"What do you have for me?"
"What's my favorite team?" the voice on the phone demanded.
"You're favorite team? Arsenal."
"I HATE Arsenal, and you know it!"
"Yes, I do," Francisco confirmed. "What I don't know is why we're playing word games in the middle of a crisis."
"Relax! I just wanted to confirm that it was you. I have information about Fenn-Creighley."
"Confirm that it's me... OK. Your mother's name is Maria Francesca, and your sister has the most amazing ass I've ever..."
"Don't push it, jackass!"
"Just tell me what you have."
"Your hunch was right. Fenn-Creighley still has contacts in government including an old friend at the State Department."
"Oh?"
"Deputy Director Bradford Marston. He and Fenn-Creighley pledged at the same fraternity, same year."
"Where did they go? Georgetown?"
"Not quite. Ohio State."
"Really? Not exactly what I was expecting."
"You know what that means, right?"
"Yes," Francisco replied. "It means that we're dealing with working class operators, men who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty."
"Men with a chip on their shoulder," the voice said. "Willing to do whatever it takes to fit in with the Ivy Leaguers."
"That's not good news," Francisco noted. "What do you know about Marston?"
"Three kids, big mortgage," the voice said. "Not the type to rock the boat."
"Which means that Fenn-Creighley has dirt on him."
"Probably. But figuring out what that is will be difficult."
"It probably has to do with Fenn-Creighly's conviction," reasoned Francisco. "But I agree that it will be difficult to dig up old skeletons. What else do you have?"
"Fenn-Creighley has daughter in private school. Boston area."
"That sounds expensive."
"We could apply pressure there..."
"No! Leave the kid out of it," Francisco insisted. "It's not her fault that he father is an asshole."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm completely sure! And make sure that my father doesn't hear about this. That's exactly the kind of target that he likes to harass."
"He just does it because it gets results."
"It gets results when you're negotiating with a dictator or enforcing mineral rights in a jungle full of guerrillas," Francisco explained. "We're not in that situation. Let's try to keep the body count to a minimum."
"What do you propose?"
"You said the Fenn-Creighley had other government contacts?"
"His old bosses, two Congressmen," the voice replied. "One of them is still serving."
"Garrison Albright."
"That is correct."
Francisco thought before continuing. "A sitting Congressman probably isn't worth the effort - unless he's really dirty, and maybe this guy isn't. Let's keep that idea in our back pocket. We'll pull it out if we need a 'break glass' solution."
"OK" agreed the voice.
"For the time being, let's put some pressure on Marston. Make him think about losing that big house."
"I'll make some calls," said the voice.
"Nothing rough. Just remind him that he's not untouchable."
"Got it. If he feels the walls closing in..."
"...he won't be as eager to do Fenn-Creighley's bidding," Francisco concluded.
"Anything else?"
"A stern word from upper management might sway Deputy Director Marston," Francisco pondered.
"A reprimand."
"Exactly!" Francisco exclaimed. "And I think that I know someone who might be able to help with that."
"Who?"
"An old friend. And it just so happens that I'll be speaking with her tonight."
'The Horse Farm'
Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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