Milwaukee Deep

“You said to me once that there’s still a way we can stop all of this from happening,” Michael said as he looked across at Sam through six inches of reinforced glass, “but I just can’t see that being the case any more – can you?”

Sam lowered his head. He was tired of this whole mess – of continually giving his new friend false hope.

“No,” he replied, looking down at the microphone, “I’m so sorry, Michael, but no I can’t.”

Burton raised his head slightly – a realisation now confirmed.

“I want you to do something for me,” he asked.

“Anything,” replied Sam.

Michael took in a deep breath.

“I want you to help me end my life.”

Sam looked up.

“What?”

“Look, I know that if I die then the virus is released, but the thing is the virus is going to be released either way - at least if we control the way it’s released, then we can ensure that it’s captured within these walls.”

Sam didn’t respond – he didn’t know how to.

“The longer I’m alive, Sam, the more chance there is of something going wrong.”

Sam sat at the computer terminal in silence.

“You said it yourself, there’s no way to stop all of this from happening. I’m sick and I’m tired of waiting here for death to come get me, Sam. I can’t remember my past – I don’t know who I really am anymore - this is torture.”

“But what you’re asking of me…”

“I know and I’m sorry, Sam, but the longer I’m alive the greater the risk this virus will get out and that means the greater the risk to my daughter – she’s the only thing I truly love in this world, so please, Sam, please, let me protect that – let me protect her.”

Sam looked across at Burton through the thick glass. He could see the look in his eyes.

“I understand, Michael,” he replied softly, “Let me go and talk to Phil - I’ll see what I can come up with.”

“Sir, I think you’d better come and have a look at this!”

Harding looked up and saw Agent Cheapston standing in the far corner of the control room waving his hand.

“Call Major Nordau and reconfirm that Broadway Junction has the green light,” Harding said to Agent Turner before heading over to Cheapston.

“What is it, Cheapers?” he said as he approached

Cheapston pointed to the LCD screen on the wall.

Harding looked up and saw the words ‘Breaking News’ in bold letters written across the bottom of the television.

“I guess it’s now out there,” Cheapston replied

“Turn it up.”

…It has been confirmed - the sole reason we have a Severe Threat Level issued by the Homeland Security Advisory Board across the New York Tri-State area is specifically due to an imminent attack set by terrorists on board a New York subway train. We are now crossing live over to Jane Stockwell who is standing outside the New York Transit authority headquarters in Brooklyn. Jane, can you tell us what exactly is going on? ...

Harding looked over at Agent Cheapston.

...All I can tell you, Terry, is we have confirmation that a bomb has been placed on board one of New York’s subway trains and an enormous search team of service men and women has been put together, and, at this very moment they are combing every inch of every train across the entire New York line in an attempt to find it before it explodes...

...Have you been able to speak to anyone about the search, Jane?...

...Well as you can see behind me, Terry, the headquarters of New York’s transit system is under heavy guard with soldiers standing post outside its main entrance. I have tried to get a response from the authorities inside, but have not yet been able to get past the front gate...

...Do we know how large or what type of bomb is on board the train, Jane?...

“Please don’t say nuclear,” Harding said out loud.

...At this moment it is only speculation. We have not been able to confirm the size nor the type of bomb that is currently on board one of New York’s subway trains. I will say this though, Terry, we are lucky that the reaction of Homeland Security was swift and we can safely say that all passengers have been evacuated, so the risk against human life has decreased dramatically...

“Okay, thank God they don’t know the whole story,” Harding said, “turn it down – we need to remain focused so let’s get back to work.”

“But aren’t we going to deal with this?” asked Cheapston

“No, Cheapers, there’s not much we can do right -.”

Harding stopped.

“What is it?”

Harding turned around and looked back at the LCD screen.

“I just had a thought,” he said

He walked up closer to the screen.

“What?”

“Oh yeah, this could work,” he said out loud.

“Tom, what are you talking about?”

Harding turned to Agent Cheapston.

“Get me that reporter in here right now!”