Milwaukee Deep

Agent Cooper turned to Agent Paul Esterson.

“I think I’ve got something.”

“What?”

Cooper clicked on his mouse and moved the computer monitor in Esterson’s direction.

“Look at this. The Cadillac is seen leaving Columbia University here. It makes its way down Broadway heading south. It then takes 8th Avenue, turns right and makes its way north up 9th Avenue here. Now this is where it gets interesting. The vehicle takes the Lincoln Tunnel Expressway, but doesn’t exit the Lincoln Tunnel until sixty five minutes later, that’s an hour and five minutes to make your way through the tunnel.”

“Could it have been an accident in the tunnel that caused the delay?”

“No, I looked into that. The reports from transit show a steady flow on that day – besides if you follow this car,” Cooper pointed to a ninety four, three series BMW that rode in front of the Cadillac as it entered the tunnel, “you can see quite clearly that it exits here fourteen minutes later.”

“So it stopped in the tunnel.”

“Yes, which means they’ve taken him out of the car.”

“Could be a switch,” Karidis said.

“Could be, or they could have stashed him in one of the maintenance rooms in the tunnel.”

“No, I think it’s more than likely they switched him and put him in another car.”

“Then why take an hour?” Cooper asked, “If they switch him, it’s twenty minutes tops and even that’s pushing it.”

Karidis looked across at Cooper.

“Good point - let’s get down there and check it out.”

Perks walked in on Sam and Jensen sitting quietly in the room adjacent to where Michael was being kept. Sam was sitting alone at the table with a deck of cards in one hand and a drink in the other, while Jensen lay on the couch in the far corner of the room, his eyes staring up at the ceiling, a time magazine resting on his chest.

“Gentlemen, I certainly don’t wish to disrupt this riveting moment, but would you both please come with me.”

Sam and Phil gave each other a quick look then rose and followed Perks into the room that housed Michael.

“What’s this about?” asked Sam

“Have you heard something?” Jensen added.

As all three men made their way inside, Michael rose from his gurney.

“Michael, come over here,” Perks called out as he made his way over to the computer terminal.

“Where’s Stevens?” asked Perks.

“He’s down in the bunker getting things ready, just in case,” replied Jensen.

“On that,” Sam said, “have you heard anything – is this what it’s about?”

“Sort of,” replied Perks.

Perks flicked the microphone switch.

“I called you all in here to discuss something. Harding is on route as we speak – he found the weapon, so everything’s going to be just fine.”

“Oh thank God,” interrupted Jensen

“However, Harding has decided not to disarm the weapon.”

“He’s what?” Sam said.

“Let me finish. We all know what they have planned for us and we all know that right now they could be contemplating the release of more men, like Michael here, to ensure that they get the job done. So, because of this imminent threat, Harding has proposed that we eliminate that risk and plant the weapon on their ship tonight and end this once and for all.”

There was silence.

“Now, Michael, Sam mentioned to me that you have asked us for assistance – that you want help in ending your own life,” Perks said as looked over to the man in the chamber, “I recall the words ‘take control of the situation’, ‘go out on your own terms’. Is that still how you feel?”

Michael glanced over to Sam and then back at Perks.

“Yes,” he said, “I don’t want to stay here and wait any longer for the inevitable.”

“So what if I told you that you could return the favour. That tonight you can make sure that they remember you forever – would you be interested?”

“Perks, what are you saying?” Sam asked.

“I’m saying that Tom Harding is about to embark on a mission tonight that he knows he won’t return from, and I’m asking Michael here if he wants to take his place.”

Michael again turned to Sam – this was all happening way too fast.

“But are you willing to risk Michael being outside the chamber?” Jensen asked

“I am, yes, but the real question is, is Michael?”

For a moment the room was shrouded in complete silence.

“Yes,” Michael finally spoke up, “the answer is definitely yes.”