“I didn’t say they were politicians.”

The man cursed aloud and flung his arms skyward.  The volume of his own outburst startled the man.  He nervously darted his head back and forth, scrutinizing the shadows.

William placed his hand on the man’s shoulder and tried to calm him, “Look, we’re fine – you’re fine. I need you to relax.  Tell me what else was said.”

The man took a deep breath and continued, “He said he’d heard our talks had fallen through.  He said he could help us with what we want, but he has his own terms.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him he was making me more than a little paranoid and he should contact you.  He said you would just send him back to me, and he didn’t have time for that.  He said his ‘window of opportunity’ was narrow.”

“Well he was right about what I would’ve done.  Everybody in this town deals in third parties for the sake of plausible deniability and I play along for their peace of mind.  What’re his terms?”

“His people retain possession at all times, and he chooses the destination.  He wants our help with logistical and ground support.  His people aren’t familiar with the city and he knows we have contacts everywhere.  I got the impression his ‘people’ are foreign.”

“What city?”  William asked.

“Houston.”

“ Houston?  Absolutely not!”

The man stopped and turned to William, “He promised me this, if we help him with Houston, the next time it’s all us.  He’ll deliver us whatever we want:  low grade, chemical, biological, you name it.  Oh, he wants us to meet with an associate of his real soon.”

“When?”

“I’m not sure yet, all I know is soon.  He said he’d be in touch.  If we agreed with the terms, he’d set up the meeting.”

William considered the proposal for several moments before he replied, “It’s a risk.”

“It’s a huge risk.”

“I don’t want to make the decision here, in the rain, surrounded by a bunch of dead men; that seems like too much of a bad omen.  I’ll call you later tonight.  Did you pick up a new phone?”

“Of course.”

“Alright, give me the number.  Oh, by the way, you’re doing great work.”

***

William climbed on his bike and eased through the cemetery. The ride back would be miserable, but at least it would be short.  After several minutes he was on the Arlington Memorial Bridge.  The bridge was empty so he straddled the center line aimed for D.C.

He gazed up the Potomac towards the Teddy Roosevelt, but it was obscured by the heavy rain.  He still had not gotten used to the emptiness of the city.  Before, all of the bridges would have been aglow by the light of the lamps and cars, but not anymore.

After crossing the river, he slowed down for the checkpoint.  He flashed his license to the soldier and was allowed back into the city proper.  If the nation was at war, D.C. was the green zone.  It was an island of stability in a sea of chaos.  Of all cities, it was determined to continue on.  The checkpoint soldiers were well known for their intolerance of the woes of the rest of the world. And if they were not a strong enough deterrence, then the tanks that loomed behind them certainly were.  The security was so iron-fisted that he no longer held protests within the city for fear that even his connections would not be enough to protect him.

He veered north around the Lincoln Memorial and the menacing tanks that flanked it. William took 23rd north to George Washington University and cut through the campus.  He turned back south until he reached Quigley’s Pharmacy at the corner of G Street and 21st.  He parked in the back and walked around the corner to Tonic.

After changing into some dry clothes in the bathroom and stuffing the riding suit into his backpack, he found an empty seat at the bar. He a ordered a Guinness draft before scanning the candlelit establishment and taking in the scene.  The elegant bar was filled with staffers, aides and lobbyists, mingling after just another long day at the office.  In many ways, not much had changed in the city.  As long as you were in the green zone, life was good, all things considered.

As he was enjoying the rich, draft brew, a young walked up and sat down beside him.  She took a sip of her cabernet sauvignon and then nudged him with her elbow.

“Well, look who’s here,” she said.

“Careful, what will all of your friends say when they see you over here with me?”

She laughed, “Absolutely nothing, you know they’re terrified of you.”

William turned and stared into her eyes. “But what about you?  Do I frighten you?”

She laughed again, louder this time, “Oh yeah, sure, I’m shaking in my Jimmy Choos.” She feigned distress for a moment, and then continued, “Come on, you know who my boss is, we’re practically on the same team.”

“He’s a rather unique senator, isn’t he?”

“I guess that’s one way to put it.”  She paused and sipped her drink.  “So what brings you here?  I know you only come around when you want my sage advice.”

“You know me so well.”  He sarcastically rolled his eyes as he lifted the Guinness to his lips again.

“Knowing people is my job, it’s why I am paid so very well.  Now, tell me about the dilemma that’s brought you to my bar.”

“Well, I’ve got this project.  It’s a very important project and I knew the all parties very well.  It was a very comfortable scenario-“

She interrupted his vague ramblings and said, “But?”

“Yes, ‘but,’ things changed.  We couldn’t come to an agreement on how to proceed.  They had a lot of reservations about dealing with me, so they backed out.”

She smiled, “Aww, that’s too bad.”

“But here’s where it gets interesting: I’ve had a new player contact me.  I know nothing about him.  I don’t know if I can trust him, I don’t even know if it is a him.  He says he can fulfill all of the obligations of the other party, and much more, but I have to play by his rules.”

“Enter the dark horse.”  She smiled.  She always enjoyed toying with William.  She knew that she intimidated him, and she found it intriguing.

“A dark horse indeed, and I have absolutely no idea what I should do.”  He motioned for another beer and was promptly accommodated.

She gently set her wine glass on the bar and placed her hand on his arm.  She turned her head and stared at the people in the bar.  They were smiling and laughing as they drank away the night while the rest of the world burned.  She concealed her resentment well, but he could see a glimmer of it.  She returned her gaze to him and said in a whisper, “William, Mr. Arayo can be trusted, but he will not wait long for an answer.  I suggest you leave now and call your friend, I believe he should be back in his room by now.”

William stared at her incredulously, but she ignored him and swirled her drink about.

He placed a crumpled hundred dollar bill on the bar and stood up to leave.  He squeezed through the dense crowd that continued to trickle in from the stormy night. As he reached the front door and turned around to wave goodbye, but she was already gone.

As he stepped back outside into the rain, he retrieved his phone and dialed the man’s number.

“Yeah?”

“Where’re you?”

“I just got back to my room, why?”

William paused.

“William?  Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.  So, I thought about everything and, I want you to tell him we’re in.”

“Are you sure?  I thought you were going to take the night to consider it.  This is a huge risk, remember?”

“I’ve considered my options, I understand the risk and I’ve made my decision.  Also, prepare the secondary objective.  We’ll execute the plan as soon as possible.”

Ch apter 16