Chapter Fifteen;
Empty Threats

"Sir."

Hunter looked up as Tonkins entered the room. "What is it?" He growled, barely looking up from his desk.

"It's Remington sir, he's on line seven."

Hunter gave a slight smile. "Good man." He picked up the phone next to him on the desk. "Mister Remington."

"You threaten me one more time with the Colonel and I will get mad. As much as it gets my attention, you must know I don't believe you."

Hunter laughed. "You're still a cynical man Remington and that's why you're so good at what you do."

"What do you want Hunter? I'm a busy man." Remington returned.

"Busy man indeed. How is that oil drilling protection racket in Antarctica going?" Hunter smiled coldly.

Remington paused. "How do you know about that?" He almost stuttered.

"Mister Remington, it's my job to know everything. Everything about everyone, right down to illegal drilling in what's left of the Antarctic by an ever-so-slightly corrupt Argentinean Government." He chuckled. "What are they paying you again? You know, to keep pirates and Greenpeace out of sight."

"10 million up front. 5 million more when the job is done."

"15 million… Austral or Peso?"

"Cuban Peso if you must know." Remington returned.

Hunter laughed, but it was almost at that exact time that the sat phone began to lose power. It gave a huge wave of static and blanked out for a second. Hunter smacked it on the table and it came back online. "Mister Remington, I have a proposal for you. And you will take it because this time the Colonel really is onboard."

Remington snorted. "Sure he is Hunter, the H…" a wave of static went over him. "…ish is dead. Everyone knows that."

"He isn't Remington, I can assure you of that. And if you agree to this job, you will know the whole story. Oh, and 5 million American."

Remington was quiet and Hunter waited patiently for the answer that he knew would come. "Okay, what's the job?"

"Hunting."

Remington snorted. "It's always hunting with you Hunter. But who's the mark? And what have they done to you?"

"It's an Australian Navy ship, and they intercepted our guns shipment to Australia. They're going to get in the way even more if we don't stop them. So, if you succeed in this, you can expect great rewards in the future from the Colonel."

"Australian Navy? That's like kicking a puppy these days Hunter. No one with a tiny bit of compassion would go so far as to pick on them."

Hunter shook his head. "I forgot what a soft touch you were Remington. You know that big metal heart of yours really needs to harden up sometime."

"Look you cold-hearted British jerk, my mother was Australian so give me some room if I still feel a little warm to them. Anyway, I never said I wouldn't do it. Actually, I like kicking puppies. And kittens. And fluffy little bunny rabbits."

"The RSPCA will be contact." Hunter hung up on him and glanced up to find Tonkins had never left the room. He frowned at the young man. "Yes?"

"You aren't really going to send Remington and the Arctic Princess after that Navy ship are you?"

Hunter frowned. "Did I look like I was joking Tonkins?"

"But sir, he'll kill them all."

"You're right Tonkins. And that's exactly what I want to happen. Now, if you don't mind I'm a very busy man."

"But sir. The Colonel? Where is he?"

"He's everywhere you need him to be Tonkins." Hunter said, re-shuffling some papers. He glanced up to see Tonkins' blank face. "He's in Vietnam right now Tonkins. But you'll get your chance to meet him soon enough. Now, if you don't mind." He repeated.

Tonkins frowned and left the room, heading back to his desk outside. When he got there he picked up the phone. It rang three times and then a young man picked up. "Yes, hello, I'm ringing from Manchester… no, I cannot give my name. I'm calling regarding an issue of national security. For who? For the Australian Navy. One ship in particular. It's called the Hammersley."