He looks at me and gestures to my bruised cheek. “So… how’s it going?”
I shrug. “Oh, we’ve been having a blast… You good?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” He looks at the others. “This the rest of the team?”
I nod. “Yeah, this is Ruby DeSouza…” She nods at him, a gesture he returns. “And this is my arms dealer, Oscar.”
“Arms dealer, huh? This doesn’t sound like your usual gig…”
Oscar smiles humorlessly and casts an unhappy glance at me. “It’s not.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “Forgive ol’ Oscar here—he’s always a little cranky before lunch. Come on, we need to make tracks. You can put your car in our space, we’ll take our ride.”
He nods. “Okay. You figured out a plan yet?”
“I have. I’ll tell you on the way.”
12:35 EDT
Oscar’s driving, and we’re coasting along Route 40 toward I-295, which will take us into Wilmington, Delaware. I asked Ruby where her friend lives—the one who put together the body wrap she wore just before she was committed to Stonebanks. That needs to be our first call.
Ruby’s up front, staring straight ahead in a kind of trance. I think she’s psyching herself up or something. There’s a very somber atmosphere in the car. No one has ever experienced a global war before. I fought in Desert Shield, but that wasn’t on the same scale as World War II, for example. What’s happening now… all this… is. And the real kicker is that because of 4/17, the North Koreans are just walking in and doing what they damn well please. It’s a very worrying time. Even though we know the fighting is on the other side of the world, we can’t help looking up every now and then to see if there are any planes overhead waiting to drop bombs on us. The people not directly under attack are slowly being crushed by their own paranoia. The scenes on the news say it all—it’s chaos.
I do have complete faith in Josh and GlobaTech, don’t get me wrong. They have a ridiculous amount of manpower and technology, but at the end of the day they’re essentially one company—not an army, a company—fighting an entire nation. And Cunningham’s played it just right so the United States doesn’t look bad for not getting involved, because GlobaTech has been billed as the savior for everyone—thanks to the president’s marketing machine.
I’ve brought Jonas up to speed on everything, in light of us getting Matthews’ paperwork. I think it actually opened his eyes to the scope of this thing. When we first spoke back in New Hampshire, he seemed skeptical that anyone would do this for reasons other than money and fame, but now I think he gets that this is about more than just a big payday.
I guess now is as good a time as any to tell them my big idea. This should cheer them up…
“Okay everyone, listen up.” I shift slightly in my seat behind Oscar. Ruby turns around so she’s facing the rest of us. Beside me, Jonas looks across patiently. “This is what’s going to happen. First, we stop off at Wilmington and get some disguises from Ruby’s friend. I’ve seen this person’s work firsthand,” I glance at Ruby, who smiles, “and it’s brilliant. We’re not talking any extreme Mrs. Doubtfire shit—we’re going to get a little makeover in order to conceal our features enough to buy us a little more freedom once we hit the capital.”
“That’s all well and good,” says Jonas, “but how do you intend getting inside the White House, exactly? There won’t be any tours or anything, given we’re at war with North Korea. That place is gonna be locked down tighter than Snow White’s chastity belt.”
“You’re right, it is. But I’ve already thought of that, and it’s all taken care of.”
Ruby chuckles. “Adrian, I’ve known you long enough now to know that it’s never a good sign when you plan things in this much detail! Your track record—”
“—doesn’t mean a damn thing, sweetheart. This is the job that changes all the rules, you understand? This is the job that people in our line of work aspire to be a part of. This plan will work. It has to…”
She holds her hands up in silent apology.
“I’ve located a company that does contract work for the government. We’re going to pose as an emergency on-call team from Tyger Security and say we’re there to upgrade the systems, as per a request from the Secret Service. There’s a van waiting for us in Annapolis, Maryland, with uniforms and IDs for us all, and our credentials will already be entered into the system for when we arrive—all courtesy of our friends at GlobaTech.”
I pause to let the first part of the plan sink in. No one speaks so I’m assuming they’re okay with it so far.
“There’ll be a dispersal device in the van as well. Once we’re inside, Jonas—I need you to rig it up to the air conditioning system for the West Wing. It’ll pump nitrous oxide through the vents, which will incapacitate everyone in there for about twenty minutes.”
“Non-lethal?” he asks, sounding surprised.
“Absolutely. A lot of the people working in that building are innocent, we need to remember that.”
He shrugs. “If you say so…”
“It should buy us enough time to breach the Oval Office, then I can take care of the rest.”
“What if he’s not there?” asks Oscar, calling over his shoulder as he navigates the traffic. “The world’s at war—would he not be in the… what’s it called? Situation Room or something?”
“I thought about that. But he’s behind this, remember… He and everyone else on his staff who’s involved will know there’s no immediate threat to the United States, so I’m gambling on them carrying on as normal as a show of strength. They’ll be on high alert, but I think he’ll hold meetings in his office.”
“What if you’re wrong?” asks Ruby.
I shrug. “If I’m wrong, we’ll find him. But I’m starting in the place I think he’s most likely to be. Nothing else we can do. Now, Oscar and I will travel to get the van. Ruby, Jonas… I need the two of you to handle another vital part of the plan before we approach the White House.”
The two of them exchange a quick intrigued glance. Ruby shrugs. “Shoot…”
I pat the briefcase next to me containing Matthews’ evidence. “I need you both to get inside the State Department and deliver this to Elaine Phillips.”
Her eyes go wide. “Are you fucking shitting me? She’s the secretary of state!”
“No, I’m not shitting you. And yes, she is the secretary of state. You’ll have a disguise, and you should be able to at least get inside the front door with no problem. It’s up to you once you’re in there to get to her, give her this case, and convince her we’re not crazy.”
“Adrian, you are crazy,” says Jonas.
I smile. “Thanks.”
Ruby sighs. “Let’s say, just for a moment, we manage to do that… Why her, specifically? Is she not on Cunningham’s payroll?”
“Not according to this information. She’s pretty much the only one who isn’t, though. Cunningham knew he couldn’t just replace her when he took office, so he kept her close and in the dark as much as he could.”
“Jesus… I mean, how… what can…” She gives up and sighs, holding her hands up in defeat. “Whatever. Fine.”
“That’s my girl! Listen, everyone. I know this sounds impossible, but look at what’s happening—look at what’s at stake here. We need to succeed, okay? And I believe we can.”
“No offense, Adrian,” says Jonas. “But you do realize what you’re suggesting is suicidal!”
I sigh. I can’t afford for morale to drop now. “Look, guys, if I didn’t think you could do this, you wouldn’t be here. And for twenty million bucks, you’ve gotta expect some risks. I don’t like this any more than you do, but unless you can think of an alternative, this is the only option that stands any chance of working. I never said this would be easy. I just said it’d be worth doing.”
No one replies. They just face forward in their seats and stare out the window. I know I’m asking a lot of them, but I think we have a genuine shot at pulling
this off. Silence fills the car, and I can’t imagine what must be going through everyone’s head at the moment. Apart from I must be crazy…
“Oscar, pull over just here,” says Ruby, gesturing to a space near the sidewalk.
He brings us to a stop outside a thin three-story house with a wooden porch out front and a short pathway running alongside a modest patch of grass.
She glances back at me. “We’re here.”
13:21 EDT
We stand in a line staring at the house. I have the briefcase in my hand. I’m not letting it out of my sight.
“Okay, listen fellas,” says Ruby. “Veronica is a friend of mine, okay? I don’t want her getting dragged into this. She won’t ask questions, so once we’re done here, just… just forget you ever met her, alright?”
I move over to her and place a hand on her shoulder. She looks me in the eye and we hold each other’s gaze for a moment.
“It’ll be fine,” I say to her. “Come on—after you.”
Ruby smiles briefly and walks toward the door, which opens as she sets foot on the first of the three steps leading to the porch.
“Ruby!” shouts the woman who’s appeared in the doorway. “Get over here, bitch!”
Ruby laughs. “Ronny, you sexy whore!”
Veronica is a full-figured woman with a round face and bright red hair. She has piercings through her nose and the corner of her bottom lip. She’s wearing black leggings and a plain matching sweater. Her smile is genuine and infectious.
They embrace at the top of the steps and disappear inside. The three of us exchange curious glances. I’m not sure what just happened, or what we’re supposed to do now…
Ruby reappears on the porch. “Well, come on!”
We walk inside and I shut the door quietly behind me.
The house is beautiful and stylish, with wooden floors and baseboards lining the hallway, which has stairs to the right, and runs all the way through to the kitchen at the far end. On the opposite side are two rooms, both with their doors closed.
Ruby and her friend are heading into the kitchen, and the three of us follow them down the hall. The house has a nice blend of rustic furnishing and modern appliances. The whole place feels cozy but spacious.
Veronica is sitting at a large table in the middle of the room, and Ruby standing beside her, leaning over and resting on the surface. They’re exchanging pleasantries but look up as we enter.
Ruby moves to join the rest of us. “I really appreciate you helping us out like this, Ronny. I know it’s a lot to ask.”
She shrugs, smiling. “Anything for you, babes, you know that.” She pats her on her shoulder, and Ruby winces. “Shit, are you okay?”
Ruby looks away. “It’s nothing, I… I got shot there yesterday.”
“Say what? Bitch, why aren’t you in the hospital?”
“I was. I stayed a few hours, had surgery, took some painkillers, and we left.”
“We?”
I step forward, smiling politely. “I needed her help. She’s a tough cookie, she’ll be fine.”
Veronica eyes me warily. “Uh-huh… So, babes,” she says, turning back to Ruby, “who are your friends?”
We’re quickly introduced, and I explain what we need from her. Veronica nods along, listening with a professional ear.
“Okay,” she says, finally. “I can do that.” She addresses the group. “The trick with a convincing disguise isn’t to try altering your entire appearance completely. It’s to distort certain aspects of your appearance so it looks natural, but different enough from your normal features.”
I nod. “Makes sense…”
I’ve never thought about the science behind this sort of thing, and it’s actually quite interesting.
Ruby’s friend walks over to me and stops at my side. She’s at least a foot smaller than me. She stretches up, gesturing to my face with her pinky finger. “What we do first is add a prosthetic nose. This is probably the most recognizable feature, and altering that will completely change the dynamic of your face. Next,” she points to the scar I have running down under my eye, “we’ll cover up any obvious blemishes—anything people will see and remember.” She turns to me. “That’s a beauty—mind if I ask how you got it?”
I shrug. “It was a gift from an old acquaintance.”
She raises an eyebrow. “And what did you give them in return?”
I look her in the eyes but say nothing. My lips form a thin line and my jaw muscles twitch… my silence telling a thousand tales.
She chuckles nervously. “Okay… so finally, we accessorize—fake glasses and facial hair for the guys, and different makeup for the lady… something subtle, but a new look with accessories. You won’t recognize your own reflection.”
“This is great,” says Ruby. “Thank you so much for this!”
Veronica moves over to her. “Don’t mention it. So who’s first?”
We all exchange glances. “I’ll do it,” says Jonas after a moment. He smiles. “Make me pretty, will you?”
Veronica rolls her eyes and grabs him by the hand and leads him out of the kitchen. “I’m good, but I’m not a miracle worker, honey…”
They disappear into the first room along the hall, and the door closes behind them. I take a seat at the table, and after a moment Oscar and Ruby join me.
“You okay?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah. You?”
“Yeah…”
“Your friend is quite a character.”
“She’s the best.”
“I’ll make sure she’s taken care of once this is over.”
“I appreciate that, Adrian, thanks.”
She stands and leaves the kitchen, heading for the room where Jonas is getting his makeover. Oscar moves into her seat and clears his throat.
“Adrian,” he says in a hushed tone. “This plan of yours to get inside the White House… it sounds great an’ all, but have you thought about how we’re going to get out again?”
I look him in the eye, tensing my jaw muscles again as I let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I need to talk to you about that…”
24
MEANWHILE…
14:16 EDT
President Cunningham paced back and forth in front of his desk. He looked concerned, even a little nervous, though not for the reasons people might think.
It had been almost eighteen hours since news broke of North Korea’s global invasion. He knew it was coming, but he also knew the first twenty-four hours would be critical. He didn’t expect them to fall at the first hurdle, because many of the countries they’re attacking were crippled beyond any immediate recovery. His concerns had more to do with how significant the attacks were. He needed the world to see that not only were they being threatened, but also that they had no hope. The first and only line of defense anywhere was GlobaTech, which shouldn’t be any match for the full power of North Korea’s forces.
Pacing with him on the opposite side of the Oval Office was Heskith. He looked visibly calmer, but that was more for Cunningham’s benefit. He knew if he looked worried, it would affect his president.
Of the two of them, he was the more grounded. While Cunningham was an idealist and a blind believer in destiny, Heskith looked at the bigger picture and focused on the realistic concerns. He thought GlobaTech’s forces were a more significant threat than Cunningham gave them credit for. Despite having the advantage of knowing every tactical detail about their operations, he still appreciated the dangers of underestimating any enemy.
“What’s the latest?” asked Cunningham, pausing to look at his chief of staff.
“I’m expecting an update from Atkins in a few moments,” Heskith replied. “They’re monitoring everything in real time down in the Situation Room.”
The president sighed. “I should be down there…”
Heskith shook his head. “No, sir, you shouldn’t. Your place is here, showing strength and faith in the face of a crisis. That’s what anyone else in your position would
do.”
“Gerry, anyone else would be down there making decisions and—”
“Mr. President, with respect, what decisions, exactly, would you make? You knew this was going to happen, and we have no intention of deploying any of our own armed forces overseas. Not yet, anyway. Your job, right now, is all PR. You need to look strong and unafraid so the American people feel compelled to put their faith in you. That way, when the time comes, they’ll see your actions as the only logical choice.”
Cunningham started to respond but refrained. He knew Heskith had a point.
A few more minutes of tense silence passed before the intercom buzzed on the president’s desk. He moved toward it and pressed the flashing button. “Yes?”
“Sir, Director Atkins is here for you,” announced his secretary.
“Send him in.”
He exchanged an excited glance with Heskith as the door opened. Dennis Atkins strode purposefully into the room, a folder tucked under his arm. Cunningham was quick to note the troubled look on his face.
“What is it?” he asked him.
Atkins took the folder in his hand and passed it to the president. “This is the latest briefing on the attacks,” he explained. “The Koreans have established themselves in the capital cities of most countries across Asia. Beijing, Moscow, Tokyo, New Delhi—they are all now officially under North Korean rule. There are reports coming in from all over of refugees being slaughtered in the tens of thousands.”
“What about the Middle East?” asked Heskith. “Is there word from Egypt or Saudi Arabia?”
Atkins shook his head. “Nothing as yet. We’re trying to establish a feed via Cerberus, but it’s difficult to do without alerting people to the fact we’re still in control of it. The eyes of the world are everywhere. The media coverage alone could undo us if we’re not careful.”
Cunningham nodded, listening to the report. “What’s wrong, Dennis?” he asked, recognizing there was more on his mind than the invasion. “Besides the obvious…”
A Necessary Kill Page 20
