I pace back and forth as best I can, impatient, conscious of how quickly we’re running out of time.
Come on… pick up, Josh, you—
“Yeah?”
Man, he sounds pissed!
“Josh? It’s me. Are you alright? Have you seen—?”
“The news? Yeah, I’ve seen it. What the fuck is happening? Where did this even come from?”
I sigh. “The abridged version? This is Cunningham’s endgame. He struck a deal with North Korea to wipe out all of GlobaTech’s forces and establish itself in all the affected regions around the world. North Korea thinks it has a partnership with the United States, and that the two nations will essentially divide up the planet between themselves.”
“That is fucking ridiculous! Have you even heard yourself when you say it out loud?”
I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, it’s beyond insane, I know. But that’s what’s happening now. Cunningham knows where every single asset of yours is — public or otherwise. Josh, can you do anything about this?”
“How does he… y’know what? Never mind. I’ve got everyone doing everything they can. I’ve got more men with more firepower getting ready to deploy wherever I can get them to the fastest as we speak. Schultz is coordinating with Homeland and the NSA — two agencies we’re pretty sure aren’t under Cunningham’s influence… They’re just acting as anyone would under the circumstances. With Schultz bringing them up to speed, we’re starting to slowly take back the country.”
“I think that might be too little, too late. What’s happening is just the first phase.”
He sighs. “And you’re gonna tell me the second phase now, aren’t you?”
“Cunningham’s using the Koreans like he did El-Zurak. They’re the bad guys, and he’s going to jump to everyone’s defense and kick their ass. And when he’s done that, he intends doing something that under any other circumstances would be impossible and clearly insane.”
“Which is?”
“He’s going to unite the world under the banner of the United States, using our own military as a kind of global army. It’ll be a dictatorship on the largest possible scale. He’ll control everything.”
Josh sighs down the phone again. “Bollocks.”
“Exactly. But I think he’s right when he says people are going to love the idea, given everything that’s happening. They’ll be blinded by the sense of security and won’t see if for what it is.”
“Yeah, good point. Just out of interest, how do you know all this? It’s not on the flash drive hanging around your neck…”
“No, it’s not. General Matthews tracked us down and told us everything. He said Cunningham’s trying to kill him for failing to kill me. He’s here with us now.”
“And you believe him?”
“I do. He’s given us a case-load of evidence to back it up, too. But then The European burst in here and tried to take him out instead of us. His friends in the White House must be done with him. It explains why he came to me, anyway.”
“Fuck… So what happened with The European?”
“Ruby killed him.”
“Oh, good. So she’s okay?”
“She’s doing fine, considering.”
The line falls silent for a moment.
“Jesus, Adrian, how did we end up involved in this shit?”
“You got me. I was just minding my own business, running my bar.”
“Yeah… I bet that life seems a million years away right now, huh?
“You’re not wrong, man. So what’s your plan? Can you hold off the North Koreans?”
“I don’t know… that’s a big fucking army, Adrian. We do alright for ourselves, don’t get me wrong. And in terms of technology, we’ll kick anyone’s ass, any day of the week. But man for man, bullet for bullet, they outnumber anything we’ve got six to one, at least.”
“Are you seriously trying to tell me that one member of your elite private military can’t kill six North Korean soldiers?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
We share a quick laugh, and then I remember the reason I was calling.
“Listen, Josh, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but I don’t suppose you’ve had a chance to—”
“Put everything in place for your bat-shit crazy plan? Yeah, you’re good to go. I’ll leave you a message with the details. It’s still mental, but it’s prepared as much as it can be. The rest is up to you, boss.”
“Thanks, Josh — you’re a legend, do you know that?”
“I do.”
“Heh… According to Matthews, killing Cunningham isn’t going to stop what’s now in motion, but I’m gonna do it anyway. I’m gonna knock on his front door, walk inside his house, and put a bullet between his eyes.”
He laughs. “Y’know what? I believe you, you big, scary bastard! It’ll be like Heaven’s Valley all over again.”
I smile. “Yeah, except there might be a few more men.”
“And the house is a little bigger—and better protected.”
“And a little whiter…
“So, thinking about it, it’s not much like Heaven’s Valley at all, is it?”
I pause. “Not really, no… But taking down Pellaggio was fun, wasn’t it?”
“It sure was beautiful to watch,” he says fondly. “So am I right in assuming the words Inner and Satan will be making an appearance soon?”
I think about it for a moment. Apart from back on the highway with those three SUVs full of CIA agents, I’ve not really lost it enough to revert to my more animalistic instincts. I think this situation is so big, so… unique… I can’t afford to lose control. I need to rely on my skills, and I need to stay disciplined enough to do what needs to be done.
“I don’t think so, man. Not this time. The world is at war… I can’t lose control if I want to do this.”
“Huh… Fuck me, Adrian. I never thought I’d see the day where things got so bad even your dark side couldn’t help.”
“I guess it’s not dark enough anymore.”
“Either that or you’ve finally trained him to think as well as maim. And if that’s the case, can you grab a gun and go kill some North Koreans, please? Because you’ve just become the most frightening thing I’ve ever known!”
“Thanks!”
He chuckles, almost nervously. “I’m not entirely sure that was a compliment, I’ll be honest…”
“Yeah, Ruby says I struggle spotting them.” I glance over my shoulder at her. She’s sitting beside Oscar on the edge of one of the beds, staring in disbelief at the TV. “Listen… Josh. What I said when we last spoke… I know you said not to think about what could go wrong and everything, but… well, shit doesn’t really get much more wrong than this. You’re waging a war with North Korea, and I’m about to go and kill the president… Just in case either of us doesn’t make it out the other side of this thing, I just wanna say… y’know…”
“Adrian… Boss… it doesn’t need to be said. I know. And the same goes for you.”
I smile. “I love you, bro.”
“Beers at The Ferryman when this is over?”
“Bet your ass.”
“Go do your thing, Adrian Hell.”
“Good luck, Josh.”
I hang up and stare out at the city for a moment. I’ve got my plan. And it’s going to work. A couple of tweaks are needed in light of the information Matthews has kindly provided, but that’s not a problem.
I let out a heavy sigh.
This is it…
I head back inside. Ruby looks over as I step through the shattered balcony door. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “As much as it can be, under the circumstances.”