Every six seconds - Part 4a

London had failed.

After almost 20 years in the business he had failed, for the first time ever. Failed. He sat back & tried to relax, it was no use, he couldnt sleep & even his fourteenth straight JD couldn't begin to fuzzy his edges. London laughed silently to himself, there he was, all expenses paid, drinking JD's in business class courtesy of his boss Irvine, when all he had done was failed. Irvine, shit, when he reported in to him it was over. Irvine had seen a lot in London, he had taken him under his wing & taught him all he knew, well almost all, he never disclosed the full details of The Rocket.

London, sighed knowing that when he landed in a couple of hours he wouldnt have long left to live. Irvine did not accept failure, no matter who you were. London ordered another ironic JD contemplating his one & only failure, the weird thing was that even though he knew he was going to die soon he was still curious about The Rocket. He recalled the last meeting he had with Irvine almost 6 weeks ago, playing it over & over in his mind.

"So you see London, we need to get someone on the inside to provide the details about The Rocket. I know whats inside it but i need to know when & where that thing is lifting."

London nodded, "Anyone in mind on the inside, securitys going to be pretty tight in there?"

"Dont worry, we've found someone very malleable, here, take this."

Irvine passed London a brown paper file, London opened it & smiled. "Fucking hell, i havent seen this scrawny little fucker since school. If he's our man this is going to be easier than i thought. Wheres he living now?"


"Oh you know him, excellent, you can have a beer with him before you beat the information about The Rocket out of him. He's in New Mexico, you're leaving tonight."

"Doesnt sound too tricky Mr Irvine, but what is it about The Rocket that makes you want it so bad?"

Irvines face dropped, he did not like being questioned. "London, London, London. If you knew that, you'd be ME & i'm already ME, i like being ME & i'm fucking good at being ME. So how about, YOU continue being YOU, I continue being ME & you take your curiosity outside & put it in the fucking bin 'cause you dont need it sunshine."

London - "I'm sorry Mr Irvine, i just wanted to know, you know."

London hung his head slightly & on seeing this Irvines expression appeared to soften slightly, he approached London & put his arm around his shoulder. "You know London, sometimes you are too curious, you ask too many questions, all you need to know is that if you dont get me The Rocket, well, you know what will happen."

London snapped out of his thoughts just as the plane hit some turbulence, he was sweating now & for the first time in his life scared. He had considered running, the world was a big place but he didnt want to live the rest of his life sleeping with a hammer under his pillow & a nine iron next to his bed. He had to face Irvine directly & take the consequences of his failure. The consequences being, his own death.

To be continued.