The Enemy Within

“That is very good.” Halovic slid the clip into place, worked the action, and screwed the silencer into the pistol’s muzzle. He nodded, satisfied by what he saw. The weapon was in excellent condition.

He looked out the window again. There were more houses and stores lining the highway. A sign informed him they were nearing the outskirts of Richmond.

Burke watched him closely. “You got any idea of how you want to do this thing, Karl?”

“Ja.” Halovic thumbed through the dossier until he came to a map showing Malcolm’s movements. Then he leaned forward and jabbed a finger at the spot he wanted. “Drive here, to Elkheart Road. We will go directly to his office.””

Burke nodded slowly after studying the map himself. “Okay. Do what the man says, Tony.”

McGowan complied.

Ten minutes later, they were in a quiet, suburban section of Richmond. The small professional building that housed Malcolm’s office lay a few treelined blocks from a large shopping mall. A parking lot surrounded the two-story brick and glass structure on three sides.

“Pull in here,” Halovic ordered. He pointed to an empty space near the exit to the street. “There. Back in.”

Sweating now, McGowan cranked the wheel over hard and carefully backed the Chevrolet into place between two other cars.

Moving slowly and methodically, Halovic donned the gloves Keller had given him and began to carefully wipe the metal surface of the pistol with a handkerchief. He was aware that all three men were staring at him. Burke seemed pleased. McGowan was wide-eyed and looked increasingly nervous. Keller was poker-faced.

The three Americans exchanged quick glances and then nodded to each other.

“We’ve seen enough,” said Burke. “We believe you.” “Excuse me?” Halovic said. He tucked the pistol under his jacket.

“I said, we’ve seen enough,” repeated Burke. “That’s it. You were ready to go through with it. That’s all we wanted to know.”

Halovic frowned inside. His first contemptuous suspicions had been right. All of Burke’s talk about waiting for the right moment, his elaborate plans, their stockpiled weapons, it was all just a fantasy.

He stared hard at the older man and shook his head. “No. It is not enough.”

“Huh?” Burke was clearly bewildered. “What do you mean, Karl?”

“This was a test, true? To see if I would kill?”

The older man nodded rapidly. “Yeah, that’s right.”

Halovic smiled coldly. “Very well. I accept that.” He pointed toward the office building. “Now I will test you. This black man will die and you will be a part of his death.”

He glanced at Keller, the man he judged the toughest and most reliable of the three. “You. You will come along as my lookout.”

The younger man stared at him for a moment, plainly taken aback.

“Hold on just a minute, Karl,” Burke interrupted. “There’s no need to go off half-cocked. I told you that we’re satisfied you’re one of us. We don’t need to take any unnecessary risks here today.”

A pale, terrified McGowan mumbled his agreement with his leader.

“Risks? You fear risks?” Halovic said scornfully. “And yet you call yourselves soldiers?” He shrugged. “My people will not deal with cowards or shirkers. Either this black man dies, here, today, or you will see no advanced weapons from me. Is that clear?”

He waved a hand toward the office building. “I tell you that your plan is-good. This man can be killed with ease. But you must act not sit and dream.” He turned back to Keller. “Decide. Will you come with me?”

The younger man stared first at Halovic and then at Burke. “Jesus, Jim … what do you think?”

Clearly torn, the older man chewed his lower lip. He wanted those grenade launchers and explosives. He just hadn’t expected to be asked to help kill anybody to prove his own good faith. Finally, he shrugged.

“It’s up to you, Dave. We need those guns.”

“You are afraid,” Halovic said flatly, forcing the issue. “Stay behind, then.”

“Hell, no!” Keller flushed, unwilling to admit his fear. “If you really want to kill this nigger, I’ll help you do it.”

Halovic popped open the car door and got out quickly, before the stunned Burke could say anything else. The Bosnian worked hard to keep his expression neutral. These American fools were about to learn the difference between fantasy and deadly reality a reality he already knew all too well.

Keller followed him without evident hesitation.

That was good, Halovic decided. He had no intention of trusting his life to this man, but at least he showed some backbone.

The office building’s glass double door led into a small lobby. He checked the building directory, reconfirming the information contained in the dossier. Malcolm’s offices were still on the second floor suite. Nobody else was in sight.

With Keller at his heels, Halovic walked down a short hall to a door marked “Stairs.” He ignored the elevator.