Final Challenge

by Al Cooper

  XIII

  Not difficult to interpret why the boss had called them. They assumed it would be to claim them definitely the damn report. They didn’t know how to incorporate the Sheridan episode to it, much less how to justify such poor results. Upon entering, with his usual coolness, and without any greeting, asked explanations about the meeting with Sheridan. Marvin explained the event with all kinds of details, while the boss did ostensibly gestures of being in complete disagreement with the version that he was listening. Or, more accurately, he looked like he was listening but was more concerned that Marvin concluded to download on them all his accumulated anger, so that, when Marvin ended, he got up from his seat, rested his hands abruptly on table and looked them in an intimidating way, smugly and contempt. Before he start talking concluded his studied ritual beating his fist on the table.

  - You guys are idiots! Although he seemed to be crazy, you should have convinced him!

  Hanson thought that for once perhaps the boss might have some reason, but he also would have liked to know how he or anyone would have reacted in place. Sheridan had not given them a chance. However, his evil ways and derogatory gestures were misplaced, so he decided to intervene.

  - What options did we have? Handcuff him? Take him to a psychiatric holding him against his will?

  - It’s assumed that you are elite agents of the FBI, not cheap thugs paid by the Mafia! You should have had more than enough resources to retain that guy or at least a little more patience.

  Marvin took over in the dialectical debate.

  - We tried, believe me. But this man was insane, paranoid. We got the impression that he knew absolutely nothing about it.

  The boss sat down so parsimonious. Then leaned his chair back and noticeably sighed while staring them, before speaking.

  - And that we will never know!

  Marvin and Hanson were shocked, looking to the boss. Those words promised more than a surprise. Hanson finally decided to throw the question that hung in the air.

  - What do you mean? ...

  - He was found dead this morning, floating in the harbor. Was stabbed and thrown into the water - said the boss down his tone of voice - He had no documentation, but found in his pocket a paper with the name of the agent Marvin and rendezvous at the park written in pen.

  Marvin and Hanson remained undaunted, unable to utter a word and merely exchanging expressive looks. On the one hand had been like fools in front of his boss, something he had long been waiting for. On the other hand, it meant a turning point in a case apparently of little relevance that probably others in their place would have closed long ago. When, without a word, they got up crestfallen trying to leave, were aware of the factor that had more weight. And is that the boss was not willing that they leave without prior pass them the bill.

  - Hey, wait, I'm not finished yet!, - Loudly upbraided them.

  Marvin and Hanson turned to him. The boss took his time, he looked at them as he were to forgive their lives.

  - I should retire you from this case. It is too large for you. You are a disaster.

  He paused, expecting a desperate reaction by the two agents, that they looked for a contrived excuse, that they implored him forgiveness. He loved to feel the spotlight, becoming both a prosecutor and judge, see the prisoners humiliated at his feet before execute them or grant a last wish, one last chance. But there was no response by the other side, so he decided to give them directly an ultimatum. The only reason for he allowed them to continue was letting them to ravel more and more in that strange case and remove them after they had done the dirtiest work. So he killed two birds with one stone: he will get to depose the agents forever and then he'll pass a properly matured case to two of his trusted men. But he overlaid it so that it seemed I was doing a favor.

  - Okay. You have three days, only three, to make some sense. And when I say "something", I mean something tangible, a definitive track, not pipe dreams. I do this out of respect for your effort, not to your ability. You may retire.

  Marvin and Hanson leaved with the feeling of having tied the rope around their necks with the drawer below beside the executioner about to get up to hit it a kick. And, knowing the boss, they knew that they needed something more than luck to break the impasse. They hadn't mentioned the issue of vaccines for fear that the boss ended by laughing at them and finally withdraw them from the case. Only they had the faint hope that the track opened with Sheridan's death did not lead them to a dead end.

  They went to the morgue without a word between them. At first it was a routine, because little or no importance could have that Sheridan had received four or forty stab wounds, the way he had been killed was not important. The only chance laid in the connection (if existed) between the madman and the two dead scientists. When the officer opened the tank and Sheridan's body was found covered by a sheet, Hanson uncovered it without any conviction.

  - And no one has claimed the body? - Marvin asked, addressing the officer.

  - Not until now, no. We are awaiting before doing an autopsy - he said the official -

  - He did not wear any identification?

  - None, absolutely none. We didn’t know his identity. Apparently he lived alone, I guess you know, because the only personal data were taken by your department the other day, when apparently this guy called you.

  - Yeah ... I think so.

  Meanwhile Hanson was absorbed examining the body. Marvin always had greatly disliked that subject, so brazenly that he delegated such issues on Hanson. This one does was not flattered by examining the bodies, but since he had made ​​friends with the coroner had been accustomed to see them like mannequins, and had to admit that if the forensic expert of the department had detective syndrome, he had caught some how the passion for that profession. Hanson interrupted the conversation of Marvin with the officer, to make him an observation.

  - Have you noticed? ... - he said pointing to the left shoulder of the victim -

  You could see several scars of vaccines, like the ones in the photos of the other two bodies.

  - The scars! - Exclaimed Marvin - Yes, curious ... very curious ... it seems that the blissful vaccines are more important than we thought, right? ...

  - Yeah, excepting that they can’t have gone to the same course. Sheridan is much older than the other two, although a shave would have not been wrong. - Hanson stated -

  They left the morgue feeling a tingling in their stomach that they already knew, it was the feeling they felt when a case showed a hint, a faint ray of hope.

  XIV

  It took just one week to the Party convention. Harold went yet from state to state, city to city, with his campaign. He had delegates enough for the Party convention for months, it seemed absurd to work so hard. But Harold was made of sterner stuff, could not do things differently. He poured in his work to the limits of reason, always trying to do his best. And he succeeded. In addition, he loved dealing directly with people, he always had said that each of the voters deserve the utmost respect and was not willing that any routine could with him. For Carol, however, meant an ordeal, she could not endure the marathon pace marked by her husband. So by common consent she had decided not to accompany him on that first tour. After the Party convention they would me more time for them.

  The problem was even on weekends they couldn’t afford to share a few hours. Their only meeting point was the phone, fifteen or twenty minutes maximum every night. But, with the convention so close, were forced to restrict even those calls. Harold wanted simultaneous his trips with the preparation of the convention, to the point that he had got to suffocate his staff with so hard work. Calls were growing short, only the basic to support each other, to receive a word of affection. But when it took three days to the convention, Carol was starting to worry. For two days she hadn't had opportunity to talk to Harold. She didn't want to bother him, so she almost never call
ed him by phone, so this time left a first notice to his staff and, only when Harold hadn't called her back, she decided to dial his cell phone number. It was off. She tried all afternoon with no success. Then she decided to call Thomas, who returned her call by night.

  Thomas, I'm worried about Harold, what happens? ... I can't reach him.

  - I ... don't understand, Susan, I thought he had called you.

  Thomas's voice sounded uncertain, as if uncertain what to say. This fact further alarmed Carol.

  - You see that not ... I've been trying all afternoon, I have left several messages. But tell me, something happens? Is he fine? ...

  - Yeah ... yes ... little tired, but fine.

  - Tired? But if he is indefatigable!

  - It seems that this campaign is being particularly stressful for him ... as in principle should be the simplest, it seems incongruous, but it is.

  - Thomas ... I feel you strange, you leave me even more worried. Can’t you convince him to call me? If not, I will be forced to take the first plane to be there.

  - Huh? No, no! Don’t even think, everything is under control. If you come I think it would be prejudicial to him, he just needs some rest, as doctor has told us.

  - Doctor? ... I've got doubts, definitely, I'm going now!

  - No, no, look, the doctor said that Harold is slightly exhausted, he does not realize that years pass bill by his workaholic excesses, but it's nothing serious, nothing that could not heal with a few hours of rest. Please be quiet, I'll talk to him as soon as possible, because he is gathered just now, and then I'll call you, okay?

  - All right, Thomas. Thank you!

  Thomas left Carol shrouded in uncertainty. Under normal conditions she would have moved to Seattle, but because her husband needed rest, and the proximity of the convention, it did not seem the most reasonable. The best would be to expect a call from Thomas, but it didn’t take place overnight, so she could not sleep or eye. Early in the morning had already decided to take a plane, in fact had made the reservation, when she received the coveted call from Thomas. He told her that Harold was much better and had told him not to worry, that they will meet the day of the convention, which had one small surprise. Carol was surprised, but she had no choice but to accept the wishes of her husband and wait for an additional two days. Thomas was the best friend of Harold, surely he knew better than anyone what the situation was so she should trust him.

  Those two days were endless. Anxiety during the day and nightmares at night. Carol was not accustomed to the erratic behavior of Harold, he had never acted that way. Not only few days ago he enjoyed a superb physical and mental health but he had always informed her about everything happening around his life. It had no logic what was happening.

  And the Party convention day came. Carol was unable to approach Harold, apparently he had given very specific instructions to his staff for anyone disturbed him, including his own wife. However, she managed to approach Thomas in order to demand an explanation. This told her that she should have patience, and that after the formal announcement of the proposal to the presidential candidate for November, she could finally see him. But Thomas did look visibly upset, nervous, strange. Nor seemed his old self. To some extent it seemed logical, because in only a few minutes he would be presented as vice president candidate by Harold's hand, but Carol knew enough to suspect something was wrong.

  The Party stood Carol in the front rows. She could see her husband appearing on the scene, greeting as a Hollywood's star and embraced the most important figures of the Party. Up to that point looked like the usual Harold. But there was an inconsistency, Thomas was not on the stage, instead she could see him in the front row, clapping, but not among those intended to address the public. She could out of doubt soon, when the previous President that had had the Party, who did the work of presentation, in the very beginning of his speech, looking serious and hesitantly, said he had something important to say. Carol's heart sank when he heard his first words.

  - I know you all were hoping to see here Harold as official party candidate, I know. He has here an overwhelming majority of delegates.

  There was a silence. Carol was literally paralyzed.

  - I can assure you that I too - said while attempting a forced smile as he had to abort in its infancy - all of us know Harold, American people trust him even more than us, he's ... without any doubt, the best president this country has had in a lot of years. I know. You know it! - cheers rang out for more than a minute -. But ... unfortunately his state of health has recently deteriorated. - Whispers were heard - Calm, quiet, I understand your concern too well because is also mine. But I am convinced he will recover soon and he will go out of this bad time. We all know about his tenacity, his fighting spirit, the same that he has shown for his country, ours, all these years. Maybe it is just a state of exhaustion produced by the great efforts he has made by all of us over years. In fact - he pointed his finger - here you have him - the silence was broken by a thunderous ovation when Harold rose to greet - You, Harold, you know that all of us will be always by your side - the audience, standing up , seconded the moving words with a new ovation - then he will direct you some words, but you must understand that he needs rest and therefore we can’t abuse his presence. Well, I understand that for many of you is a disappointment - made a short pause while fixed on the faces of the delegates stunned - I'll share with you a little secret ... For me too! But you all know, we know that this party has people trained to follow the wonderful trail he left behind, to continue his way to - made another short break - win this election - the silence was broken again by another standing ovation -. I recognize that this has happened rather late and in the wrong time, I know. I'm conscious this is a new situation that never had happened neither in the history of this Party, nor in any previous convention. But, in agreement with Harold, indeed, at his request, we have decided - again there was a deathly silence - presenting as an official candidate for the November election to a person who has given his life for this Party. A person perhaps unknown to many of you, but not for me, not for Harold that knows the responsibility that falls on him placing his trust in someone unblemished, tireless worker, someone from the professional and human category of Senator ... Peter Feaks!

  Initially a huge silence was made again, but, as some of the most illustrious of the party began to applaud, the public was infected by the euphoria when Feaks came to deliver his speech, which was far from brilliant, but enough to cover the record.

  Carol had had enough. She could not believe it. She waited yet until Harold presented officially to Feaks as official candidate in place. His speech was not only bland, but atypical. It was not proper of him. Continually had to read his papers, when rarely did. It seemed unsecure, when he was not at all. It did not seem accustomed to public speaking, when he was in his element. Even he hesitated and spoke in a much lower tone than he used to employ.

  Carol attended astonished at the unexpected spectacle. She tried to rub eyes and find the complicity of Thomas, the only one that could give her a fairly convincing explanation, but he was aware of this, trying not to find her sight. Desperate, she got up from her seat with the intention to approach Thomas, who observed the maneuver and was forced to tell her by signs that she keep the calm and await the end of the speech. When he perceived that Carol would not stand idly by any longer, he had no choice but to come and sit beside her.

  - What is happening here, Thomas? By God, not take it anymore! I should have intervened in this before, rather than listen to you - were her first words - Sick? So suddenly? ... Exhausted? ...

  - Calm down, please. Harold will talk to you later, of course I understand you're surprised.

  - I can assure you that this is the biggest surprise I have received in my life! But I am not referring to his resignation but to meet a new Harold, unknown to me. And I have to admit that your attitude has surprised me, Thomas. You should have told me
what was happening from the first day we talk on the phone.

  - You have to understand that first of all, I am his friend.

  - And I am his wife. I am very disappointed with Harold. He can’t be ill, as he was perfectly just days ago What happens? Not only has unexpectedly abnegated, not only has left you without the vice presidential nomination, but he has proposed that such ... Feaks, at least I didn’t know him at all, I don't know who the hell is. I suppose you must be very hurt by Harold. He has acted in a cruel and unfair way with those that want and put our trust in him ...

  - Look, Carol. I owe to him, first of all is my friend, although I am not able to understand some of the decisions being taken and that hurt me professionally. I acknowledge that I also feel very bad. But do not forget his mood, I think it has seriously disturbed.

  - But it's not possible that stress could affect him in this way, even if it had degenerated into some kind of depression, to make such decisions. It's ridiculous! He is very, very changed. I must talk to him now! Anyway ...

  - Yes, tell me.

  - You have proved you're a wonderful person and his best friend. Anyone else in your place would have fought to get what he had promised you.

  - Well, you see ... I do not ... He met all campaign members to let us know his intentions, in a brief speech in line with this last one - pointed to Harold, who was still reading his papers - Incoherent, he didn’t speak as usual. Even he didn't call me aside to tell me anything. He decided to retire and to recommend to Freaks as candidate, an almost unknown in the party.