Cull by Stafford Ray

Author:Stafford Ray [Ray, Stafford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thriller, Politics
ISBN: 9780992590024
Publisher: Woodslane Press
Published: 2018-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

31. TOKYO

Back home, he came straight from the airport to the Washington office. Dolores looked up from her keyboard. “Hello, sexy legs. How were the Maoris?”

“Brown. Hear from my president?”

She reached to the edge of her screen and removed a sticky note.

“He wants you to call him as soon as you come in.” She smiled conspiratorially. “Are you in yet?”

“I guess,” he sighed. “Make an appointment for me.”

She sat staring at him. “What happened to the word ‘please’?”

“Sorry.” He looked contrite. “I’m totally bushed. I need a holiday.”

“You just had one,” she grinned.

He rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah? A weekend with Felicity and jet lag. I feel like shit.”

She jiggled with laughter. “The ideal state for this job.” Her eyes dropped to her note pad. “By the way, that Russian guy, Docic called and would like you to drop in when you get back to New York. OK?”

He stood. “Set up that appointment with Mason, but unless it’s today, leave me asleep until…”

She turned to look at him again. “Sleep?”

He walked into his own office and called back, “Yes, sleep,” and closed the door.

Light from a fading sun caused him to squint as he became aware of Dolores shaking him gently. He looked up to see she was holding a mug of coffee. “Wakee, wakee! Your leader calls.”

He swung his feet to the floor and sat up. “I feel worse.” He took the coffee. “Thanks, honey.”

She smiled down at him with his rumpled clothes and thinning unkempt hair. “Hurry up! You need to be at the White House by five-thirty. You have an hour. I packed your stuff and organised a car for thirty minutes.”

He sat staring into his coffee, trying to summon up some energy. “Shit honey, I’m not fit to go anywhere. Are you sure he needs me?”

“Drink your coffee and do your hair,” she roused at him. “That’s all you’ve time for and for God’s sake brush your teeth. Your breath stinks.”

He sighed and stood, drinking coffee as he made his way to the wash room.

She called after him. “He said ‘Pack a bag’. That’s all I know. You now have twenty-five minutes!”

A three-minute shower, change of underwear, what was left of his hair more or less in place and feeling a little more human, he arrived at the White House on time and was ushered straight to the Oval Office.

“Sorry to cut your break short, Harry.”

He saw he wasn’t and grimaced as he took his hand. “You’re not sorry,” he complained. “But here I am. Hate to waste a shower.”

He guided Harry to a chair and sat facing him. “What do you know about American money funding refugees in boats heading for Australia? Mulaney seems to think I had something to do with it. What do you think?”

“Ho mentioned that too. He said the person they arrested told them it was aid money from America so I can only guess it’s all over Asia. I don’t think Australia has seen anything yet.”

“That’s not what I was getting at.

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