Author's note: Sorry it took so long. Here's the final part of Casablanca.
Webb gave Harm a confused look. "What?"
Harm was beginning to feel like Judas Iscariot. "Brumby is looking for a set of exit visas. I told him that I had one."
"But you don't have one." Webb pointed out.
"But I know that you have two." Harm replied. "If you were to catch Brumby in the act of trying to escape, then you would be set. He's coming to my apartment at eleven o'clock. Come by yourself and you can arrest him then. All I want in return are those two exit visas."
"Both of them?"
"Yes, one for me and one for Sarah Mackenzie."
For a moment, Webb was shocked, then he smiled a sly smile, "Well, well, well."
Harm rolled his eyes, "Just shut up and be ready."
Webb nodded and left chuckling and smiling to himself. Once he had gone Harm walked over to Bud, who was sitting at the piano.
"Have the car ready in front of my apartment at eleven o'clock Bud."
"Are we going somewhere sir?" Bud asked.
Harm didn't answer as he went back to his stool at the bar.
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Webb arrived at quarter to eleven. Harm quickly ushered him in.
"So what's the plan?" Webb asked.
"Do you have the visas?" Harm asked.
Webb reached into the front pocket of his uniform and produced the valuable papers.
"I need one of them to complete the charade." Harm told him.
Webb appeared uneasy at first, but then nodded, handing Harm one of the visas. Harm took it and stuck it in his own pocket.
"In a few minutes, Brumby and his wife will arrive. I'll meet them in front of the apartment and lead them inside, where you'll be waiting to make the arrest."
Webb nodded. "I'll be ready." He walked over to a chair and sat down. He smiled a cold smile, "You know it's interesting."
"What's that?"
"That even you are willing to abandon all values over a woman. Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?"
"Just be ready." Harm replied harshly as he made his way out the door.
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Brumby and Mac arrived five minutes early to find Harm smoking under the light of a street lamp.
"Have you got the exit visa?" Mic asked anxiously.
Harm nodded, removing it from his pocket, and quickly replacing it. "Have you got the money?"
Mic nodded and held up a small attache case.
Harm allowed a slight grin, "I've also got tickets, for the plane, ready in my apartment. We'll finalize the deal there. It's not safe to talk here."
Harm lead them quickly up the staircase to his front door. He unlocked it and ushered them in. Once he had shut the door, he switched the lights on.
Webb sat in the living room chair, facing the door. Gun in hand and a cigarette clenched between his lips, which were curled up into a sneer. He got up from his seat and walked into the foyer.
"Mic Brumby, you're under arrest."
Mic cast a look at Harm that was beyond fury. Mac's expression was one of shock. Webb gestured with the gun.
"Over there by the wall." He said.
Slowly, the couple made their way over to the wall and stood facing it.
"Are you surprised by my friend Harm?" He asked, gloating slightly, "The answer is simple. It seems that love has triumphed over virtue."
Ice water began to flow through Mac's veins. It was all going wrong. This was not what she wanted.
The silence in the room was breached by the sound of a gun being cocked.
"Not so fast Webb. No one's going to be arrested. Not for a while yet. Now drop it." Harm commanded.
Webb did as he was told. Slowly, he started to turn around. Harm stood in front of him, holding his snub nosed pistol.
"I want the other visa." He said.
Webb reached into his pocket and removed the second visa, handing it to Harm.
Mac stepped forward. "Harm, what are you doing?"
Harm didn't bother turning around. "Sarah, if you want to get out of this country alive, I suggest you shut up and do what I say. That goes for you too Mic. Now lets get out of here. Webb, you go first."
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As the group exited the apartment building, and ventured into the street, where Bud was waiting with the car, Harm draped his coat over his arm to conceal the gun. Seeing them coming, Bud opened the door and ushered them into the back. Harm got in the passenger seat.
"Where to, sir?" Bud asked as he took his place behind the wheel.
"The airport." Harm replied.
Bud's brow furrowed in incomprehension, but did what he was told, and placed his foot on the accelerator. As the car began to speed away, Harm turned in his seat to keep the concealed gun trained on Webb, who sat scowling in sullen silence. Next to him, Brumby and Mac exchanged glances. Only one question on both their minds: what was Harm up to?
The ride continued in tense quiet, until the car pulled up to the runway at Casablanca airport.
Harm turned to Bud, saying, "Wait here. He turned to Webb and gestured with his gun, growling "Get out!"
Stone faced, Webb did as he was told, only to be followed by Brumby and Mac. The airport was quiet. A short distance away, a plane bound for Lisbon, Portugal sat on the runway. Harm climbed out of the car and told Mic, "You'd better get on board."
Mic hesitated, looking at his wife, then at Harm, then at Webb, and back at Mac again. With a solemn look he nodded and moved towards Mac.
"I'll see you soon." He said, as he leaned down to kiss her. Then he turned and rushed towards the plane.
Harm reached into his pocket, and, his gun ever aimed at Webb's heart, tossed the visas to him. "Sign them," he ordered. "They'll look more official that way."
Begrudgingly, Webb removed a pen from his coat pocket and signed them.
"And the name to be filled in," Harm whispered, "is Mr. and Mrs. Mic Brumby."
Webb froze and looked up at Harm at the same time as Mac. Identical looks of shock plastered on their faces.
"Why my name?" Mac wanted to know.
"Because, you're getting on that plane." Harm replied, momentarily forgetting about Webb and turning to face her.
"What about you?" She asked.
"I'm staying here."
Tears began to form in Mac's eyes. "Why? Last night…"
"Last night we said a lot of things," Harm interrupted, "I've done a lot of thinking since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Mic, where you belong."
"But…but" Mac began to protest in stammers.
Harm grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him. "You've got to listen to me. You've got nothing to look forward to here with me. Inside both of us, we know that you belong with Mic. You're a part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If you don't get on that plane now, you'll regret it."
Mac shook her head, tears streaming down her face, "No." She said.
"Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life." Harm continued.
"But what about us?"
"We'll always have Hong Kong. We're both headed for places where neither can follow. I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." He wiped her tears away, and kissed her softly, one last time.
"Here's looking at you kid." He said. With that he handed the letters of transit to her and, letting her go, backed away. Still crying, she turned and headed towards the plane. She paused, and turned back to him.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Harm stood motionless, watching her board. He didn't move away, until the plane had taken-off and was headed off into the night sky.
Webb walked over with a smug smile on his face. "Well, it seems you're not only sentimental, you're also a patriot."
Harm shrugged, stuffing his gun into his pocket. "Now seemed like a good time to start."
The two men began to make their way back to the car where Bud was waiting.
"It might be a good idea to get out of Casablanca for a while." Webb stated. "I can make arrangements for your travel. And the ten thousand Francs should pay our expenses."
Harm turned his head sharply. "Our expenses?"
Webb grinned, and nodded, "Uh huh."
Harm chuckled, "Clay, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
The end...for now.
More to come soon.