The Captive Missile Chapter 4

The Captive Missile

Chapter 4

Pardon me, Hannigan said turning to face the RCMP officer. What are you telling me?

It’s gone—again! The missile. It’s been stolen—again.

Hannigan turned to his men. Assemble in the conference room. Notify the Prime Minister once his press conference is done. I want answers.

Hannigan turned back to Adams. Come inside out of the cold. I need to know what happened exactly.

We followed Hannigan and Adams into the conference center. Just inside the door Hannigan turned to Adams. Tell me exactly what happened.

Adams was still trying to catch his breath. He began. There was a man—at the scene by the shoreline where the terrorists were found with Kiley and Collins and Mr. Macdonald here. I didn’t recognize him—I figured he was someone from Northlands security, he flashed some ID but you know I didn’t catch the name. My fault really.

Go on, Hannigan said, his face grim.

He showed me the ID then I went to check on Kiley and Collins in the cave entrance. I was just going inside when an explosion blasted the cave entrance and we were trapped.

That was the loud noise I heard when we lifted off, I added. I thought it was an earthquake. That must have been the bomb going off.

Yes, right, well anyway, I managed to climb through the rubble of the snow and ice—he showed us his red raw hands—and saw this man on a boat leading away the missile on a barge of some sort. It moved away pretty fast and was soon lost in sight. I went to where the rest of the security team was and they were still getting ready to pull the missile up the hill. They had a problem with the engine on the snowmobile—getting it started. They had no idea who the man was.

Did you get a good look at this man? Hannigan asked.

Adams shook his head.

I did. I spoke up. I talked to him, just before I went up to the helicopter.

You—spoke to him. Who was he?

I don’t know, he didn’t say a name but I have a good description. I described the man. I had thought it odd the man was well dressed for a security officer, but dismissed it at the time.

One of Hannigan’s men went off to make a call to the RCMP with the news. Hannigan just stood there stone faced for a minute. This is really bad I don’t think I need to tell you. The Prime Minister will have my job no doubt over this fiasco.

Hannigan looked and motioned to one of his men. Arrest this young man, he exclaimed.

W-what? Why? I blurted. What have I done?

It’s just a precautionary measure until we have more answers. You said you spoke to this man. How do I know you weren’t in league with him. I need to be sure.

You’ve got to be kidding, Van spoke up. Justin helped you find the missile.

Yes, and helped to lose it again. Look, we just need to be sure. Right now I don’t know what to think. Michaels, take Mr. Macdonald to my office and wait for me there. I’m going to tell the Prime Minister what has happened. I’ll be right along.

You two, he added, motioning to Van and Natalie. You can go along with Mr. Macdonald. I need to question all of you.

Officer Michaels of the Northlands security force led us away. We went down a long hallway to an office at the end. Michaels waited with us, stone faced until Hannigan arrived about fifteen minutes later.

Remove your winter attire, Hannigan said, sitting down behind his desk. Look Mr. Macdonald, I’m only detaining you for questioning. Do I think you had anything to do with this—well no, but I have to be sure. Too many slip ups have taken place today. The Prime Minister of course is deeply concerned about what has happened. He has had to reiterate with the other foreign powers about the dangers of this missile falling into the wrong hands. How this could have happened is beyond believable—that this kind of breach of security for the missile to be stolen not once but twice. Hannigan just shook his head in disbelief.

He looked up at me again. Now I’ve done some checking. Your father Luke Macdonald is a private investigator. He’s worked for the government before?

Yes, I said. Can I call him?

Of course, when we’re done here you can contact him, in fact I wish to speak to him myself as well. But can you please tell me what happened.

I related what we had seen from the freight plane and how we crash landed. When the police helicopter didn’t arrive, I went to try to find some lead to the missile theft.

And why was this? Hannigan asked. You felt compelled to leave and go after the terrorists yourself?

Well, no, I said, just I couldn’t wait for the police they were over an hour late. I thought if I could find some clue—anything that would help.

Well, you are dedicated, aren’t you? Hannigan turned to Van. You’re his friend? Is he always this dedicated?

To a fault, Van said ruefully.

Go on, Hannigan said.

I found the police helicopter crashed but no one was in the wreckage. I followed the footprints to the shore where I found the missile on the trailer. Then the terrorists caught me and put me in the cave with Collins and Kiley, the two officers from the crashed helicopter.

Soon the RCMP came, and we were rescued, the terrorists taken away. I was heading to the helicopter to come back here when I saw the man. He just told me to move along and that he was picking up the missile. I figured he was Northlands security.

That was it. I returned to the helicopter and as we were taking off, I heard a loud boom like an earthquake. I guess that was the explosion that covered the cave entrance.

Hannigan just sat there, lost in thought. I see, was all he said finally. OK, you may go, Mr. Macdonald, but you must remain here in the complex for now. You can return to Iqaluit tomorrow morning with your friends. I’ll have my men assign you a room in the barracks. If you think of anything else please let me know or one of my men.

I will, I said. Can I call my dad now?

An hour later, Van, Natalie and I were sitting in the common room in the barracks located at the northern tip of the complex. We had been assigned two rooms, Van and I in one and Natalie in an adjoining room.

This is crazy, Van said. Hannigan’s in a lot of trouble over this. I can’t believe he arrested you.

Detained, I corrected. Dad explained to me the difference. I don’t really blame Hannigan, though. He must be in complete shock. And feel partly to blame.

Yeah, Van added. Head of security at a place like this and the missile being stolen once was bad enough, but twice. He really sucks at his job.

Something’s not quite right about this, though, I remarked.

Oh, you think? Natalie replied.

No, what I mean is—how was the missile stolen in the first place? How did the terrorists get it in the first place. They couldn’t just walk in here and drive off with it.

They must have had inside help, Van surmised. But Hannigan didn’t seem to worry about that.

Oh, I think he’s worried, but it almost makes me think the two are connected. Like how did the dark haired man know where the missile was going to be. He just happened to have a boat offshore to pick up the missile the second time.

I see what you mean, Van remarked. Almost like he knew it would be there.  Morban brought it there and the authorities find it and this man has the equipment to haul it away again, I added,  right under the noses of the RCMP and police.

I think I should tell Hannigan my theory, I said.

You really think he cares, Natalie spoke up. Let him figure it out himself.

Dad says I should cooperate fully with Hannigan. I’m going to tell him. Maybe he’ll tell me what leads if any they have.

You really think Hannigan’s going to tell you, Natalie asked.

I raised my eyebrows and looked at Van.

Justin has a way with authority figures, he said.  He’ll get the info out of Hannigan, He’s a pro at this.

I headed to Hannigan’s office which was at the opposite end of the barracks. I passed by the mess hall where some of the staff were having a late dinner. It was 8 pm and I was exhausted. I passed another room where some other staff were watching a TV program—the news. I stopped for a moment to see what new developments were being related to the media regarding the double theft of the missile.

<”This report just in from Northlands Facility where the Prime Minister just finished a press conference regarding the theft of the Informant, the newest nuclear missile to be tested on Canadian soil.>

An image of the Prime Minister filled the screen. I could see Hannigan standing behind and to the left of the Prime Minister, looking glum. I would be glum too if I lost a nuclear missile.

<”We are using every resource to find the nuclear missile, the Informant. Security is scouring Baffin Island and the surrounding waters for any sign of the missile. A terrorist, Morban has claimed responsibility and we have just learned of the leak within the Northlands facility. A maintenance worker who had a security clearance has been found to be the link between Morban and the missile. His name has not been released at this time, but he is in RCMP custody and is being questioned as we speak>

So the government wasn’t claiming they had found then lost the missile again. Very interesting. And who was this maintenance worker?

The staff in the room erupted in a murmur of voices at this revelation. I bet it was Monahan, one man spoke up.

No, I think it was Melville, another woman replied.

Shhh! Someone cried. Listen to the PM.

<We have notified the governments of the United States and Russia and some of the northern European governments to be on high alert. The Danish government especially as Greenland is across the water from the last known position of the stolen missile. If anyone has any information regarding this theft they are to approach local law enforcement. Again we stress that the missile is highly dangerous and must be recovered as quickly as possible>

The room erupted again in a gaggle of voices but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. No one really knew who the leak was.

I continued down the hall but then realized Hannigan wouldn’t be in his office, he was with the Prime Minister and he looked like he would be busy for a while. Maybe I could tell him in the morning.

I retreated back towards my barracks room. I turned the corner and saw the RCMP officer Adams, the one who rescued us at the shoreline and who had warned us the missile had been stolen again. He was moving cautiously along a side corridor towards one of the back exits.

Why would he be going that way? As far as I remembered there was nothing back there.

He looked suspicious. I decided to follow him—my natural curiosity got the better of me.

Instead of going outside Adams moved into a room at the end of the hall and closed the door but it didn’t click shut. The room appeared to be just a meeting room. It was dark  in the hallway, the lights dimmed for the evening. I heard a voice on the other side of the door. It was Adams. Who was he talking to?

I realized he was talking on his cell phone.

Everything’s good, he said. They think you have the missile out on Baffin Bay headed to Greenland.

A pause.

No, no one suspects. They’ve arrested Borden, just according to plan.

Another pause, then, We’ll move it tomorrow. Hold tight at the cave. I’ll be there at noon.