Down Ballot: A Dirk Lasher Thriller (Operation: Just Cause Book 5) by David Edward

Author:David Edward [Edward, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

Election Day – Morning Until Noon – Easy Peasy

The sun rose over Panama City like it did every day. It burned off the overnight dew and moisture, causing a mist to form on the streets and rooftops. The mist only lasted a few minutes; the sun's heat burned through the overnight condensation quickly, just like yesterday and the day before.

The sun did what it always did, like it didn’t even know today was special. Most of Panama did what it always did too. The canal continued to move boats who continued to pay for passage. The sunlight continued to shine, and the world continued to pay Panama to exist.

Guillermo Endara voted at 8 a.m. at the Technical University of Panama polling station, directly across the street from his campaign headquarters. News crews from all over the world snapped photos of him filling out the ballot and then placing it into a large metal box with a slip opening on the top.

Endara was a big heavy man. Not muscular. He was wide and round with two chins and an on-again, off-again mustache that was currently just starting to grow back. It was almost like instead of trimming it, he let it grow in, then shaved it off, only to allow it to begin growing back right away again. He wore the same colors every day. A dark suit with a white shirt and a red tie. He had thick round glasses, and his ears stuck out some on the sides.

Endara had four Panamanian men assigned to him as bodyguards. He paid for them out of his own pocket. The campaign funds were needed for the election. It was difficult to raise money against Noriega even though most wanted him gone. Few were brave enough to go on record with their wallets opposing the current dictator.

Endara's security wore white Cubaveras, long-sleeve shirts with four pockets on the front, two high and two low on either side. The shirt had decorative stitching on either side running through the pockets. The security detail stayed close to Endara.

Isa Kern and Jack Williams stayed farther away, managing the edges and watching the crowds and people as much as keeping an eye on Endara. Isa was in a blue woman's pantsuit with a white button-down collared shirt with the neck open. The jacket was unbuttoned, and her sidearm was easily visible when she moved.

Williams was dressed about the same; he had on a dark blue suit and a white shirt open at the collar. His suit top didn’t hang as well as Isa's because he was so round in the middle, but it still looked pretty good.

Williams was out in front as Endara walked back. Williams stopped traffic coming one way; one of Endara's guards stopped it from the other direction. Isa scanned the cheering crowds, and the detail crossed the street. Williams followed last as the cars started moving again.

Everything seemed fine.

***

Lasher's morning started about the same. Guillermo Ford walked to the voting station near the Mallorca Shopping Center, across from his campaign office on the other side of Ojo de Agua Court.

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