The Night Gods II- Chapter XX: A Dangerous Man Part 2

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Przybysz took the company helicopter to New York instead of the shuttle which left Denning wishing that he had ordered a treat from his senior aide- he needed a diversion with all that had been going on. He pondered asking Wade, but thought better of it... Przybysz would be back by evening and Denning comforted himself with the thought that his problem with Shoemaker and that Spanish cunt would soon be over.

The helo touched down atop a Manhattan skyscraper and Przybysz stepped down to take the private elevator to Lockhart's offices. He was greeted by Maryellen Sullivan, Lockhart's private secretary for over 25 years.

"Good morning, Mr. Przybysz," she said pleasantly. She was a pretty woman, unmarried... Przybysz had suspected for years that she and Lockhart had something going on the side.

"Mornin, ME," he replied.

"Mr. Lockhart is expecting you," she said rising to show him in. Przybysz couldn't help noticing how well she kept her figure, even though she must be in her mid-forties. She opened the door, announcing Przybysz to Lockhart.

"Come on in too, Maryellen," Lockhart said stretching across the desk to shake hands. "Coffee, Prz?" He asked.

"Please, black, ME," he replied reaching out to shake his boss's hand.

"I remember," Maryellen smiled turning to leave.

Suddenly, Lockhart dropped to the floor clutching his chest, his face contorted.

"Quick, call an ambulance," Przybysz told the shocked secretary who in turn hurried to her office just outside the door- giving Przybysz an opportunity to turn the class ring on his right hand so the stone faced outward.

Przybysz knelt by his boss and loosened his tie. Lockhart's mouth opened and closed as though he was trying desperately to speak... Maryellen had returned.

"Get me an aspirin," Przybysz ordered the her. She did as she was told and Przybysz placed it under Lockhart's tongue, knowing it would be useless. In moments his boss would be dead.

"Will he be all right?" Maryellen asked frantically.

Przybysz shrugged. By then the paramedics had arrived and begun CPR... one turned to Przybysz and asked what the symptoms had been. Przybysz explained, adding that he had loosened Lockhart's tie and administered the aspirin. The paramedic went back to work while Przybysz consoled Maryellen. After a few minutes that seemed like hours, the lead paramedic stood" I'm sorry, folks," he said. "We did everything we could. I'll call the medical examiner."

"What was it?" Maryellen asked tearfully.

"It looks like a massive coronary, Ma'am," he said, "but we'll have to wait for the medical examiner."

"Please try to handle this as sensitively as possible," Przybysz told the paramedic, "Mr. Lockhart is a very powerful man and I don't want the others in the offices panicked."

"Of course, Sir. But there are necessary procedures," the lead paramedic said.

"Of course," Przybysz replied.

The inquiry was short. The Chief Medical Examiner arrived with a Detective Giacoppo of the NYPD... cause of death- massive coronary.

Przybysz sent Maryellen home for the rest of the day after making certain she would be all right. She assured him she was, but she was inconsolable... her job, and her boss, had been her life for 25 years. Before she left, Przybysz assured her that he would take care of all the details- for her to just go home and try to get some rest. He promised to call her later in the day to check on her. She thanked him profusely and left after assuring him that she could get home ok. On his way out, Det. Giacoppo met him at the elevators...

"Mind if I catch a ride down?" He asked.

"Sure," Przybysz replied.

When they reached the ground floor the detective turned to Przybysz: "Well done," he said with a wink.

On the street, Przybysz took out his cellphone and dialed a Manhattan phone number.

"Yes," said the voice on the other end.

"The chain is broken," Przybysz said into the phone.

"What happened?" The voice asked.

"Lockhart," Przybysz replied.

"Come to my home," the voice instructed him.

Przybysz hailed a cab and rode to a midtown address and got out in front of an unimpressive building. After instructing the cabbie to wait, he ascended the steps and rang the bell. It was answered by an aging butler who showed him into a palatial apartment where a tall, refined looking black gentleman entered the room.

"Prz, it's nice to see you again, but under unfortunate circumstances, I'm afraid," he said. "This couldn't have come at a worse time."

"Hello, Doctor," Przybysz said. "Yes, I'm sorry we had to meet again under these conditions. We had a meeting just this morning... I flew up from Washington. He had just ordered us some coffee, we shook hands and he just dropped dead."

"Heart attack?" The Doctor asked.

Przybysz nodded. "I'm not sure just how to proceed, so I contacted you."

"Proceed?" The Doctor asked.

"With Denning," Przybysz answered. "Lockhart was running him. I'm not sure how to handle it... who's going to take over?"

"You are," the Doctor replied. "You're closest to him- you run him for now."

"Shouldn't you call the Council?" Przybysz asked confused. This was a breach of protocol.

"I'll inform them," the Doctor told a visibly surprised Przybysz. "You're a good man, Prz- your loyalty is beyond question. You deserve a promotion... Let's just say that I speak for the Council right now. I'm certain they'll approve."

"Thank you, Sir," Przybysz said bowing slightly. "There's a problem with Denning that you should know about... He's a sadist. The whole deal with his wife and that girl were bad enough, but now he's killing children for fun... He enjoys it."

The Doctor shook his head sadly. "Did Lockhart know?" He asked.

"Yes," Przybysz nodded. "He ordered me to supply Denning with the girls... They were kids Doctor- 11-12 years old. It made me sick, Sir."

The Doctor put his hand on Przybysz' shoulder: "Like I said you're a good man, loyal- you should have never been asked to do anything like that. Lockhart always was a cowboy... Maybe it's better this way."

"Thank you, Sir," Przybysz said. "What are your orders when I get back to Washington... How do you want me to handle Denning?"

"You're in charge now Prz," the Doctor said sagely. "Handle it the way you think best- you have the confidence of the Council."

"He's not going to take this well," Przybysz said with a grin. "He'll raise holy hell."

"Oh well," the Doctor winked. "Accidents will happen... The VP is a good man. One of us... we picked him. I guess Denning thought he'd live forever."

Przybysz took the cab he had waiting back to the skyscraper, calling to check on Maryellen on the way. She was still distraught but doing better. On the helo back to Washington, he called Dick to give him the news.

Dick was floored, "what the fuck" was about all he could manage to say.

"The best way to kill a snake is to cut off it's head," Przybysz told his surprised friend.

(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

GIF by @papa-pepper