by Martha Carr
The new bookstore was almost as packed full of books as the first version but was a little more updated with a computer system. Norman and Tom had convinced the older couple to at least try.
Norman and Father Donald worked their way back to the small room in St. Stephen’s where brides usually got ready before they walked down the aisle. The furniture was all heavy wood with faded red velvet and a little uncomfortable.
Sitting on the edge of an ornate bishop’s chair with carvings of small birds all the way down the sides and across the back, sat Helmut Khroll, the journalist who had become a friend to them since everything had come out in the open, at least for Wallis. Just at the top of the chair, framing the top of Helmut’s head, were two keys carved out of the wood. It was the mark of the saltire with the left key of absolution drawn over the right key of excommunication.
Helmut was a journeyman’s kind of storyteller and Norman had suspected for a while that he was more tied to the Circle than he was saying. Helmut never appeared to work for one particular news organization and went in search of stories that uncovered whatever Management was trying to bury. Norman sometimes wondered how he managed to stay alive at all.
“That can’t be comfortable,” said Norman.
“Point out a place that would be in this entire room,” said Helmut. “Why are we meeting here?”
“Because my secretary can’t hear a thing if we sit in here,” said the minister. “And she thinks it’s in her job description to listen in on all conversations. Why do you think I had you come in the side door? I’ll walk you out the front just so she’ll know she missed something.”
“Helmut, why are you even in town? It seems a little too convenient. First, someone is watching our house,” said Norman.
“No, has been watching your house. They’ve been there all along,” said Helmut.
Norman felt the color drain from his face. “Why do I still get surprised?”
“I really don’t know,” said Helmut, in his heavy German accent. “The patrols have stepped up but that’s no wonder. The war is getting worse.”
“What war?” asked Norman, trying to not sound anxious as he noticed the Reverend and Helmut look quickly back and forth at each other.
“Someone want to tell me what’s going on? What did I miss?”
“I thought for sure you would have been filled in,” said Helmut, not taking his eyes off of Father Donald. “After all, I made a point of telling the good Father everything I knew. And…”
“And, they deserved a little peace for as long as they could get it,” interrupted Father Donald. “There was nothing they could do, anyway.”
“What war?” asked Norman again, a little louder.
“The civil war that has broken out between Management and the Circle. It’s mostly along the Canadian border right now but it’s spreading and it’s getting worse,” said Helmut. “Come on, you didn’t notice the uptick in gun violence?”
“I noticed but I didn’t see the connections,” said Norman. “What exactly are you trying to tell me? That as a country, we’re at war, whether we all know it or not?”
“Yeah,” said Helmut, “isn’t it a kick in the head? Who even knew that one was possible? If I wrote about it no one would even believe me. I’d be the weird nut who doesn’t think we ever landed on the moon, sort of thing. And yet, I’ve been to one of the Circle’s base camps. We have nifty uniforms and everything.”
“We?” asked Norman, “so you’ve officially joined a side? That’s new.”
“At least for now,” said Helmut. “That could fluctuate. Dammit,” he said, suddenly standing, “this chair is God-awful. Feels like it’s going to attack at any moment. Why do you people keep putting out these things?” he said, starting to pace the room. “What the hell was this room designed for anyway?” he said, sweeping his arm around to take in all of the velvet-covered furnishings. “Did you get a donation from the Presley estate?”
Father Donald quietly took a seat across the room.
“We had to have some way to make sure everyone knew who was in charge, without saying so, of course,” said Father Donald. “The Episcopalian way of doing things. Bold statements without saying a word.”
“I realize that neither one of you really likes to come at something directly,” said Norman, “but if you could for just a couple of minutes focus, I’d appreciate it. A war?”
“Yes, a war. A war and all that goes with it,” said Helmut. “Come on, Father Donald, chime in. You know more than I do. You’re part of the mother ship after all.”
“Mother ship?” asked Norman.
“Well, the Episcopal mother ship,” said Helmut, “we all know they’re pulling a lot of the Circle’s strings, for better or worse.”
“We all know?” asked Father Donald, not looking amused. “Don’t start rumors, Helmut. Look, Norman, there’s been no official declaration of war. How could there be? Where would we send it and there’s no diplomats to recall. Somehow it all just kept escalating until we ended up here.”
“When did it start?” asked Norman. “What, no one wants to speak? Why the reluctance?” he asked, looking at the two men. “No, it didn’t,” he said, suddenly realizing what must have triggered all of it. “No, he whispered, sitting down on the tight, red tufted leather of the bishop’s chair. He realized that his own brother, Harry’s betrayal to the Circle and then inability to deliver to Management what they wanted, the name of the new Keeper or the outline of the Circle’s plan to rebuild their numbers had led Management down a much darker path.
“Alright, I’ll go,” said Helmut, “since no one else wants to,” he said, looking at Father Donald, who looked like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. “No? Okay, so, maybe it was Harry or maybe it was coincidence, who knows. Suddenly, a few good Circle operatives ended up dead and without any kind of provocation. Very against the rules, these days.”
“Am I late to the meeting?” Esther Ackerman came haltingly into the room. She was wearing her favorite mauve wool coat with the faux fur collar. Snow was clinging to the tips of the fur.
“Is it snowing outside?” asked Norman.
“I was in Hanover County,” she said, glancing at Father Donald. Norman watched how they seemed to be speaking to each other without really carrying on much of a conversation. He wasn’t used to being left out.
“It’s snowing a little out there but nothing to speak of,” she said, gradually dropping the Eastern European accent Esther had been using for years to hide her real German background.
“You ever get confused and mash the two accents together, German and, what is that other one, Serbian?” asked Helmut, as Esther laughed and gave him a hard swat on his back.
“You are a devil, Helmut Khroll,” she said, still laughing.
“And a fellow German, lest you forget with all of your play-acting,” he said, winking.
Esther laughed again and sat back for a moment, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath.
Age was finally catching up with her and she was moving more slowly these days. Norman hated to see it. She was like his second mother. Being in the middle of a bomb blast two years ago with Tom hadn’t helped anything, either.
“How did you get in?” asked Father Donald.
“Don’t worry, I know all about the extra eyes and ears about this place. I used my church key,” she said, smiling, pulling out a common can opener from her pocket. “That and you left the side door slightly ajar. Hello Norman, good to see you still in one piece, my love,” she said, offering her cheek for a kiss.
Norman got up and let Esther sit in the prominent chair. He stayed standing and leaned against a wall for support.
“Helmut was starting to tell me about the war we’re all in and once again, I didn’t know anything about. Does Tom know?” asked Norman.
“Of course Tom knows, dear,” said Esther, cutting off Helmut before he could answer. “He would have had to give the orders to actually form our side.”
“Of course he would,” said Norman, giving the back of his head a careful pat, pat.
“But that’s not really why we’re all here,” said Esther.
“I thought I called this meeting,” said Norman, suddenly taking stock of everyone who was there. “Isn’t that why we’re all here?”
“No, dear. Another delightful coincidence. Really helped us to cover our tracks, so thank you,” said Esther. “We were going to have to meet with you anyway. Isn’t it wonderful how things sometimes work out? There’s been an incident. Harry has been broken out.”
Norman practically shouted, “What?” as Father Donald tried to wave at him to quiet down. “When? How? Who?”
“All good questions,” said Esther. “Too bad we don’t know the important answers. Some very well trained people broke in the same night that your friend, Alice Watkins was killed. We have to assume it was Management. Who else would care? The really good questions are, how did they know where to find him and what do they want with him? They can’t possibly think we’d bargain all that much to get him back. Sorry, dear but it’s the truth.”
“I know that,” said Norman, quietly. “And?”
“And, we haven’t heard a thing since they took him. So, why bother? Then Alice Watkins is suddenly killed and after all this time. Again, why bother? I understand the little ferret, Rodney Parrish did the deed. He really doesn’t do much without a payoff. We have to wonder if they’re connected.”
“I don’t know that name,” said Norman.
“Better that you don’t,” said Father Donald, “he’s like a paid serial killer, frankly.”
“What’s the difference between that and the usual kind of paid assassin?” asked Helmut, sounding annoyed.
“He’s been known to kill for free. Some would say, for fun,” said Father Donald, fingering the small silver cross hanging at his side.
“How do you know him?” asked Norman, looking at his old friend.
“I hear things,” said Father Donald, “and in this town it doesn’t take long before Rodney Parrish’s name comes up, somehow.”
“I don’t see it,” said Norman, walking to the window to try and gather his thoughts.
“Alice knew the identity of the Keeper, your brother. Unfortunately, there are Management operatives in the Richmond police force and they have kept Rodney Parrish on their payroll.”
“The rumor is they’ve even paid him off by letting him amuse himself with a few burglaries, his other love. Only Circle store owners, of course,” said Helmut.
“You see, this is why we never wanted anyone to know the identity of the Keeper. No loopholes. It causes all sorts of problems. But then, circumstances come up that no one expected and what are you going to do,” said Esther.
“Well said,” said Helmut. “Alice was a good old girl, though. She could be trusted. But that Parrish fellow is a little monster and it looks like Alice went down swinging. I don’t believe she said anything.”
“But we can’t be sure,” said Esther. “And if the Keeper is captured.”
“Then all of hell breaks loose into the open,” said Father Donald.
“Do you think that’s why someone has set Harry free?” asked Norman.
“We don’t know that he’s free and I suspect he’s not,” said Esther. “He’s merely changed prisons, most likely. And to answer your question, no, we don’t know if it’s all a coincidence or somehow connected.”
“I vote for connected. Too odd,” said Helmut.
“Really,” said Esther, rolling her r’s dramatically. Norman saw the strain in her face suddenly. He wondered just how bad things had gotten.
“So, now what?” asked Norman. “What exactly does this have to do with Wallis and Ned?” he asked, dreading the answer.
“It’s not exactly a state secret anymore who Wallis is or how Ned is related to everyone,” said Helmut. “We can’t tell what Management is up to so we can’t be sure what they’ll do next.”
“Are you saying Ned is in danger,” asked Norman, walking to the door to leave. Helmut put his hand on the door, holding it shut.
“Not yet,” said Helmut. “I would have come and gotten all of you myself, if I thought that was the case. But there’s something afoot. That’s why the Watchers are becoming more obvious. And, they may be trying to get us to show our hand. Panic and run somewhere.”
“This is all crazy,” said Norman.
“That’s why we didn’t include Wallis in this conversation, just yet,” said Father Donald.
“That’s not going to fly,” said Norman. “You know how it turned out the last time I decided to keep something from her for her own good. I’m not on board.”
“We don’t have enough answers and it would only worry her further. I know she’s struggling still with everything that happened,” said the minister.
“You’re not?” asked Norman. “I’m not doing this without her. I’m just telling you.”
“We’re getting off track,” said Esther, in a stern voice. Norman went back to the window and looked out over the small memorial garden below.
“A unit has been sent to Montana to collect Tom,” said Esther.
“Tom is coming to Richmond,” said Norman. “He can stay with me.”
“Not quite,” said Esther, “that is too dangerous. Just moving him puts up a red flag, so now we have to follow through and hide him. And, I have a theory about Harry. I don’t believe that was a general plot, to take him I mean. I have come to believe that there is a master cell operating independently within Management’s ranks that is attempting a coup. In fact, I believe they have orchestrated all of this, including the war.”
“What war, exactly?” asked Norman
“It’s really quite simple,” said Esther. “There’s a Presidential election in just over a year and while the real power may sit behind all of the pomp and circumstance that passes for a two-party system in America.” She stopped for a moment and seemed to get lost in thought.
“Esther?” asked Father Donald, but Esther gave him a curt wave.
“Let me finish, it’s nothing. A small worry for me alone.” She looked at Norman, and wagged her finger at him.
“You haven’t done that to me since I told you who I was planning to marry,” said Norman. He loved Esther and was reminded just how old she was getting to be these days.
She let out a short laugh and dropped her hand, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. Norman knew that Esther put on a dress, rain or shine, work or play. He preferred women who could be consistent. So much of his childhood had lacked that quality.
“You have always been a charmer, Norman Weiskopf. Even more than that brother, Tom. Really, the election is more of a show to keep the masses occupied and it does a lovely job of that. But whoever is President has a few extra perks, particularly for the Circle that aids our cause.”
“The tunnels,” said Father Donald, quietly.
“Yes, the tunnels being one of the main advantages, which Management is still largely unaware of, at least to their full extent. That and it’s easier to move around the more traditional civilian armed guards if you’re President, than if you’re not.”
“The National Guard is fighting on our side?” asked Norman.
“No, not really dear, at least not those members who aren’t already in the Circle. But when they’re called out to at least occupy a certain area, it makes it harder for Management battalions to pass through unnoticed, and they know it.”
“So what does this have to do with starting an entire war?” asked Norman.
Esther hesitated and bit her lip.
“The election will most likely go to the sitting President, President Hayes. No matter what Management does, he will likely win. They seem to have already accepted this fact. But a super cell has not and they have decided to pick a rather large fight.”
“Their real aim seems to be to upset the election,” said Father Donald.
“Or something we just do
n’t see yet,” said Helmut.
“Yes, that’s what worries all of us,” said Esther.
“Not to sound cold, but why don’t they just kill President Hayes?” asked Norman.
“Oh, they’ve tried,” said Esther, “they’ve tried a few times, but unsuccessfully. We have always had several different layers in place to stay a step ahead of assassination plots. But you make a good point. Why start an entire war if all you really want, is one dead man?”
“Instability,” said Helmut. “Instability of some kind,” he said, vigorously scratching his head, the thick greying curls barely moving. “Any kind of widespread, unchecked violence would do and it would only really harm whoever was sitting in power.”
“Besides the people who are killed in the war,” said Norman, once again, patting the back of his head nervously.
“Yes, besides that,” said Helmut. “That makes the next question, what is to be gained from the instability. Usually the two sides like a certain amount of calm, even if it’s only on the surface. Why risk all of that? And I think I have the beginning of an answer. To form a different enemy, a new terrorist that the ninety-nine percent would be willing to start a real war with, a world war.”
“Who are you nominating?” asked Father Donald.
“China,” said Helmut.
“That’s a long way to go with your theories,” said Norman.
“Not really,” said Esther, “if the super cell is only trying to extort something and doesn’t want another world war as much as anyone else.”
“An extortion plan? What could be worth that much for someone to go to that much trouble? What does America have, or even China that would cause all of this?” asked Norman.
“No, you’re looking in the wrong direction,” said Helmut. “But we’re off topic. We are here to talk about how to protect Tom and to make you aware that Harry may pop up to ask for a favor or two.”
Norman suddenly felt a little unsteady on his feet as Father Donald put a strong hand against his back. His stomach turned sour and he wondered if he was going to lose his breakfast on the old horsehair carpet. “My own brother. Stop, I know what you’re going to say. If he does show up, someone sent him. It’s more of some kind of plot. Good God,” said Norman. He caught his reflection in the window as the sun was starting to set.