The Night Gods II- Chapter XXX: The Missing Link

Artwork by @marty-art on Steemit... With many thanks!

Fleming was gone, dead and buried, and Denning was forced to call upon his SecDef to provide him with another "consultant." Wade, naturally, was eager to fulfill his Commander-in-Chief's every wish. He half-heartedly pressed Denning about the demise of his former protegee- but with very little results. He would be happy to find a replacement- guys like that were literally a dime a dozen- but this time it would be someone that he had no real past history with... Fleming had been a friend and he had hoped to use him to solidify his relationship with Denning... He would not make the same mistake twice- he settled on a former Army Ranger, Arthur Price, formerly of the 82nd Airborne and now in private security.

"The first thing I want to do, "Denning assured Sec. Wade, "is to avenge the murder of Ken Fleming- he was a fine man, Wade, and I'm as upset about this as you are."

"I'd appreciate that, Mr. President," Wade said gratefully, "Fleming was a good man, a hero in my opinion and with me a very long time... He was almost like a son."

While Wade was busy contacting a new accomplice for the President, Dick, having returned with the video disc of the Governors Conference, was hard at work, accompanied by David, Ann, and Przybysz. Staying busy seemed to help Ann to deal with her loss... That and Anica's tender ministrations- she had become a great source of inspiration to her new "mother."

The video, on first viewing, looked less promising than the Crew had hoped. All it showed was Denning meeting Eddie Phillips through an introduction by the Massachusetts Governor, to showcase how his progressive policies on rehabilitating prisoners produced splendid results. It wasn't until the luncheon during the noon intermission that showed any promise- after Dick and Przybysz had stopped watching in disappointment. It was David's dogged determination that garnered results... Denning, Phillips and the Massachusetts Governor all sat at the same table, chatting amiably.

"That's it!" David exclaimed excitedly.

"What?" Przybysz jumped up from his chair almost knocking Anica from the arm.

"Watch this," David went back to the beginning of the luncheon.

"They're all eating lunch," Dick, who had just joined them, said.

"Look who's at the table right here," David said pointing at the monitor.

There it was, Denning, the Governor and Eddie sitting together, eating lunch and chatting like old friends. It may not be the proverbial smoking gun they needed, but it was a start- and by far the best thing they had come up with yet if there was going to be a legal resolution. It showed that Denning at least knew of Eddie Phillips.

"Watch the rest," David said. "If you watch it all, it almost appears that there's some kind of familiarity between them... nothing I can put my finger on- they couldn't have known each other before, but watch the body language- they seem really comfortable with each other."

"Yeah," Dick said dubiously, try taking that into court."

"I think it does tell us something," Przybysz replied. It shows that birds of a feather..."

"We need to get a copy of this to the Senator," David cut in. "He'll know what to do with it."

"He's right," Przybysz said. "We need to give Lena a call."

"I think she's coming by in a bit to visit Ann," David said.

"Good," Dick said, "burn a couple of copies- better to have too many than not enough."

At the White House, Price had joined Wade and Denning in the Executive Living Quarters: "I understand you've been working private security lately Price," Denning said.

"Yes, Mr. President," Price replied, "VIP's political figures- ambassadors, heads of state, things like that... Both here and abroad."

"It's the VIP's that interest me," Denning went on, "would you excuse us for a minute Wade. There are a few questions of a rather personal nature I have for Mr. Price... If you don't mind."

"Of course, Mr. President," Wade was visibly disappointed.

"Nothing personal, Duke. You, of course, have my highest confidence- that's why I come to you when I need a favor," Denning said seeing the look. "I just think Mr. Price may be more comfortable answering in front of as few people as possible- am I right Mr. Price?"

"Whatever you wish, Sir," Price replied.

"It'll only be a couple of minutes, Duke," Denning said amiably. "I only have a couple of rather private matters I want to ask about."

When they were alone, Denning turned to Price: "I take it some of these VIP's were celebrities- Hollywood types... Am I correct?"

"Yes, Mr. President," Price had a good idea what was coming next.

"I know that a lot of those people," Denning began, "and they have a lot of... shall we say peccadillos that need to be- kept out of the public eye."

"Yes, Mr. President," Price told him, let me put your mind at rest... I was not only security, a bodyguard- but kind of a fixer as well... I made potentially embarrassing problems go away. Is that what you were after, Sir?"

"Exactly," Denning said enthusiastically. "That's precisely what I had hoped for. I think this is going to work out just fine... One other thing- a man in my position has enemies, you know..."

"Say no more, Mr. President," Price cut in, "your enemies are my enemies, Sir."

"Fine, fine- I think this arrangement will prove mutually beneficial indeed," Denning beamed broadly holding out his hand. "Shall we call Sec. Wade back in?"

Price took Denning's hand shaking vigorously: "Whatever you say, Mr. President."

Meanwhile, at the townhouse, after all had seen the entire video and expressed their opinions, something occurred to David: "I think we should give the videographers a call."

"What are you thinking?" Przybysz asked.

"A lot of times," David began, "these companies will discard things they consider unimportant- you know for the conference. It will be on the master, but not appear on the finished product... I'd love to have a look at that master."

"Good thinking," Dick clapped him on the back. "See what they have... maybe they kept it."

"It has to be in their archive," David said. "For legal reasons. I'll make the call."

"What exactly are you hoping to find," Przybysz asked.

"Anymore interaction between Denning and Phillips," Dick told him.

"By the way... We were speaking of the Senator- has anybody checked on Bret and Lena today?" Przybysz asked. "They're still in danger you know."

"Bret went to work, Ann and the kids went to visit Lena," David said, she took a few days off to spend time with Ann- and they wanted to get out of the house for a while."

"I wondered why they disappeared halfway through the video," Przybysz said. "Good time to take the dog for a walk, don't you think Buddy?"

"What are you thinking?" Dick looked puzzled.

"You don't think Denning is going to give up on Bret and Lena this easy do you?" Przybysz asked. "He's going to keep gunning until one side or the other drops."

Let's take a walk that way," Dick replied getting Bart's leash. "In broad daylight?" He asked.

"Probably not," Przybysz replied. "I just want to take a look around- to see if anybody's watching the house... I'll bet he's replaced Fleming by now- he's a man on a mission."

"Good idea," his friend replied.

Dick and Przybysz' walk benefitted Bart more than it did them- for which they were grateful, but David's hunch had paid off... While Przybysz and Dick were in their way to Virginia to pick up the master of the conference- a meeting was going on at the White House... One of a far more nefarious sort.

(For links to previous chapters- go to Chapter XV)

https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xv-the-boogeyman
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xvi-wars-and-rumors-of-wars
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xvii-blood-of-the-innocent
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xviii-connecting-the-dots
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xix-the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xx-a-dangerous-man-part-1
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xx-a-dangerous-man-part-2
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxii-a-new-revelation
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxiii-clouds-of-warhttps://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxiv-yuri
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxvi-the-desperate-hours
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxvii-countdown-to-disaster
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxviii-plan-b
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xxix-my-fellow-americans

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