Milwaukee Deep

“Did you bring the money with you?”

“That wasn’t the arrangement,” replied Colonel David Fanning, “you supply me with the account number and I process the transaction here for you to verify – you should know that.”

Milascavic looked across at one of his men. The tallest of the three nodded his head in acknowledgement and walked over to the desk and opened the bottom drawer. He retrieved a small white card and handed it over to him and walked back to stand once again with the rest of his brothers.

“And the weapon?” asked Fanning

“It is here. You do what we say and then I show weapon.”

The Colonel looked around the room. He could see Milascavic’s entourage, three large men all standing in line, all holding automatic weapons. As soon as he entered the account number into the laptop and transferred the funds he feared they would ask for more money or worse yet, kill him. He thought of them as thugs, not businessmen. Being a public servant, what he hadn’t factored in was the capacity of a vast sum of money to transform even the most brutal thug into a reasoned businessman.

“No, you show me the weapon first – there’s no deal without checking it first.”

There was a moment of silence.

Milascavic glared at Fanning.

Fanning stared back, unmoved, waiting calmly for Milascavic’s response.

“Show him the weapon,” he finally said.

The first of Milascavic’s men immediately walked into the adjoining bedroom and returned with an aluminium briefcase. He placed it on the table by the window and unlocked it. Moving very slowly and with a gentleness that belied his paw-like hands, he opened the lid and glided back from the briefcase.

“You see?” Milascavic asked.

Fanning walked over to the weapon and examined it.

He looked over to Milascavic’s entourage and raised his finger, signalling for them to wait. Keeping eye contact, he pulled out a thin electronic device from his top shirt pocket. The device resembled a thermometer.

“I need to check the plutonium signature, okay?”

The entourage did not respond, nor did Milascavic. This was the riskiest part of the exchange. If the signature didn’t meet specifications then the deal was off and deprived of the vast sum that spoke to the businessmen in the brutes, the brutes would rise and indulge the thugs. Fanning knew the risk he was taking but only a thin line of perspiration on his forehead betrayed him.

He ran the device over the briefcase slowly, willing it to work, until finally it chimed. He turned and walked over to his laptop that sat on the hall table near the entrance. Checking the number displayed on the device, he entered the seven digit code into his laptop computer and waited for the reading to appear.

“What is this for?” barked Milascavic.

“I’m not buying a nuclear weapon that had its plutonium refined in the United States,” he said with a bravado he did not feel.

The computer stopped reading.

“Okay, its all clear,” said a relieved Fanning, “now let’s finish this.”

Tom Harding sat on a park bench in Bryant Park waiting for his contact to arrive. He watched calmly as two young boys and their mother walked passed him. His gaze then focused on a group of Japanese tourists walking together through the park on their way to the New York Public Library.

“Tom Harding,” said a voice to his right.

Harding turned to face the man who had approached him

“Lieutenant Tasker?”

“That’s right, I’m glad you made it, Harding.”

The Lieutenant looked around with some apprehension.

“Can we walk and talk?” he asked.

“Suit yourself,” replied Harding.

Tasker took a few steps forward along the path before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

“Smoke?” he asked as he showed Harding the packet

“No thank you,” replied Harding, “So what’s this all about, Lieutenant? I am a busy man.”

“Like I said on the phone, Harding, I’m a close friend of General White. I was in contact with him on a daily basis – until yesterday.”

“Do you believe that something has happened to the General, Lieutenant?” Harding asked.

“Like I said I haven’t heard from him for more than 24 hours – it’s not looking good.”

“And why do you need to hear from him?”

“Look, Harding, just so you know, I know about Milwaukee Deep. I know about Crane, I know everything.”

“Go on,” Harding said.

“Well the reason I needed to hear from the General was to help him in his quest to stop Crane.”

“Stop Crane? From what?” asked Harding.

The Lieutenant stopped walking and turned to face Harding.

“From destroying New York. Crane’s gone too far this time, Harding; he wants to destroy this city to make sure that the virus doesn’t get out.”

“Excuse me’?”

“He enlisted the help of General White to use a weapon…a weapon so powerful it would have destroyed all five boroughs – did you hear about that failed terrorist attack in the Bronx?”

“Yes, but I tho-.”

“That was Crane and if it wasn’t for the General sabotaging the weapon, you and I wouldn’t be here today.”

Harding turned around to gauge his surroundings – a female jogger brushed past both men as they stood in the middle of the pathway.

“Hold on, just so we’re clear – you’re telling me that Crane literally wants to destroy New York City?”

“Yes, the city, the surrounding areas – everything.”

“To eliminate the virus?”

“Yes – his exact words to White was that he’d eliminate millions to save billions.”

“And where’s White now?” Harding asked

“Dead I presume. Like I said, he was going to call, but he hasn’t. Crane must have found out that White had deliberately sabotaged the attempt to destroy the city…after that Crane was sure to act.”

Harding rubbed the back of his neck.

“So what now?”

“Well you’ve got to help me stop him, Harding,” Tasker replied, “He’s hell bent on acting out this insane plan.”

“Not anymore,” replied Harding

“Because of one failed attempt? No, I don’t think so, Harding; I specifically remember the General saying that Crane would use nuclear force as an alternative.”

“No, because I have Burton.” Harding remarked.

“What!? When!?

“A few hours ago – he’s stashed away, safe – there’s no risk to anyone where he is.”

“Stashed away – what do you mean, you haven’t killed him?”

“No,” replied Harding, “there’s no need.”

“No need? What do you mean? This man could wipe out the human race and you’re telling me that there’s no fucking need.”

“Lieutenant, with all due respect, you don’t know all the facts.”

“Harding you have to kill him.”

“I don’t have to do anything, Lieutenant - now if you don’t mind, I’ve got a phone call to make.”

“Don’t fuck this one up Harding - if that virus gets airborne you know what will happen.”

“Yes, Lieutenant, I do. Thanks for the intel,” and Harding turned and walked away.