The Black Bullet

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The news director, assistant news director, executive producer, two reporters and Susan Schulman crowded around Nicole Bradley’s desk and watched her open the computer to her Facebook page. Nicole felt more excited than she had in a long time. She had the attention of the people who ran the number-one-rated newscast. She was going to be working on a big story with Susan Schulman.

“Here they are,” said Nicole, her eyes dancing with excitement, her fingers trembling as she pointed to each picture. “My boyfriend, Jason, said this is some kind of rocket … and these parts are from fighter jets.”

“Must be an enormous sub,” said the news director.

“Look at that … wow,” Susan’s said. “That’s the ID of the sub, U-235.”

“I don’t know,” said Nicole, “because there’s like another number, too.” She clicked to the image of the conning tower. “Jason said this is what’s on the outside of the sub. Looks kinda like a fat chimney, don’t you think?”

“Then what are the boxes labeled U-235?” asked Susan.

The portly news director crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Those boxes are labeled with the short, abbreviated name of enriched uranium, U-235.”

“What?” Susan asked. “As in the guts of a nuclear bomb?”

“Yes,” said the news director. “But only if it’s highly enriched uranium.”

“What a story!” Susan pounded her fists on the back of Nicole’s chair.

“Ohmygod!” squealed Nicole. “I told you it was big!”

“You did, girlfriend!” They slapped hands in a high-five.

The executive producer said, “Hold on. We don’t know what that U-235 means. However, if it’s the stuff of nuclear bombs … oh boy. This could be huge!”

The news director said, “Susan, you run with the lead piece. Bob, you find out everything you can on U-235. Todd, call some of the universities, talk to historians, physicists, whomever, see if you can find out how advanced we think the Germans were with this stuff. Karen, you get on the line to Homeland Security, work those ‘potential threat’ angles. Susan, pictures are good, but it’d be enormous to have video from the U-boat. Take Johnny, he’s a certified expert diver. See if you can find that boat captain, the one who lied to you, O’Brien, and get him to take you out there. Let’s move people!”

As they scattered, Nicole asked, “Mr. Brickman, what do you want me to do?”

“Nothing right now.” He disappeared beyond the cubicles and desks as he entered the control room.

Nicole stared at the pictures of the U-boat on her Facebook page and mumbled, “But I’m the one who told you about it.”

Susan grabbed her purse and was followed by a brawny cameraman. She stopped at Nicole’s desk. “Where can I find that cute boyfriend of yours?”

“Why?”

“I want to interview him.”

“You mean … like on camera?”

“That’s exactly want I mean.”

“Uhh … I don’t know where he is-”

“Does he have a cell?”

“Yes.”

“Call it. Tell him to meet you at the boat I saw him on, Jupiter.”

“Meet me? Why me?”

“Why not? He won’t show up if he knows he’s meeting me.”

“I … I don’t know about-”

“Listen-this is a huge story. Don’t blow your chance at jumpstarting a career by getting a little guilt complex now. One day you’ll thank me for it.”