2. BRADEN
Charles Braden, Colonel USAF (Rtd), Chairman of Braden
Aerospace, was sixty.
His secretary, Connie, the
same age, managed without contrivance to resemble a woman twenty years younger
just off a twelve-hour flight. She'd pleased him in bed for fifteen years,
unflappably supported him at work, was used to handling powerful men, but her
voice quavered as she buzzed him. `I think it's a hoax, but it could be the
President.'
`Soon tell you. Put him through.'
A click.
`Braden here.'
`Hello, bastard.'
`Dougie? Jeez, you gave my girl a
stroke.'
`She wouldn't put me through. I get that a
lot. Then the penny drops and it's God Bless America. See how people need
something to believe in? Now listen. I need your butt over here.'
`Don't tell me the Commander in Chief's after some washed-up gunship pilot?'
`Affirmative. Your country calls. But I can't go into details on this line. I'll
send someone to set it up. You owe me one, remember?'
He did.
He'd dragged President Douglas Jessop to the
Spectre Association reunion, insisting that he postpone an important meeting in
Mexico to attend. The retired air force men who'd come to relive great days past
had no idea he'd conned the most famous of them along, although they possibly
wondered why the street was half blocked off. What a night!
`And Chuck, forget the company jet. I'd like you to fly the bird here. My press
secretary needs you high-profile. Media circus is part of the plot.'
`They'll say I'm angling for the ATGM contract.'
`I'll hose that down. So - look forward to it. Gotta go, good buddy. Bye.'
Braden replaced the handset slowly, dismayed to find he felt flattered. He'd
thought he was past that crap. It was just Dougie after all.
His secretary burst in, red-faced. `Was it... him?'
`Yup.'
She slumped against the doorframe, hand to
the elegant slope of her breast. `Oh-my-Godddd.'
`What on
earth did you say to him, Connie?'
`Don't even go there.'
Braden watched her trim rear as she left, wondering what the call meant. He was
at the top of the food chain, but this wasn't about campaign funds. An aerospace
query? Unlikely. There were better sources of information.
What had Truman said? 'If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.'
Jessop was in a bind. Needed a buddy.
For what?