Milwaukee Deep
Chapter 59

As the siren continued to sound, Matner began the search for an escape. They had left him there during the mayhem, not giving a career thief the respect he deserved – forty three break-ins in total, seven counts of aggravated assault, six counts of grand theft auto and the regrettable killing of a security guard during the last of three bank robberies.

Matner spotted a connecting corridor – it travelled in the opposite direction from where he had entered.

As he moved towards it, he turned and saw the transport ship sitting there in the holding dock.

He stopped moving.

“What do you think?” he said out loud, discussing his options with himself.

Again, he checked the corridor.

Again, he checked the alien body that lay silent and still on the icy floor.

“Fuck it.” It was a statement of defiance, designed to give him the courage to undertake what he planned.

He raced over to the transport ship and started looking for the entry panel.

The black, sleek, pear shaped vessel bore little resemblance to anything on earth, yet Matner instinctively ran to the back of the ship, recalling the day he boarded it all those years ago.

“Come on,” he said as he ran his hand along the icy metal, trying to replace the controls that opened the door.

“Come on!”

Harding could feel the sweat forming on his brow.

As he sat there alone in front of the aluminium case he knew he had to act.

“Focus,” he said out loud to himself.

Reaching over he grabbed Bracken’s cordless drill from the bag and began the ever so careful task of drilling into the side of the aluminium casing.

Slowly he pushed the drill against the metal until the metal gave way and the hole appeared.

Grabbing the micro camera from the bag, he fed it through the opening and turned to the LCD screen to get a closer look at the locking mechanism.

It was all clear – no sign of tampering.

Taking a deep breath, he unlocked the aluminium case.

The timer was the first thing he saw – the red LED lights flickering up at him - it read 15:33:21

Harding pulled out his cell phone - he dialled Perks’ number.

Waiting for the call to connect he kept his eyes on the timer.

“Perks, it’s me,” he finally said, “we’ve got it in our possession – you won’t need that bunker after all.”

“Thank God. Have you disarmed it yet?”

“No, not yet,” Harding took a moment, “In fact, Anthony, I’m not planning to.”

“What?”

“Remember the words, ‘double cross’, well I think it’s time we paid our friends down below a visit.”

“Hold on, you’re not planning to…?”

“Damn right I am. There’s no other way to make certain they won’t release another.”

Perks went silent.

“How much time do you have?” he asked

“Fifteen hours – given its going to take me around three to four to get to the transport ship, I’d say I have in total ten hours to drop it off and get back to the surface.”

“That’s cutting it fine, wouldn’t you say?”

Harding didn’t respond immediately – he took a moment to contemplate what he was planning to do.

“It is – but what else can I do?”

“It’s suicide.”

“It’s my watch, Anthony – I won’t send one of my men in my place. Besides I won’t be the first person to die for the common good. I’m just hoping I won’t be the last.”

Perks took a moment to respond.

“Look I’ve got an idea – maybe you won’t have to do this yourself. Head on down here before you make your way to the transport ship and I’ll have an alternative for you.”

“And what’s that?” Harding asked.

“Just get going – call me back when you’re on route and I’ll explain everything to you.”