Ice Fire: A Jock Boucher Thriller by David Lyons

Author:David Lyons [Lyons, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
ISBN: 9781451629309
Amazon: 1451629303
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2013-03-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

REXCON’S OFFICE WAS NOT far from the Federal Building, and the irony was not lost on Boucher next morning. His routine had been that of a regular judge with regular judicial responsibilities. But the final turn, into the underground garage of the office tower, would lead him to a far different destination. From the garage to the lobby to the elevator bank that led to the floor where the executive offices were located, he proceeded with a confidence bordering on arrogance. He wore his navy blue suit, white shirt, and red tie, a power color combination, but inside his chest his heart beat like a hummingbird.

He approached the first secretarial line of defense and asked for John Perry. The receptionist asked his name and he used his title. That got him to the second tier. A second woman came out from a closed burled-mahogany door that must have been fifteen feet tall and asked him the nature of his business and if he had an appointment.

“Mr. Perry will know the nature of my business. I do not have an appointment.”

“I’m sorry, Judge Boucher, but Mr. Perry is not available at this moment.”

“I’ll wait.”

The lobby area on the executive level was massive, but there was only one small settee against the wall for visitors. There were no carpets. The decorator did not want to cover the expensive marble floor. Boucher’s heels clicked on the flooring and he fought the temptation to tap-dance across the grand entry to the sparse seating. He sat, crossed his legs, and clasped interlocked fingers around his knee, striking a pose of pure contempt. Just try and make me leave, his expression said. Minutes later, a third contingent of the protective phalanx came out, a matched pair of women this time, dressed in different versions of executive administrative business wear.

“Judge Boucher,” the first one said, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but I’ve looked through Mr. Perry’s calendar and I can’t find an appointment with you scheduled for today.”

“As I said previously, I don’t have one,” Boucher said, without changing position. “Federal district court judges don’t make appointments.”

“Of course not,” she said. “May I know the nature of your business?”

I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you, Boucher thought and was tempted to say. He couldn’t suppress his smile and wondered if the adrenaline rush was making him giddy. “It’s a personal matter,” he said.

The two women whispered to each other, and one left, returning the way she had come. The remaining assistant assumed a sort of at-attention posture, linking curved fingers of both hands in front of her midriff with her feet close together. “If you will wait just a moment longer, sir,” she said.

“I’ll wait all day if I have to,” he replied.

A minute passed, then several more. The woman stood over him as still and as mute as a statue. He got the feeling that if he made any sudden move she would have sprung to life and leapt at him like a cat.

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