“Can I get you anything? I have Diet Coke and Root Beer.”
The commander laughed, “I could have guessed.”
“What?”
“Nothing. What I am about to ask you goes no further than this room for now. Agreed?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good. As you are aware we are asked to take on missions that either the government wants to keep secret or disavow if something goes wrong. We get the jobs that everyone else is smart enough to pass on. What is unusual is that I have been asked to personally direct this next mission. I would never step on someone’s toes without first explaining the situation.”
“I see. So if I read this right, I would not be Number Two.”
“No. You are still Number Two. I would fill the Number One slot and you would be second in command. I don’t like it especially, but this is what I was asked to do.”
Miller shrugged, “What can I say? I don’t really have a choice do I?”
“Not really. Not this time,” the commander replied.
“Then I guess that is the way it has to be. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Has this anything to do with my performance? If it does, I would rather be left off the mission.”
“Absolutely not. You have to trust me on this. If it was performance related I would be the first to tell you right out. Have you ever seen me pull any punches when it comes to the efficiency of the team?”
“No. It’s just a bit of a letdown. It isn’t often that Number One goes into the field.”
“I understand. I would feel exactly the same way and have the same questions as you do. We aren’t very different. You will retain the previous position of when this mission is over. The only thing different on this mission is that I would like you to be the one to pick the team members. Don’t draw numbers. You select who you want to go along.”
“I’ll take care of it. I can have it to you within the hour if you would like.”
“That would be excellent. We are on a short fuse and as soon as you have them selected, get them to the ready room,” the commander said.
“Will do. And don’t worry, I can handle it.”
“I never doubted it for a second.”
The general stood looking at the two security guards. They had just finished telling their story about Angie Beck.
“That was sloppy work and totally unprofessional. I pay you out of special funds, on top of your regular pay, so that you will be the best, and this is what I get? Hell, I could get some dumbass to handle it that way. What the hell were you thinking? Anyone could have seen you. Christ almighty,” he said flopping down on the edge of his desk.
“Sir, it all happened so fast and we couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t try to complete the call. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
“Hell, cut the phone line you blockhead. Smash the window and jerk it out of her hand. I know, how about this, the lever to hang up was outside the car window. Why not just cut the connection?”
“We didn’t think of that. All we thought about was stopping her.”
“And you’re sure she never completed dialing?”
“Yes sir.”
“Is he right?” he asked the other guard.
“Yes sir.”
“Gentlemen I am very disappointed in your ability to handle this situation professionally. I want you to take her car over to range 64 and park it with the other cars they use for target practice. Take her body out and bury her in Tikaboo Valley, far away from home plate. Do you think you can manage that?”
“Yes sir, general,” the both said.
“Good. Get out of my sight. I want to know when you finish this task. Report directly back to me, understand?”
“Yes sir.”
The general had to smile. It really didn’t make all that much difference. He was going to have her eliminated when the BlackStar was in orbit and operational anyway so the timing made little difference. The two security men would be shaking in their boots, he thought, as a smile crossed his face. He tweaked a line from Apocalypse Now. God, I love the smell of
He drove out to S-4 and took the elevator to Level-10. The BlackStar was sitting on a motorized dolly. He found Gimbel hunched over a laptop computer.
“I think we can start loading tomorrow. We will keep the same routine. I’ll have Level-1 cleared and we will take it up at 02:15. We will load it on a truck and take it directly to hanger 18. Only you and your team will be allowed in the hanger until it is loaded and the cargo bay doors are closed,” he told him.
“What if we need some help of some kind?”
“Send for me. I’ll determine the course of action,” the general said.
“Very well. We will finish covering it later this afternoon and have it ready to take to Level-1 at 2:15 a.m.,” Gimbel replied.
He used civilian time just to piss off the general. It was a small victory but gratifying nonetheless.
“Fine. I will see you then. I will be getting some shut-eye if you need me for anything,” Devin said.
