Anthony looked him in the eye and said, "Then quit drawing out your engagement and marry her."
Dimitrios was caught off guard with that comment. He wasn't quite sure how to respond. After a long awkward silence, they turned back to the business in front of them. Anthony mentioned that he was intending to take more responsibility with Charles’ preparation as his apprentice soon. The prime minister believed that once he was able to understand what the Xidoran Prophecy entailed and was able to plan a strategy for dealing with the Xidorean followers, then he could help prepare Charles for his time as prime minister. When this happened, Anthony would be ready to step out of the role he had dedicated his life to and become a real citizen once again.
Dimitrios joked with him, "Let me know and I will go with you, my friend."
Anthony took a bite of steak and chewed. After the prime minister swallowed the food, he said, "Dimitrios, you are my friend and brother, but where I am going I wish you would not follow. I couldn't bear for you to see me grow old. I have unfinished business to take care of. I have a wrong to right with someone who once loved me more than I deserved at the time. I made a promise I didn’t keep for selfish reasons. I intend to right that wrong."
This was so out of character for Anthony that Dimitrios just sat speechless. Then he leaned in and asked, "Do you mean that when you call it quits as prime minister, that is it? I will never see you again? Ever? I've known you for a long time... What are you talking about?"
Anthony had continued to eat his meal while Dimitrios was talking. He took a sip of wine and said, "Dimitrios, most of my life has been set for me. It was planned from my conception. I didn't have the courage in my youth to do what I have regretted ever since. You know as well as I do, that as prime minister I am allowed to step into time anywhere I choose after I leave office, as long as I do not change history in a monumental way." Dimitrios nodded.
Anthony went on, "Well, I choose to pick up where I left off with the love of my life. No other has ever taken her place and I have the chance to not only live my dream once but twice in a lifetime."
Dimitrios contemplated Anthony’s words. He couldn't imagine his friend growing old, to him the prime minister was timeless. All he could ask was, "Why? Why is she so important? You could live forever in the Hub."
Anthony wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on the table.
“I have looked back over my life, Dimitrios. What do I have to show for my hard work? My friend, is it not loving that the heart searches and is restless for? I let her go once. Only a fool would make the same mistake twice in an eternity."
**********
When the prime minister and Anjoleah entered the room, Dimitrios came out of his thoughts. His face quickly took on a stern look as he was thinking of the meeting to come with the prime minister and the commissioner. Anthony froze in the doorway. He looked at Dimitrios and then at Anjoleah. Dimitrios cleared his throat.
Anthony said, "Anjoleah have a seat." She went to sit. Anthony asked Dimitrios to start from the beginning and share with Anjoleah what he had recently learned.
Dimitrios retold what happened in the Jones’ office. When he finished, Anjoleah was speechless. He could tell the wheels were turning in the woman’s hard head. Dimitrios reached into his pocket and played the interview for them.
When the tape ended, Anjoleah asked, "When can I get my hands on this Sojourner journal? Have you checked on who this Phil is and how he was able to have this interview with a Rogue Seeker; when I have the best technology and spies, and I can't even find them, let alone interrogate one? This Seeker, Jasen, needs to have his body scan retrieved. We need more information on him. I'd like to ask him my own questions."
Dimitrios frowned. Nothing ever impressed this Taboocat, nothing. Trying to put on an “engaged” face he said, "The journals are the personal property of Mr. Jones. When he volunteered the interview, he asked for the journals not to be relinquished and I agreed." Dimitrios put the recorder back in his suit pocket.
Now the Taboocat hissed. Dimitrios saw in that instant, something he'd seen in her before he brought her into the agency.
She turned from him to Anthony and angrily said, "What? You approved him to relinquish our rights to this interview? This is the single most important evidence we have ever had, and I am shocked that you allowed this! I am going to get my hands on the journals one way or another!"
She turned to Dimitrios and snarled, "You are incompetent! You should have been replaced a long time ago! Who gave you authority to go over my head and relinquish evidence that could have given us an edge over this criminal society that has eluded us since its inception? Have you gone mad? Or have you become senile? Either way you just messed up! Turn over the evidence or prepare yourself for a fight!"
She turned to Anthony and hissed, "For this one my friend, you had better seek your finest Sojourner's representation. You should not have listened to this arrogant fool! History may show this as your Sojourner legacy. All the admirable time you have put into your office, POOF, up in flames! What a shame! You'd better have one heck of an explanation Anthony. I will not hide this. I’ll see you in front of the Sojourners’ Council, both of you." She stood and stormed out.
Anthony let her go. He sat in his chair smiling, as they heard her all the way down the hall talking aloud. When the door slammed, Anthony asked, "Do you think she told us how she really feels?"
Dimitrios didn't know what to say. "Well, I think that about accurately summed it up. I don't think she held much back."
Anthony thought for a moment. Then he stood, walked to his desk and opened the left drawer.
Dimitrios scrunched his eyes closed. He knew what that meant. The war was on and it wouldn't be pretty. There would be casualties, until somebody won and the opposing side was vanquished. In warfare, Anthony was a take no prisoners kind of guy. Several times he had seen Anthony's ruthless side. Dimitrios believed this was going to be one of the times the prime minister would decimate the opposition. Dimitrios wrestled with his thoughts.
Anthony pulled out a bell holder and set it down on the desk. He took the chime and rang it.
Dimitrios rubbed his forehead. Things were about to get messy. He wished there was a way to turn back time in this instance. His mind raced... Things could never be put back together at this point. The agency’s team would be in shambles and irrevocably broken. There was no doubt Anthony would hold a grudge. Dimitrios could swallow his pride and smooth things over, but he doubted Anthony would stand for it. Anjoleah had charged his reign with a scandal and made herself disposable. What she didn't know was that official documentation, privy to no one other than Anthony and Dimitrios, allowed him to make decisions on behalf of the prime minister based on the urgency of the information given to him. He'd never exercised it before now. The bell didn't ring when struck, but in Dimitrios’ mind it rang louder than ringing chapel bells.
**********
Oscar sat straight up, awakened from a deep sleep. He shook his head and thought: Did I hear right? Did the bell actually ring? It’s unbelievable. This prime minister has never sought council before now.
Oscar came from a long line of the best Sojourner representatives in history. He was the best attorney his family line ever had. His knowledge of the law was unsurpassed. In the real world, Oscar went to his office and sat, waiting as his forefathers did. He was restless for action, while his peers were busy in their practice. He had once worried that his whole life would pass by and he might never receive the call from Bridgeiro.
Oscar hastened around his residence to get ready. After the attorney splashed water on his face, sprayed cologne and put on his suit, he was out the door. He was paid to be punctual. He intended to answer the prime minister’s summons before the expected time. The whole way to the meeting, he wondered why the prime minister had called for him.
Oscar stepped into the Hub and made his way to the prime minister's residence. He blended in among the other Sojourners, but his prese
nce did not go unnoticed.
Anjoleah had placed an agent near the vicinity of the Passageway to watch for Oscar. The agent followed the attorney. Oscar was aware that he was being watched. He didn't care; let them follow. He walked directly to the prime minister's gate. It slowly opened on its own. The attorney walked to the door and before he knocked, the door opened. Anthony stood in the doorway. Oscar was taken back at his height. He didn't realize the prime minister was six foot five. Oscar was only six foot. The attorney stood patiently and waited for Anthony to step back before he entered. He followed Anthony to the office.
Once they entered the room, the men started on the business at hand. Anthony took a moment for introductions and then explained the situation. To save time he replayed the whole conversation on his screen. Dimitrios was not surprised that the prime minister had taped the discussions. He knew Anthony taped everything. When it was finished, Oscar looked over his notes. He asked Anthony for the tape. Anthony agreed and went to retrieve it.
When the prime minister returned, Oscar asked, "What is the problem? It seems like an easy, straightforward case to me. You and Dimitrios were within your rights. The council will hear the evidence. They will side with you, and then you will release Anjoleah from her post. If you are worried about your legacy, I assure you, you will be unscathed. Dimitrios, you will be considered a hero. The next officer to take her place will be delighted with your work! It's historic!
“Who is number two?"
Anthony and Dimitrios looked at each other simultaneously. Anthony looked at Oscar and said, "Number two is Anjoleah's significant other. No one else stands out."
Oscar made notes on his pad of paper. While he was writing, he said, "That is unfortunate, find another. I need a name."
When the attorney finished writing his notes, he looked Anthony in the eye and said, "No one is so valuable they cannot be replaced, no one. I need the name by tomorrow night. I need to know who is your replacement choice for Anjoleah’s position."
Oscar looked at Dimitrios and said, "You were within your rights. I would have done the same. Who knows, the Rogue Seeker may not have talked later. As a matter of fact, many things could have gone wrong if you hadn't taken the initiative to continue the interview. At a later date, he may have decided to give false information. He was only obligated to answer truthfully for the first session of questions. I believe that it was important for you to ask pertinent questions and then allow him to be set free. You received more information from this live Seeker than you could have from a dead one."
The attorney left them with a few thoughts that he had noted on his technology tablet while watching the taped exchange. Oscar then stood and shook their hands. He thanked them for notifying him so quickly. He left the room with Anthony and headed for the door. The two men had a brief conversation as they walked down the hallway. He clearly understood his mission at this point.
As Oscar prepared to leave, he stated to Anthony, "I need the name. It is very imperative that I know. Leave the rest to me." As soon as the attorney took the first step from the house, Anthony closed the door.
Oscar walked briskly to the gate. It opened once again just long enough for him to walk through before it closed. Then he walked through the Hub back to his Passageway.
This was huge. His adrenaline was coursing through his veins. He wasn't about to let Anthony down. This was the prime minister’s legacy and he intended to protect Anthony's good name. He was possibly the best prime minister Bridgeiro had ever had throughout history. As Anthony’s attorney, he would make sure history recorded his legacy that way. Once Oscar walked in the law firm’s office, he called all the partners to the firm's chamber and they got to work. They didn't leave until they had the situation wrapped up airtight. If Miss Anjoleah pursued this, she was going down, down, down...
**********
Anthony walked back to Dimitrios. He sat in silence for a moment and then said, "It has been a long evening. Don't give it another thought. It has become Oscar's problem now. The only thing we need to do now is come up with a name. He's asked for the name by tomorrow night. We need one by tomorrow afternoon. That is your job."
Dimitrios already had a name in mind. Tonight would be devoted to a full check of the man’s background. Then he would need to decide what to do when the news was brought to Cassia’s attention. It wouldn't be pretty. He figured it might even delay the plans they had for their future. He hoped not. The realization set in, the worst case scenario would be that it might spoil their relationship indefinitely. Dimitrios certainly did not want that to be the case. He pondered the thought and decided he'd cross that bridge when he came to it, not before.
When he left Anthony's house, he devised a plan on the way to the office. He already knew he'd be burning the midnight oil.
Chapter 117
Anjoleah decided to check on something after she left Anthony's residence. The recorded interview was still replaying in her mind and she wanted to follow up on a possible lead. After the research was completed, Anjoleah stormed all the way to her office.
She resolutely approached the building and entered through the back door so no one had a chance to give a warning that she was on the premises. Anjoleah made her way through the building shouting orders as if she was a general at war. She impatiently shouted for her assistant. When he came out of his office, she continued to add to the previous orders. No one dared to look at each other; instead they hurried about their business. When she finally made it to her office with her assistant in tow, she entered and slammed the door in his face.
He stood there momentarily before redirecting himself to the orders she had barked out. He had been taking notes on his clipboard as he followed her. He wondered what was wrong. All he knew right now was someone was going to pay, and pay dearly. He began planning, making sure that when the boulder rolled downhill he wouldn’t be under it.
Anjoleah threw herself into the desk chair and closed her eyes. It was all falling apart. She would soon be backed into a corner. Anjoleah knew she had options; she could come out swinging or she could walk away. If she came out swinging, the outcome could be devastating to her officers and her career. If she chose to walk away, she would be walking away from a monumental career. She would have to jump start her career all over again.
Anjoleah thought about her former life, before she was recruited for the authorities as the commissioner. She had worked in the Intelligence Agency as a spy. She was very successful, too successful for her own good. When she went through training, she was the promising star. Her motive was simple, to protect and do for others what they couldn't do for themselves. Her career was one to be envied. Anjoleah went beyond just studying her prey. She knew them so well she could accurately guess their strategy before they even knew what they would do. She loved her heart pounding assignments and the thrill of getting what she wanted. Never mind the fact that the adrenaline rushes that came with the job became intoxicating. She left at the peak of perfection. She was without a doubt number one. No one could play mind games like she could. Her poker face held lie after lie, and she could match wits with the best of them. One thing was certain, Anjoleah was a winner and she intended to stay that way.
**********
As Dimitrios worked, he kept replaying the events of the night. The whole predicament seemed surreal to him. As much as he at times disliked Anjoleah, he couldn't fathom someone else replacing her. No one else could possibly be as good in the position of commissioner as she. The Taboocat had managed to make the agency run like an efficient machine. His body involuntarily cringed at the thought of someone else stepping into the commissioner’s job, causing everything to fall apart. Finding Anjoleah in the first place was an excruciating and painful process.
He remembered when Anthony first asked him to fill the head position at the Authority Agency. Dimitrios didn't know where to begin. He researched for the perfect candidate by talking to agents and contacts within the realm of espionage and law enforcement.
They all referred the same name, a young and ambitious peer named “A”. Her name was never brought to his attention until then. She was difficult to locate because at the time she was given a well-deserved vacation. “A” had chosen a secluded location on an island for her holiday. When Dimitrios finally located the agent, he quickly set up a meeting through her superior. As only Anjoleah could do, she didn't make it easy on him. The agent insisted she was still on vacation and didn't want to communicate with the outside world. At their first meeting, he knew she was the perfect fit. By the third meeting he had permission to make offers. Instead of considering the offers he had made to her, Anjoleah refused all of the proposals as quickly as he submitted them. They didn't even turn her head. She insisted she was satisfied with her career. However he was a man of patience and persistence. He devised a plan. It was obvious to Dimitrios that her career would quickly be going places.
The prime minister’s assistant knew if he wanted the chance of recruiting her, he had to move as quickly as possible and remain cautious. So he researched the fieldwork she performed. Anjoleah had a talent for completing assignments and retrieving more than she was asked for in her missions. Dimitrios interviewed her superiors and discovered she had an eidetic memory. The agent was the fastest learner they had ever seen. Not to mention the fact that she was the only candidate who met all the strenuous physical requirements. Anjoleah was deceivingly tough. She had a daily regimen that would make a navy seal commander proud. The men who were teased into trying to keep up with her absolutely couldn’t.
As Dimitrios observed Anjoleah’s methodology in completing missions, he noticed that she wasn't above using her exotic beauty to get her way. As a matter of fact, it helped in her line of work and gave her an advantage. Even though the Taboocat was a consummate liar, and the best actress he'd ever seen in the roles she was assigned, he realized the lady in real life had morals. Scruples were what she called them. Dimitrios spent an incredible amount of time studying her strategy. Anjoleah was meticulous and deliberate in everything she did.
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