by Jack Ford
‘This has nothing to do with you. I think you better leave.’
Cooper stood his ground. Observed the authority this man seemed to carry within the group. ‘We need to try to get this fire under control.’
A small smile spread across the man’s face, which turned into a mocking grin. ‘This fire is under control. There’s nothing to be done here, and, as I said before, this has nothing to do with you.’
Before Cooper could answer, Maddie shouted. ‘There’s people inside!’
Both Rosedale and Cooper spun round. And Cooper was just able to make out, through the curtain of fire, the figures of two people at the tiny window of the house.
Glancing at the wooden front door, he saw it was still engulfed in flames.
‘Maddie, you stay and make sure nobody moves, and Rosedale, go round the other side, see if there’s another exit.’
He turned to the crowd, looking at no-one in particular. ‘Somebody, I need your jacket. Anyone…? Come on!’
The group stood motionless. Staring blankly.
‘Come on! I need a jacket… Anything!… What’s wrong with you?’
An expanse of faces gazing ahead as if they saw as one. As if what was in front of them was not the billowing, burning inferno of flames, but a vision of calm and tranquillity.
The man in the well-tailored suit spoke in a quiet of cool. ‘You would do well to leave now.’
The helpless cries of those inside cloaked the man’s words as Cooper noticed a threadbare drape hanging in the cemented rectangle window of the house opposite. He charged across the road, into the building.
Storming into the one room home, Cooper automatically smiled at the two startled children clad in sagging nappies, playing happily on the soiled mattress on the floor. An old lady scowled and stood up from her chair. Speaking in Lingala she launched into a tirade, and raged and hit Cooper hard with a rusting soup bowl, as he dragged and pulled down her drape, before apologizing and running back out to the burning house across the road.
Cooper could see Rosedale, who’d come from around the back of the building. He shook his head. ‘Nothing there, Thomas. There’s no way out.’
Cooper acknowledged the information with a small nod, but he was now entirely focussed on the burning door. There wasn’t time to go and find water to soak the drape in, though by his reckoning the drape could only give about five seconds of protection before it caught alight.
The one thing they had on their side was if the house he’d just been in was similar to this one, it was just one single concrete room. And with concrete’s inherent material properties, its built-in resistance to fire and slow rate of heat transfer, the majority of the internal section would be fire free. Smoke and the falling burning roof would be his biggest hazards.
‘Rosedale, I’ll go inside and get them, you and Maddie be ready to take over when I come out.’
Noticing the right hand side of the door was almost burnt through, Cooper covered his face and arms with the drape. Charged towards the weakened side. Shoulder first.
The force he used had the desired effect. Part of the door crashed in. Sent him falling forward, head first into the room.
Immediately abandoning the burning drape, he was greeted by a dense cloud of black smoke. An opaque, thick haze. Obscuring vision. Burning eyes. He covered his mouth with his t-shirt. Sucked onto the material. Tried to keep the strangling smoke from drying out his mouth, to stop it filling and cutting and spreading into his lungs like linguoid ripples on sand.
Crouching down, Cooper crawled on his hands and knees, where the air was less hazardous and easier to see through. A few feet in front of him he could just make out the two people lying unconscious on the floor, wedged next to a large piece of burning debris from the fallen roof.
He kicked the blazing timber away. Instinctively felt for a pulse. Faint but still there. Carefully he pulled the man up, shocked to feel how light he was. Even more shocked to realize that he, like the woman, were somewhere in their eighties.
It was easy for Cooper to hike them both up. Propelling the man with ease over his right shoulder before squatting down to scoop up the old lady.
Rushing out the door, Cooper was met by Rosedale. Helped by Maddie. They grabbed hold of the couple, turning them onto the floor and banging out what little flames were present on their clothes.
Maddie turned to the crowd. ‘Quickly! We need help…! Please!’
Again, her plea was met with no response, not even mild curiosity.
Coughing hoarsely, and bent over with his hands on his knees, Cooper quickly glanced up at Maddie. ‘We need to get them to the medical center ourselves. Rosedale, you take the old man, I’ll carry the woman. Maddie, stay close, and watch our backs.’
As the three of them moved off carrying the elderly couple, the well-dressed man in the blue pinstriped suit, complete with the gold monogrammed initials, stepped forward.
‘You don’t know what you’ve just done.’
25
John Woods had a strong urge to sit down. Hell, he’d had that urge for the past forty-five minutes. And with the fundraising dinner due to go on for another hour and a half he knew that urge wasn’t going to be met any time soon.
His tux was tight and his black shoes tighter, and the soles of his feet were on fire. With a smile on his face, he shifted his weight first to his right foot and then to his left foot and then decided it didn’t make a goddamn bit of difference, as he thought about the cushioned insoles he’d left back at the house. ‘Have you seen Walmsley?’
Teddy Adleman stood in the middle of the grand marbled hall in the home of Senator Bush – who happened not to be related to the forty-third president of the United States, though the name did come in useful when booking a table at The Monocle up at Capitol Hill.
The fundraising was for a joint committee set up for congressional candidates. Notable people present:
House Minority Leader.
Senate Minority Leader.
Senate Minority Whip.
Governor of Rhode Island.
Those donating $53,400 or more, and listed as sponsors: one hundred and three.
Those donating $75,800 or more, and listed as hosts: forty eight.
Adleman said, ‘Yeah, we exchanged a couple of words right before your speech. Which was pretty good, by the way. I think he wants to speak to you after we finish the meet and VIP clutch, and going by the line of people that should be anywhere between thirty-five and fifty minutes. We scheduled sixty minutes so you’ll have a small window before Senator Bush’s speech of thanks.’
‘Did he give you any clue whether he’s open to any more negotiation?’
‘No, but I doubt it.’
‘So he wants me to sit up and beg, just for him to say no.’ Teddy said, ‘Probably.’
*
Fifty-three minutes later. ‘Come on, Walmsley, don’t give me that. You were biting my hand off for further amendments to shield immigrants from deportation. What do I have to do? Give me a break here. At least see if you can meet me half way.’
Senator Walmsley, a man who enjoyed a late night brandy as much as he did a late night cigar, tucked the ringed roll of fat hanging over of the top of his winged collar shirt back in.
‘Mr. President, I don’t know how much clearer I need to make this for you, or for your staff, who’ve persisted on calling my office at every available opportunity. I have not changed my stance when it comes to giving you my support on the reforms. I have a family to consider and my support stops when I begin to get anonymous threats.’
‘Walmsley…’
The senator cut in. ‘No. I’ve told you my answer.’
‘There must be something which will change your mind?’
‘You’ve got nothing to give me.’
John Woods bent down to whisper in Walmsley’s ear. ‘Whose pocket are you in, Jerry?’
Walmsley pulled back his head. His hair brushing against Woods’s cheek to leave a smear of Brylc
reem on it. ‘Probably the same one you’re in, John.’
Woods rubbed his face. Wiped away the sticky residue. Tried to wipe away his anger. Only the former was managed. ‘Who the hell do you think you are?’
Teddy Adleman touched Woods’s arm very lightly. ‘Mr. President, people are looking. Maybe it’d be more appropriate to schedule a telephone meeting to have this discussion. There’s a window at 23.00.’
To which Woods said, ‘It’s fine, Teddy. I just want Jerry to understand I won’t let the American people be held to ransom by him or any of the pro-gun groups.’
Walmsley shook his head. Supercilious written in bold. ‘Come off it. There’s no-one being held to ransom over these gun reforms. If anyone is guilty of that, I’d say it was you, Mr. President. Those photos of the kids killed at the Liberbush Elementary. What the hell did you think they were going to do? I grieved with rest of America when it happened and so did groups like the NRA. Just because we support the right to bear arms does not mean we support crime in anyway. So, no. I’m not going to cry over a bunch of emotive pictures.’
Wood’s stepped in closer. ‘You bastard. They were kids. Kids, Jerry. Five, six, seven year olds. Gunned down. Massacred whilst in class. Helpless. Completely vulnerable. Their future wiped out, along with the future of their families who’ll have a lifetime of pain. What happened to politicians having a conscience, hey?’
‘What happened is that we got into politics… What’s wrong with you? You think a few reforms will make a difference?’
‘If it won’t, what’s the big deal then in giving me your support? Look, let’s make the reforms. Let’s make a difference to the America of tomorrow.’
‘I love my country,’ said Walmsley. ‘And I’m also a man of God, and all that that stands for. And I believe that people are driven by one of two things. Reason or force. Most of us manage to make the correct choice. But those that don’t, well, it won’t make a difference to them what laws you bring in. Meanwhile good people, law abiding people, have their constitutional rights infringed. People are worried, Mr. President, that once you start playing about with the constitution, re-writing the amendments – the soul of this country – then who’s to say the same won’t happen to the other ones? What about the sixth amendment? The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury. Shall we change people’s right to justice? Hell, why not? And whilst we’re about it, what about the Fifteenth? Shall we play about with that one too? The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, or color… Mr. President, guns have always been a part of who we are as a nation.’
‘But that doesn’t mean it isn’t time for change.’
‘Without the will to harm, the gun for most people is nothing more than security or a sporting weapon. Maybe before we start to look at gun control we need to look at why it’s happening. We need to look at the health care system, especially mental health. Poverty and the disenfranchised, disenchanted youth. Education, employment, communities, the long history and divide of black people and white people. And mostly we have to understand why the world as a whole has become desensitized to violence. Make a change on all of that. Find me the answers to solve those things and then, Mr. President, you’ll have my support.’
‘You’re talking crap, Jerry. It’s bullshit and you know it. All I’m trying to do is make a safer America by addressing the issue of gun-related crimes, by making sure the whole of the US, and not just a few states, have better background checks before people can buy assault rifles. That all larger capacity magazines are completely banned, which will help to make mass-shootings less easy. As well as ensuring that people with known affiliations and sympathies to terrorist activities and organizations have a lifetime ban from purchasing any kind of weapon. Doesn’t it worry you that we might be complicit – by refusing to make a political choice, by being afraid of change – in allowing influential interest groups with big bucks to buy votes in Congress with election funding…? So I’ll ask you again, whose pocket are you in? Who’s paying you to say no?’
Walmsley’s face reddened. ‘I’d be careful what you say. You’ve got enough enemies up at the Hill without making new ones… Oh, and John, I’d do something about that temper of yours, before it gets you into real trouble.’
And Walmsley turned on his heel and walked away.
‘Teddy, don’t even tell me how badly I handled that.’
‘…Everything alright, Mr. President?’
Woods turned to look at Senator Bush standing with a tall, gray haired man with a deep tan and a wide smile. ‘It is, thank you, Senator. And I appreciate you opening your home like this for the fundraiser.’
Picking a piece of buttered lobster out of his back right wisdom tooth, Bush replied. ‘My honour, Mr. President… And may I introduce you to Donald Parker? He’s a great supporter of your administration.’
Donald Parker put out his hand for the presidential handshake.
Woods smiled.
Asked the go-to meet and greet questions.
How are you?
What line of business are you in?
To which Donald Parker said. ‘I’m good. Mainly electronics. I’ve a very large company here in the States, but also several in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.’
26
In the early hours of the next morning, when the sunrise was tinting the sky and the oppressive heat had already begun to strangle the day, Cooper stood with Maddie and Rosedale by the burnt-out house in the heart of the Kinshasa’s rambling slums. Nearby a man cycled past, towing a rusty trailer of water bottles. Power lines sagged overhead, their connections overloaded and jerry-rigged.
‘So what do you think it was all about?’ asked Maddie.
Cooper shrugged, feeling sluggish. He was tired, and could do with anything that had a bit of caffeine in it right now. But for once, his sleepless night and irritable fatigue hadn’t been due to the lack of pills. He had plenty of those. Xanax and OxyContin were like old friends. And neither was his lethargy due to his dreams nor the thoughts which ran uncontrollably in his head. Though on reflection those things might’ve been preferable to what did keep him wide awake, and leave him to stare mindlessly at a line of bugs marching decisively along the chipped walls.
Rosedale patted Cooper on his back, slightly too hard for his liking. ‘You look tired, Thomas, didn’t you sleep well? Me and Maddison here slept like the dead.’
‘Well maybe I look tired because I am tired, Rosedale. Not to put too fine a point on it, the combination of the noise of the traffic and your snoring, which can only be described as… thunderous, really isn’t conducive to a good night’s rest. And what is it with you and the in and out breath snore? Jeez. You need to go and check that out, Rosedale. How the hell did you sleep through it, Maddie?’
Maddie smiled sympathetically. And Cooper appreciated that.
‘You know me, Tom, I can sleep through anything. Besides, Rosedale has nothing on my daddy. You must remember how crazy his snoring was.’
‘All I know is I’d happily pay a thousand bucks for my own room.’
Rosedale laughed. ‘If that’s the case, Thomas, we need to find Emmanuel and the plane as soon as possible, so we can get you back to Colorado for your beauty sleep.’
Maddie said, ‘Then I guess we need to find out if this is, well was, Emmanuel’s house and if the attack is in anyway related to him. Easiest way to do that is to go and speak to the couple from yesterday. Hopefully they’ll talk to us.’
‘I’m going to take a look around the back.’
Cooper watched Rosedale wander off towards the side of the house along the red clay sidewalks, leaving just him and Maddie. A frown cut deep into her forehead. ‘What about the guy who warned us off? Any thoughts?’
Kicking through the wreckage with his boot, Cooper threw her an answer, not really wanting to get into a conversation. Sometimes women and him just didn’t mix. Especially when he
was tired. Especially when he knew he was probably going to be a jackass.
‘Perhaps it was nothing. Maybe just a dispute with neighbors.’
‘Don’t give me that.’
‘Different places, different rules.’
‘Right there.’
Quickly Cooper looked around. ‘What?’
She shook her head. Hands placed on her hips. And Cooper instinctively knew she was pissed.
‘No, I mean right there, what you just said about there being different rules. Like it sums it all up. But you couldn’t be more wrong. This may be a different place, Tom, but Jesus, that doesn’t mean it’s the norm here to go around burning down houses. Frankly, I find it offensive that you think it is. This place is unique. There’s been a lot of darkness here. This country has been damaged by its history but there’s also a lot of beauty in it.’
Cooper sighed. ‘Look, I’m sorry if it comes across that way, Maddie, of course I didn’t mean that…’
Crouching down, Maddie got distracted from what Cooper was saying. His reply to her like a distant hum.
By the path she noticed some charcoal perfectly piled, built up like a pyramid with a circle of large black glossy berries around it. She picked one up and rolled it between her fingers and encouraged the scent to develop. She inhaled a sweet, almost vanilla fragrance. She stared. Her heart racing and beating and pounding, her head began to spin and she was only slightly aware of Cooper kneeling down next to her to pick up one of the berries and drop it into his small evidence collecting bag, something he often did.
Rosedale sauntered back. ‘I’m surprised you’re not wearing blue gloves and a white suit. Ain’t you gonna tape off the area? He thinks he’s in CSI, don’t you Thomas? Anything he sees, he puts in that damn bag of his. I’d say there were kleptomaniac qualities about him… Miss Maddison, are you okay…? Maddison?’
‘I’m fine.’