Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

"Thank you," I said to the waitress with a smile as she set down my coffee on my table. My laptop was on top of the table as well, I was working on my lecture on digital electronics for my students. I was a lecturer at Hunter college.

I liked to spend time in Timmy's cafe's it was my safe zone.

After about thirty minutes, I got out of the cafe with my laptop bag saddled across my shoulder. I boarded a bus that circled multiple blocks before coming to a halt in front of the college.

I smirked slightly at the site of the school's entrance. I still couldn't believe that I found a passion for something else. I walked onto the marble stone path when I noticed a group of students on the school lawn cheering excitedly.

"Well might as well check it out," I muttered to myself before making my way towards the crowd.

When I arrived on the scene, I saw two of my students, Rodney and Terry, sorting out their issues like the Wild West. Rodney was on the ground having his shirt held by the collar by Terry who was pounding his bloody fist into Rodney's equally bloody face.

"Mr. Harper please help him," Natasha came to me pleading with watery eyes. I looked at her.

"Are you seriously concerned for Rodney?" I asked. She nodded

"Why?" I asked again while looking at her.

"I love him," she cried and she was being frank. I smiled and said, "Hold my bag"

She obeyed and took my laptop bag. I moved in to take action.

Terry was about to inflict his most lethal blow no Rodney. He prepared his fist and said, "Never mess with the shark".

He launched his assault but his fist stopped moving. There was a strong grip on his elbow.

"What the_," he looked back only to see me

"That's enough kid," I said

"Mind your own business!" he vigorously shrugged his elbow from my grip. He took his attention away from me and he was back on Rodney. He was about to hit Rodney again but I grabbed him on the back of the neck and I pulled him away from Rodney, this time he was standing facing me directly.

"I said enough," I growled

"Fuck you grandpa," he hissed.

Okay now that was offensive, I mean first of all I was thirty six years old and I have to admit I was tempted to knock a couple of his teeth out.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I heard a familiar voice come from behind me. It was Mr. Nelson, head of the administration. He came and broke us up," What's the meaning of this?"

"Assault on fellow student," I pointed a finger at Rodney who was being helped up on his feet by Natasha.

Mr. Nelson raised an eyebrow at everyone who had been around the scene and within a second the place was cleared only to leaving me, Terry and Mr. Nelson.

Terry was looking down like a pathetic little puppy and that was amusing to me that I almost couldn't contain my laughter.

Mr. Nelson gave me a stern look. I instantly held back my laughter.

"Terry my office now!" he told Terry sternly. Terry obeyed and moved into the main academic block, as soon as we were sure that Terry was gone Mr. Nelson and I burst out in laughter and we fist bumped.

"That was awesome," Mr. Nelson laughed while patting my shoulder.

"Damn right it was," I laughed too

"At least I didn't get to call Mike on that one," I said as the laughter faded away (Mike's the security guard).

"So what will you do with him?" I later asked obviously concerned. "I honestly don't know," he replied

"Well can this black man give a suggestion to a fellow black man," I said as we slowly moved towards the main block.

"Yeah sure man"

"Don't expel him"

I noticed that he stopped moving. He looked at me and said, "Are you serious?"

"Look I know it sounds crazy but_"

"It is!" he cut in.

"For a nuisance he's a pretty smart kid.....probably graduating with a distinction too"

"What's so special about that?" Mr. Nelson looked at me cautiously. I laughed.

"The school's reputation could go off the charts"

"How sure are you?"

"Sure enough to get you that beer I owe you " I smiled awkwardly

"Wait you never got me that beer!"

"You sound shocked" I laughed before going through a separate corridor.

****************

SOME WHERE IN CUBA.....

"Longarm this is Swiss-bait. I have eyes on target," said Dash Spooner who was stationed at a higher ground lying in the cover of the grass and shrubs, his right eye was looking at eight armed guards as well as Randolph Hearst through the specs of the sniper rifle he was holding.

"Copy that," Lieutenant Harriet Beecher replied from a shed in which she was hiding. She took a small peek and she saw Randolph Hearst, a major arms dealer standing with eight guards in front of a black suburban.

"Rick what's your status?" Harriet asked

"Ready when you are and also. Who comes up with the ridiculous code names," a deep voice came through her earpiece. Rick Dunn was stationed a few meters away from the target.

"Aubrey what's your status on extraction?" Harriet spoke through the ear buds.

Aubrey Bill was stationed in an abandoned building with a computer in front of him, "Extraction is two minutes out from your location", he replied whilst munching on a potato chip.

"Copy that", Harriet confirmed as she set her stopwatch,

"Alright ladies we're going in", Harriet said. That was how she would tease her men.

Harriet started the onslaught by shooting down two of Randolph's men from behind. The others quickly turned in her direction and they began to fire.

"Shit!" Harriet cursed as she bound herself to the brick wall of the shed, "Rick anytime now!".

"I got you", Rick replied as he fired his own rounds of ammo at them. Bodies dropped to the ground.

"Uhm Randolph's on the move", Dash calmly pointed that out as Randolph was getting into his car in a panic motion.

"Well do something about it!" Harriet ordered

"Yes ma'am," said Dash as he aimed at Randolph's leg and pulled the trigger.

"Fuck!" Randolph yelled as the bullet hit his leg with a force that pushed him to the ground.

"The fish has been tinned," Dash said proudly as he aimed at one of the guards who was rushing to help Randolph. "Oh no you don't," Dash said as he squeezed the trigger. The man went down laying still on the ground.

Rick sighed as he put a bullet through the last man's skull. Randolph was crawling away slowly and in pain, every time he moved he let out a grunt. He was moving away from the war zone at a snail's pace that is until he felt someone step on his back.

It was Rick. "Okay this is just pathetic", Rick said, "A major arm's dealer can't take a bullet to the leg".

"Come on cut the man some crap. I think he handled a sniper bullet quite well considering the fact that his leg is still attached," said Dash who reminded over the earpiece in a proud voice.

"Okay are you seriously boasting", Rick asked in an agitated voice.

"Alright that's enough riffraff for one day", Harriet ordered as she opened the rear door of the suburban and smiled as she took out a shiny metallic briefcase....she managed to get the nuclear codes.

Dash had gotten down to join Harriet and Rick; he was standing next to Rick who was looking down on Randolph.

Harriet moved closer to her men.

"Alright Randolph where did you get the codes?" Harriet asked as Rick and Dash held him up

"I'm not saying shit to you," Randolph spat at her feet.

"Wrong answer," Harriet mercilessly punched him in the gut.

Randolph grunted in pain. "Try again," Harriet ordered

"Alright fine…I got a tip from an anonymous soucre giving me a location," Randolph wheezed

"Which source?" Harriet asked.

"I don't know. All I got was a text giving me a location," Randolph said in deep breaths, "When I got to the place I saw a bag and after opening it I found the briefcase then after I got some expert opinion on what it was did I decide to deal it as one of my products."

It seemed as though Randolph had given all he knew. Harriet turned away from Randolph and she begun to think.

CIA was compromised so she obviously couldn't give the codes to anyone in the organization except CHIEF.

.

Honestly speaking, she and her crew were in a pickle. A really bad one.

Engine sounds approached from behind them. Dash was still standing with Rick, they both instinctively looked back.

"If we die its your fault", Rick said to Dash

"I'm sorry how?" Dash challenged

"Well for starters you could have spotted them if you hadn't abandoned your post"

"Oh forgive me but I didn't hear you complaining earlier", Dash replied in an agitated tone

"Okay knock it off you overgrown children!" Harriet snapped and as if by magic they both instantly fell silent.