Playing A Losing Game

by MF Bishop

  Chapter Ninety Five

  The next day, Frank demanded a complete description of the 'Shootout on the Mall', as the news media called it. "The President went on to Stockholm without me," he said, "but I catch up with him in Moscow tomorrow, and he'll want the details."

  Bobby and Alexa filled him in, interrupting each other through lunch. Over coffee, Frank said, "That night is an amazing end to an amazing story. I can't understand why the Holtzman woman killed Loughlin; I thought he was her hero, the reason she was doing all this."

  "Talking to her," Bobby said, "she sounded like the cause - 'saving the country', she called it - got bigger than anybody."

  "So when Loughlin didn't support her, or didn't agree with her, or whatever happened," Alexa said, "he didn't fit in with Holtzman's plans, and she snuffed him. That's cold, that's damn cold."

  "According to the police interview with Mrs. Loughlin, that's essentially what happened," Frank said, "she was unconscious at the time of the murder, so we'll never know exactly what took place, but that's why Holtzman was there - to convince Loughlin to continue his run for the Presidency."

  "I talked to Lieutenant Parsons this morning," Alexa said, "they still haven't found Holtzman's body. She wasn't under the chopper - no surprise there - but they've searched the river all the way to Alexandria with no luck."

  "If she went into the water when the helicopter crashed," Bobby said, "it was almost four hours before they started looking for her. The river could carry her body a long way in that time."

  "Well, they'll find her sooner or later," Frank said, "and whether or not, we brought the Game to a successful conclusion, we averted real war between ourselves and the Japanese, and the President stands a very good chance of winning the next election. Mostly thanks to you two."

  "Aw, shucks," Bobby said.

  "I've got a plane to catch," Frank said, "before I go, here's some of what's going to happen: both of you will get Commendation Medals, and Mary Grier will also be recognized. Alexa, the President intends to push for your promotion, so I think you can count on being a Major in a few months."

  "Hey," Alexa said, "you won't rank me anymore, Bobby. No more of that 'yessir, nossir' shit."

  "You've always been so respectful of my rank," Bobby said dryly.

  "Uh, yes," Frank said, "that's another thing. Bobby, you and Mary had occasion to meet various generals and admirals in the last month."

  "The high point of my military career," Bobby said.

  "It wasn't the high point of theirs," Frank said. "They want both of you out of the military, the sooner the better."

  "What," Bobby cried, "after all we've done, they fired us?"

  "No, no," Frank said soothingly, "you still have your jobs. They're changing the rules. Members of the Computer Intelligence Agency can be civilian employees of the Army." Frank laughed. "That should make you happy, Bobby. You've never been much of a soldier anyway. I've heard you don't even own a uniform."

  "But, Christ on a crutch," Bobby protested, "I don't like getting just tossed out. Mary will be upset; she likes being in the Army. God knows why, I never understood that."

  "You don't like the Army," Alexa said, "you told me the only reason you agreed to join the Army was to get the job."

  "That's right," Bobby said, "it's just the principle of the thing."

  "Great," Alexa answered, "let's have somebody else get caught up in the principle of the thing. It was so much fun when Holtzman did that."

  "Christ on a fucking crutch is all I've got to say."

  "Don't sulk, Bobby," Alexa said, "you've got too much to do."

  "What? What have I got to do? I'm going to take a few days off, celebrate my promotion to civilianhood."

  Frank got to his feet. "Don't fight, children. You'll both get some time off, and I'll see you when I get back."

  "Ok, Frank," Bobby said, "and thanks, I guess."

  Frank waved and departed, trailing secret service agents in his wake.

  "So what do I have to do?"

  "Actually," Alexa said, "the only outstanding task I can think of is talking to Marilyn Holtzman."

  "I already told her John was murdered, but nobody can prove anything," Bobby said, "what else should I say to her? Do you want me to tell her that her daughter-in-law killed her husband?"

  "Maybe," Alexa answered, "it's the truth, and she has the right to know the truth. You could also tell her that the information in John's notebook helped us unravel the conspiracy."

  Bobby sighed. "Ok, you're right. I'll call her. Later. Now, let's have another bottle of wine."

  Alexa leaned across the table and kissed him. "Let's," she said, "then we can go back to the hotel."