Tarnished Image by Alton L. Gansky

Author:Alton L. Gansky [Gansky, Alton L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60142-830-1
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2015-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

11

“HE GOT THE PACKAGE?” ABERDENE ASKED. SHE WAS SEATED behind her desk. In her hands was a two-foot-long, six-inch-diameter, clear plastic tube. Inside the tube a hundred mosquitoes clung to its smooth surface.

“Absolutely,” Jack said confidently, his eyes nervously fixed on the container. He and Archer were seated on a leather couch opposite the desk. “He got it all right. I thought he was going to lose his lunch when he opened it.”

“You saw him open it, Jack?” Aberdene pressed.

“I wasn’t actually there,” Jack admitted, but I saw the video Aldo shot.

“He was there? How wise is that?”

“He was lost in the crowd of reporters,” Jack explained. “Since no one can identify him, he can disappear in a crowd quite easily.”

“But O’Neal continued with the news conference anyway, and instead of confessing he maintained his innocence. The picture failed to elicit the proper response. Why is that, Jack?”

Jack turned to face Archer, who returned the glance with a broad grin. He was having fun watching Jack squirm.

“He was in a tough spot, Dr. Aberdene,” Jack rebutted. “The media were already there, and he had already been introduced.”

“He could have confessed,” Aberdene countered.

“I thought he would. You thought he would. Who would have guessed that he would stay the course?”

“I would have,” Archer interjected. “Study the man. You’ve got every fact there is about him except how many freckles he has on his back. He’s a religious man. Personally, I think he’s too smart for all that superstitious stuff; nonetheless, his religion plays a powerful role in his life.”

“So?” Jack said roughly. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Don’t be dense, Jack,” Archer snapped. “It has everything to do with it. He knows he’s innocent and to say he is not would be a breach of his beliefs. Besides, he has friends and some resources. He’s not going to crumble easily.”

“What do you know about faith?” Jack asked harshly.

“Not much, except those that have it aren’t quick to give up when the going gets tough.”

“Ridiculous,” Jack blurted out.

“You’re missing the point,” Archer said. “It doesn’t matter if you believe in God; it only matters that David O’Neal does. Send him all the pictures you want, and all you’ll be doing is providing more information for him to work with.”

“What do you suggest?” Aberdene asked.

“Stop. You’ve got the ball rolling. The evidence has been planted. The more he states his innocence, the more guilty he will appear. Soon he’ll be tied up in court, Barringston Relief will go broke from the asset freeze, contributions will dry up, and your problem will be solved.”

Aberdene raised the clear cylinder to her eyes and studied its winged inhabitants. She spoke softly. “Did you know that the mosquito lives only sixty-five days? In that time it matures, feeds, and reproduces. Then it is gone. Not very long, is it? Just sixty-five days. Yet, there are two thousand species living from the equator to the Arctic Circle, from lowlands to mountaintops. They’re everywhere. All they need is water to lay their eggs, and, for the female, warm-blooded animals on which to feed.

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