The closed-circuit camera provided a direct view into the warehouse. It was situated high in the center of a side wall at a vantage point that could see the entirety of the vast room beneath it.
On the floor below, filling most of the screen on the opposite end of the camera, men in white coats scurried back and forth. A fleet of armored vans lined the far side of the space, a team of beefy uniformed guards standing beside them.
Seated behind his desk, tucked away in his upstairs office, Bern Gold sat and took in every movement. This night had been a long, long time coming and while he couldn’t be there in person he was not about to let it pass without lending a watchful eye.
Leaning forward, he pressed a red intercom button from the bevy of controls in front of him and said, “The time is near, gentlemen.”
Several of the guards flinched at the sound of his voice on the loud speaker, though the scientists continued to move around as if he hadn’t spoken. It was far from the first time his voice had permeated the workspace, their lack of reaction a conditioned response years in the making.
As the crowd of scientists continued their work, a single man broke away. He strode straight toward the camera and stopped ten feet away from the wall, staring upward with his hands behind his back.
“Crating is being completed as we speak, sir. We will hit our target time with a few minutes to spare,” he said, delivering the information and immediately returning to his work.
“Excellent,” Gold said, not bothering to press the intercom switch. He swiveled his chair to see Ling in his periphery and said, “I trust you have made the arrangements I asked for?”
“I have,” Ling replied. “Teams have been sent to each of the cities you specified. They are ready and waiting for your order.”
“Good,” Gold said, nodding in satisfaction. “The Vaporizers will depart in mere minutes. It will take a day to reach port, another to be disseminated.
“Two days from now you may do whatever you like with the others, just so long as I never hear from them again.”
“I can assure you, your wishes will be carried out to the letter,” Ling said, bowing the top of his head just an inch.
“Excellent,” Gold repeated, shifting back to the monitor. He watched as a large, stainless steel crate was wheeled into view, the massive container taking four men in lab coats to maneuver it. A moment later a second crate came into view, followed by a third.
“Any word yet from our guest?” Gold asked.
“Nothing,” Ling said. “She still maintains she is a tourist visiting with her boyfriend.”
“You are sure she is the woman from the docks and not really a tourist on vacation with her boyfriend?” Gold asked. He didn’t bother to turn and look at Ling, made no effort to show accusation in his tone or features.
He had been paying Ling’s bills for long enough to know the simple question would be enough to get his point across.
“I am most certain,” Ling said, his mouth drawn into a tight line. “I saw her that night.”
“Indeed,” Gold whispered, continuing to watch the monitors. In total seven shiny steel crates had been wheeled from the lab and into position alongside the vans. Once they were lined up the scientists stood back, allowing the guards to load them.
The same man returned to face the camera, his hands still behind his back. “Mr. Gold, we are loaded and ready for departure.”
Gold checked his watch and pressed down the intercom switch. “Three minutes ahead of schedule. Very well done, gentlemen.”
The man bowed to the camera, revealing a crown completely void of hair, as the other scientists shook hands with one another in the background.
“What happens now?” Ling asked.
“Now, there are seven private planes waiting for departure at a nearby airfield. The drivers will deliver the crates there and the planes will take them to their destinations.”
“Very well, sir,” Ling said. He paused a moment to ensure Gold had nothing further for him before turning to leave.
He made it as far as the door before Gold said, “If the girl hasn’t talked by morning, kill her. She’s of no further use to us at this point.”
The corner of Ling’s mouth played up just a bit but he said nothing, disappearing behind the curtain and down the stairs.