Milwaukee Deep
Chapter 45

Lieutenant James Tasker sat quietly in the departure lounge at JFK airport. With his trained eyes focused in on David Fanning, he watched through the crowd as Fanning handed in his boarding pass to the attendant of flight AM4573 to Washington.

“Yes he’s getting on now,” Tasked said quietly into his phone, “yes, that’s right I’ll be boarding in a minute.”

“Don’t lose him,” came the order through the line, “he’s the only one who knows where the weapon is.”

“Affirmative.”

Tasker stood up and made his way through the crowd, heading over to gate twenty-two. He handed his boarding pass to the flight attendant and stepped onto the sky bridge to board flight AM4573.

“Sir,” the flight attended interrupted.

Tasker turned around.

“You must turn off that cell phone before boarding,” she said.

The Lieutenant looked down at the cell phone in his hand and closed it.

“Sorry,” he offered, and boarded the plane.

“Stand down!” commanded President Stoker, “I said stand down, gentlemen - NOW!”

All six agents kept their weapons aimed at both the President and his companion. Tom Harding stood still, he arm extended, his weapon drawn and pointed at his aggressors.

“I am your President – you will do as I say!”

Stoker turned to Harding.

“Tom put your weapon down,” he said, “please.”

Harding looked over to the President and lowered his weapon.

Stoker turned back to the group of agents - he focused in on one of them.

“Tony,” he said calmly, “order your men to lower their weapons.”

Agent Tony Hudson looked back at President Stoker.

“I’m sorry; Sir, but I have my orders.”

“Your orders are invalid,” Harding interrupted, “Crane’s no longer running the show.”

“I’d say Crane would dispute that,” replied Hudson

“Well that’s where you’re wrong - Crane’s dead.”

The President turned to Harding.

“What? Crane’s dead? When, how?”

“Not more than ten minutes ago, Sir. I’m sorry, Mr President, but he left me no choice. He’s in your office, Sir, lying down on the job behind your desk.”

Hudson turned to his fellow agents.

“That’s right, gentlemen,” said Harding, “right now you’re aiming your weapons at your commander in chief.”

Hudson raised his communicator to his mouth, his other hand still holding the weapon aimed at both Harding and the President.

“Agent Stark, do you copy?”

“Copy that, Stark here”

“Are you anywhere near the Oval Office?”

“I’m covering the hallway leading to it, why?”

“Do me a favour. Walk in and check to see if Crane’s okay.”

Agent Hudson stood there in silence waiting for verification.

Both Harding and the President looked over at each other.

“Sir, we’ve got a problem” came through the call over Hudson’s radio, “Crane’s been shot, repeat, Crane has been shot.”

“Is he alive, Agent Stark?”

“That’s a negative, Sir.”

Hudson looked at Stoker.

“It’s over, Agent Hudson,” Harding said, “right now you need to make a choice – fight us or stand with us.”

Hudson and the other agents stood in silence, all of them unsure what to do next.

“Your President has given you an order,” Harding continued.

Hudson slowly lowered his weapon.

“Mr President,” he said finally. He turned to his group. “Everyone lower your weapons.”

They all obeyed and lowered their weapons.

“Perkins, Wicoski, sweep the area and tend to the wounded. Feilke, Marks, Brookes, clear the President’s office – make sure you leave no trace.”

The group disbanded; their orders in place.

Harding turned to the President.

“Sir we’ve got to get you to Air Force One,” he said.

“No, Harding, I’m needed here.”

“Mr President, it’s not safe – there’ll be fall out from New York.”

Stoker looked at Harding.

“Tom, for far too long I’ve sat back and done nothing – it’s now my time to lead this nation.”

The President turned to Agent Hudson.

“Tony, replace me Harry Bell immediately and bring him to my office. Harding, come with me.”

As the President began to walk down the corridor, Harding stayed back to speak to Agent Hudson.

“Bell has the President’s son. Make sure he tells you exactly where he is.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Harding walked off and caught up with Stoker.

“Sir, how are we going to replace this weapon? I don’t know who Crane’s contact is.”

“Don’t worry, Tom, I have someone who may be able to help.”

Striding purposefully, the President and Harding reached administration.

“Irene, hold all calls, no interruptions,” Stoker walked past his secretary and headed for the Oval Office door.

“Yes, Mr President.”

As Stoker and Harding walked into the Oval Office, Crane’s body was being attended to by Hudson’s men.

The President waited patiently until the agents had left the room.

The President picked up the phone. He dialled extension 4268.

“General Conwrey, has your man made contact yet?”

“Yes, Sir, Mr President, he’s on board as we speak.”

“Excellent. Make the necessary arrangements to have him picked up as soon as he lands.”

“Yes, Sir, I will.”

“General, there’s been a change in command – Crane’s no longer in charge. I have assumed control. I want you to know that secrecy regarding this situation is no longer required. I will be calling on you and your resources very shortly to deal with this situation.”

“Yes Sir, Mr President. Thank God, Sir.”

“Once you have our man, make sure you replace out exactly where he’s planted that weapon.”

“Yes, Sir - I will call you as soon as we have him and the location.”

“Thank you, General,” the President put down the receiver.

“Sir, what’s going on?” asked Harding.

Stoker sat down in the Presidential chair.

“General Conwrey made contact with me not more than ten hours ago, telling me of Crane’s horrifying plan to destroy New York City. A Lieutenant Tasker who was working closely with General White had approached Conwrey after White disappeared.”

“Yes I know Tasker, he contacted me in New York.”

“Well thanks to him we found out what Crane was planning. The General took a chance by telling me, knowing it was make or break.”

“I’m glad he did, Mr President,” Harding said.

“So am I, Tom. When I dreamt of running for office I had no idea what went on behind the scenes. I should have walked away the moment Crane approached me back when I was Governor.”

“Sir, it’s not your fault.”

“Yes it is, Tom, and I have to live with that.”

“But it changes today, Sir.”

“It does. From now on this administration will aim to serve the people of this nation and not itself.”

“Does that start with the evacuation of New York, Mr President?”

Stoker looked at Harding – he didn’t reply.

“We don’t have much time, Mr President. From what Crane said we have only thirty hours before this thing detonates. And it will take a lot more than 30 hours to evacuate New York.”

The President closed his eyes.

“I’m afraid if we evacuate and let the public know what’s happened then Crane wins regardless of whether or not the weapon detonates. If they realise that it’s nuclear force, then the people will demand to know how this happened and who was responsible – more so they’ll demand we act. If we’re forced into that corner then I’m afraid we’ll be forced to do what Crane had wanted, especially if we don’t stop it in time. If, however, we keep the people indoors – implement a red alert across all of the Tri-State area, then at the very least they won’t suspect a nuclear weapon. We won’t be forced to retaliate in the same way – they won’t demand it. Tom, I know I’m asking for a lot here, but if we can use the resources we’ve got to replace this weapon instead of evacuating the city, then we’ve got a chance to stop the seemingly inevitable – we’ve got a chance to save America from its worst enemy – itself.”