit the ground and then whirled back to see who’d perpetrated the attack.
Two men hovered over him, both with their weapons drawn.
“Don’t make another move,” said