he exposed the deadly metal to the air — meant he could handle with impunity this massive dose of radioactivity for such a short interval. That interval being the time between detonating the dirty bomb and being vaporized by the suitcase nuke along with a million or more New Yorkers and, more importantly, the financial center of the world.
Rodney, who from this point forward thought of himself only as Rashid, checked the NJ Transit schedule for the train he would take into Pennsylvania Station, then looked at his watch. It was a Tag Heuer. He chided himself for not thinking of this sooner, but his brother would have liked to have had this watch. He should have left it to him and used a cheap Timex instead, but it never occurred to him until now that the watch was going to melt.
As he left, Number 1 knew he had just added another dimension of trickery to his expansive and ingenious plot. Rodney’s unfortunate run-in with the police offered him a second opportunity to add deception and confound the enemy. The first diversion so meticulously planned and trained for would still be executed as well, in no small part because of the
Adjunct Professor Mark Keller was frustrated. Treasure Ann had moved in with him and he made sure to be careful to avoid any appearance of impropriety or favoritism as she was still taking his Middle Eastern Studies class. He even gave her above average grades for work she didn’t have to hand in. This is why it hit him so hard that she was suddenly enamored with some stranger who “interceded” while she was dizzy on the subway. After a lackluster session of sex, in which he felt she wasn’t trying, he confronted her.
“What’s the matter, Treasure Ann?”
“What do you mean? Nothing is the matter.”
“Come on; you are just going through the motions here.”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“What could you possibly have on your mind?”
“Don’t be condescending.”
“No, really! Your school or grades can’t be a problem. I mean you are fucking your teacher…or at least going through the motions.”
“Look, don’t think I am not grateful for you taking me in after Gary was such a jerk.”
“Grateful? I am supporting you, feeding you, clothing you! I deserve more than just grateful!”
“You know what? I can’t believe you said that! How dare you throw that in my face!
“You needed clarity and…”
“You needed to control me.” She walked away.
He stood there and stewed for a moment, then came at her with both guns blazing. “You seem to have issues. Maybe you should talk to a therapist.”
“Oooo you know what? Suddenly, I have clarity!” She put her fingertips to her temples as if she were suddenly a seer, “Let me see if this
“Listen, you little cunt, I’m risking my job for you everyday.”
“Little what? I am so out of here.”
“Good. I am going out; don’t be here when I get back.”
He slammed the door. Off to One Police Plaza to protest the harassing of Ali Rashid, the innocent immigrant arrested for not cowering to a cop.
Ann plopped down on the bed. She could not believe what had just happened. Immediately she realized that she was about to be homeless and penniless. The small stipend she received from the scholarship didn’t go far in New York. Falling back on her parents was not a pleasant thought. For a minute, she thought about apologizing to Mark and maybe making it up to him by doing that thing he wanted to do with the exchange student from Morocco who had confessed to him her love of three-ways. Maybe if she did that, he wouldn’t kick her out. But those thoughts lasted for only a few seconds more and were replaced by a new plan, one which she had fantasized about, especially after doing a little snooping. Her mood changed in a second and she got up and went to the bathroom to douche Mark out of her body and out of her life.
“Peter, it’s over. I wish I could be there when your mother finds out you’re not dead. Hug her for me, too.”
“Billy, you were the smartest kid on the block, and now I owe you big time.”
“Nonsense, man. You made me understand science and math in a way none of my teachers could ever do. Peter, I am the National Science Advisor today because you took the time to challenge a little kid to do more. Hell, I have used that as part of my National Science Teachers Initiative. It’s really just what you taught me and how you taught me.”
“Really? Pretty good then for a guy who never graduated college.”
“Anytime you want a degree, just let me know. Shit, I’d sponsor your doctorate!”
“Trying to make me legit?”
“Perish the thought. But you should keep in touch with Kronos; he’s so plugged in he short circuits when he showers.”
“I’ll see.”
“Pete, it’s none of my business but have you given any thought to what you are going to do next? I mean, that doesn’t involve black helicopters and listening devices?”
“You know, now that I am alive again, I might try to see if that FBI girl back up in New York goes for older men.”
“Something tells me you’d be safer investigating who shot Kennedy. But hey, go for it. Just remember she is one stalwart piece of crime-fighting apparatus. Don’t ever get on her bad side.”
“I think she likes me.”
“Pride goeth before the fall, man.”
“Thanks, Billy the Kid.”
“Anytime, Peter Robot.”
Ever since the ACLU complained that the radiological surveillance of mosques was unconstitutional, federal authorities backed off the many search teams that aimed sensors at the various, logical places where radical Islamic fundamentalists would seek cover amid the other law-abiding American Muslims. So when Rodney/Rashid, hiding out in the basement safe room of the building adjacent to the mosque, opened the case in a nervous act to assure himself that all was right with the package, the radioactive blip passed unnoticed in all directions and out into space to blend in with the background radiation emanating from this part of the Milky Way.
Number 12 was on perimeter patrol around the Store amp; Lock. He was armed with nothing more than a cell phone. It was all he needed if someone were serveilling them or sneaking about. He’d just place a call and the men inside would come out and neutralize the threat. On his east-west pass across the front, he saw the outline of someone looking through the glass doors of the facility. He saw this person pressing the buttons of the electric lock. He decided not to call this in. Instead, he simply walked up behind her and said, “What is it you want?”
Ann jumped. “Oh, you startled me. I’m looking for Mahmoud?”
“There is no Mahmoud here and it’s closed. You go away now.” The threat in his voice would have been obvious to anyone else, but Ann persisted.
“Well, I happen to know that Mahmoud lives here. I followed him here.”
“You followed him here!”
Number 12 punched the keypad and the door buzzed and unlocked. Unceremoniously he grabbed Ann by the arm and manhandled her inside.
“Hey, let go of me…”
“Silence!”
“Where are you taking me?”
