THE NIGHT OF THE RESIGNATION

By Andamogirl

WWW

ACT ONE

In Loveless's underground hideout in Washington D.C.

The next morning

Dr. Miguelito Quixote Loveless perched on a stool looking down at his unconscious prisoner strapped down on an operating table with an admiring look.

Besides having an encyclopedic knowledge, a brilliant scientific mind, and being a scholar, Artemus Gordon was a gadgetery genius and visionary inventor who could whip up an invention anywhere and build truly amazing things way ahead of his time. Like him, he thought. If he wasn't his enemy, he could have been his greatest friend, he added mentally.

He continued his musing: he had asked Burton, his lead henchman to strip the other man of his clothes down to his short black underwear removing at the same time all the mini arsenal that the agent had hidden in them.

Burton had placed in that small box: a Remington double Derringer, a switchblade knife, a couple of throwing knives, a collection of various explosives devices, a piece of malleable explosive coupled with fuses and detonators in a small bag (but separated), plus a series of very useful gadgets like a breathing mask, a breakaway blowtorch disguised as a cigar, lock-picks, multi-use thin and long wires, tiny squirt cans containing acid and, to finish an explosive pocket watch.

It had looked suspicious immediately, so he had opened it and found inside the same mechanism and explosive he had discovered by closely examining a mini time bomb. But that explosive device was even more miniaturized and worthy of a master watchmaker.

Looking briefly at Burton, then at his prisoner again, Loveless started a monologue, "Artemus Gordon is such a perfect, perfect agent that it's hard to believe he's a wanted man for disobeying a direct order from his superior and that he was going to be arrested for insubordination." He looked at the arrest warrant signed by Colonel Richmond that Chase had pulled out from Pike's jacket pocket. "But it's true." He paused. "Even if he's wanted by Colonel James Richmond, he's not a bad man, and he never will be. He won't help me to get rid of President Grant, he's still loyal to him, loves him like he was his own father…" He placed the warrant on his work table and added, "But a man can be forced to act against his will, in many ways. That's why I planned to kidnap him – and put him under surveillance." He looked up at his huge top henchman and personal bodyguard standing at his side and holding a ready-to-inject syringe. "Give me the syringe, Burton."

The bulky man complied. "Yes, Doctor."

Using his free hand the little man shook Artemus's broad shoulder. "Wake up Mr. Gordon! You have slept enough. Open your eyes now!"

Shortly after Artie's eyes fluttered open as he awoke slowly; his head was killing him and he was groggy. "Ow! That… hurts," he whispered. Through a blurred vision he recognized Loveless's face. "Oh no… not… you." He blinked and tried unsuccessfully to bring Loveless into focus but couldn't. "Drugged me?"

Dr. Loveless smiled. "It's good to see you too Mr. Gordon." Then he shook his head. "No, I didn't drug you, your partner did. He wanted to transport you to Washington without you trying to escape, but my men intercepted you before he could do it."

His brow furrowing in worry, Artie rasped out, "J'm is he…?"

Loveless shook his head. "Mr. West is safe, for now." He placed the tip of the needle against Artie's neck. "I had to wait till the drug leaves your system before injecting you with mine, to avoid a bad reaction. I don't want to kill you, Mr. Gordon."

Blinking dazedly, Artemus slurred, "R'lly? I'm 'fraid but the drug J'm administrated me's still r'nning in my blood stream, I'm still g'oggy…"

Frowning, upset, the diminutive man placed the syringe on his work table, next to the arrest warrant for Artemus Gordon. "Then I will wait. I want you to help me."

His mind fuzzy, Artie rasped out, "H'pl ya?"

Loveless nodded. "Yes, help me." He watched Artemus close his eyes and go limp. Soon after he heard him snoring. He sighed. "Let him sleeping that drug off."

WWW

Later

Pale, licking his dry lips, Artemus said, "Release me, I promise not to do anything to you… as you can see I'm not in state to hurt a fly."

Loveless hesitated for a few seconds. Artemus Gordon was well-known for his tricks. Then he nodded. The agent was gadget-less. He wasn't a threat. "Burton, the straps, and help Mr. Gordon to sit!"

Burton removed the straps immobilizing Artie on the operating table and maneuvered the other man into a sitting position. "Don't throw up on me!" he said. Seeing that Artemus was closing his dark-ringed eyes, he grabbed Artie's shoulder and shook him, not too gently. "Wake up Federal!"

Artie's face twisted up in anger. He glared at the minion, got to his feet and suddenly hit him square on his nose, with all he had left – breaking the fragile cartilage there. "Don't touch me!" he growled.

Blood pouring from his broken nose and the pain making his eyes water Burton lifted a fist as large as his head and growled, "I'm going to break all your bones one by one!"

Eyes flashing, Artie jutted his chin out defiantly and raised his tightened fists aggressively. "Try me!"

Loveless raised his hand. "No you won't! Calm down, Burton!" The thug complied reluctantly groaning like an angry bear as he took a step backward. Then he gave Artemus a black look. "You promised not to do anything, Mr. Gordon!"

Pointing at Burton wiping blood away with the back of his hand, Artie nodded. "To you, not to him." Then looking back at Loveless. "I don't like to be touched." Then he added, "I'm thirsty. Do you have any whiskey here? It would help to clear my mind too."

Loveless nodded too. "Burton, pour a glass of whiskey for Mr. Gordon, up to the brim, while I'm explaining to him why I need him."

Burton glared at Artie but complied.

Looking at Artemus's strong body from head to toe, Loveless said, "You're very fit, Mr. Gordon. Exercising with your partner did you good."

Relaxing Artie replied, "Ex-partner. And what do you need me for?"

WWW

Colonel Richmond's office, at the same time

Colonel James Richmond glared at his two special agents who had returned empty handed and who, because of Jim, had let Artemus Gordon be kidnapped.

Furious, he threw the written reports of his two men, he had just read aloud, on his desk which was cluttered with piles of folders. "God knows where Artemus is now!"

Embarrassed Jeremy Pike looked briefly at his feet then back at his superior. "Artemus Koed my men and used a knockout gas to neutralize me, Sir. For my defense, Colonel, he is Artemus Gordon. That man is really smart and totally unpredictable."

The head of the Secret Service nodded. "Yes I know. That's precisely why he's a such a damn good agent. He can be the devil himself when he wants to."

Knowing that more than anyone else because he lived with Artie 365 days a year, and worked with the older man for ten years now, Jim nodded. "We don't know who kidnapped him, Sir. The man, the leader of the duo, just said, 'We have him. The boss is going to be happy." He paused. "He wanted Artie, not me. that's why I'm still here. And as you know, Artemus has a very long list of enemies…"

James Richmond nodded. "I know that. Names have been piling up on that list since the war." He ran a nervous hand through his grayish hair, sighed and added, "Looking for a needle in a haystack would be a simpler task than to find out where he is now."

In optimistic mood, Jim replied, "It's going to be difficult, Sir. But not impossible. We have many agents in the country as well as many informants. They will help us to find Artemus."

Richmond nodded. "Fortunately, yes."

Intrigued, Jim furrowed his brow as he noticed that Richmond looked uncomfortable, was agitated, was sweating and didn't look at Jeremy and him directly.

Like someone who's lying. He had seen this telltale reaction before, many times, he reflected. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously and then, in a flash he understood the whole thing. It had been invented, and by an expert on trickery… "

He ended his reflection as, outside the thunder roared again and the lightning flashed above Washington after a short lull.

He continued, "With all the due respect Colonel, you're a terrible liar," he said, ignoring Jeremy's look of surprise and noticed Colonel Richmond flinching almost imperceptibly. He knew then he was right and he continued, "It's Artie's plan, isn't it? I understand now… He was never depressed, he never resigned. He did all this to attract someone who he knew would be interested in a wanted man fleeing the Secret Service, in an almost outlaw, in a man who didn't want anything to do with the Secret Service anymore, by a genius possessing multiple talents in chemistry and in creating weapons, bombs especially… Only one name comes to my mind, Sir, Miguelito Loveless."

He paused watching for Richmond's reaction. But there was none. His face was neutral. He had regained control of himself.

Pike let out a groan. "It's Artemus's plan alright. That man can use guile, cunning and trickery like no one else I know. It's natural to him, like breathing oxygen."

Still staring at Richmond, Jim went on, "Artie's on a solo mission right? He infiltrated Loveless's organization that way… He's playing Trojan horse to capture Loveless and his accomplices…" He frowned in concern, realizing that Artie was now in the lion's den. "He's on his own, improvising…"

Richmond shook his head. "I must say… that you have a vivid imagination, Jim."

Pause.

The downpour became steadily worse as the rainstorm got closer to the Treasury Department Headquarters building.

Upset Jim knitted his eyebrows. "I just know my partner really well, Colonel, and I know that he's capable of a deceitful and Machiavellian scheming."

Suddenly the back door of the room opened and Ulysses S. Grant entered Richmond's office, lit cigar in hand, surrounded by a cloud of blue smoke.

Immediately the three men present in the room stood at attention.

Chewing his long, fat, cigar, the President stopped in front of Jim and Jeremy and said, "At ease, gentlemen. I was coming here to ask Colonel Richmond if he had some news about Artemus's secret mission, when I heard you talking. I heard everything, since you both entered that room. Now that you have discovered the truth, Jim, I think you, and Jeremy both deserve more explanations."

Jim scowled, "So, he's on a solo mission. I was right."

Grant smiled. "Yes, you are right. He's on a special assignment, at my request. Only he could do that, with his acting talents." He let out a puff of blueish smoke and continued, "I want that twisted evil little man and his accomplices to be stopped once and for all! Meaning that he and his men will be have a trial and will end up in the gallows." Seeing that Jim was still upset and pursing up his lips he added, "Don't be mad, Artemus was very reticent about lying to you, but he had no other choice – his plan had to look real. That implied that you believe his severe depression and his abrupt departure."

Sincerely Impressed Jim relaxed and nodded. "And I believed it. He went to great lengths to make everything seem credible. I totally believed everything."

Grant nodded. "He did all this for many reasons, first to put himself in character as any good actor, then, second so that Loveless's men could report on his 'state' to their boss, then, third so that his brutal 'departure' would be credible in Loveless's eyes, and finally, as he was isolated, he made an easy target of himself... an irresistible bait."

Pike smiled with admiration. "And Loveless took the bait."

President Grant said, "Yes he did. Artemus knew that two of Loveless's henchmen were surveilling him, since he left the hospital, probably in order to kidnap him – but he didn't know for what purpose though. He proposed his plan to capture Loveless and his accomplices shortly after, and I accepted it immediately. That's why he planned a scene on the rear platform of the Wanderer…"

He paused as the thunder boomed overhead and the rain started pounding down relentlessly against the large window panes.

Now amazed by his partner's acting performance, Jim let out, "He completely fooled me… If there was a prize for the performance of an actor, he would have it right away!"

President Grant chuckled, his eyes reflecting pride. "He's very good! He's the best. He used his acting talents as a spy during the war, and he was the best spy, ever! He helped me to win battles, and the war." Looking at his other agent, he added, "But the scene in the saloon was totally improvised, knowing that Loveless's men would not be far if not in there."

Pike nodded. "They were. They kidnapped him."

Richmond looked at Jim. "Artemus had planned too that you would find him. He knew that you wouldn't follow my orders. He had planned too that you would neutralize him – and that Loveless's henchmen would seize the opportunity to kidnap him easily. He even had an agent with a rifle posted on the church tower to protect you in case they sought to kill you."

Impressed Jim said, "He really thought of everything, which is not surprising on the part of Artie who always plans everything because he hates being caught off guard." He cringed worryingly. "So Artemus is Loveless's prisoner now."

Colonel Richmond nodded. "Yes, he's in the lion's den. He's going to improvise, he's very good at it. He'll contact us when he has the opportunity. I'm sure he will succeed."

His worry deepening, Jim said. "I wouldn't be so sure, Sir. Artie's a trouble magnet. I'm sure that something bad is going to happen to him – and I won't be there to help him this time."

WWW

The next morning

In Loveless's underground lab

Crossing his arms on his chest, his mind made up Artemus Gordon glared at Miguelito Loveless who was sitting on a couch covered with red brocade fabric, bordered with small golden pompoms. "No. I refuse to work for you, Dr. Loveless. You're an evil twisted man, you're a megalomaniac, and you tried to kill me like what? A hundred times and in every way possible!"

Loveless chuckled. "And yet you survived, that's remarkable! But you're exaggerating. It has to be close to fifty times. I did count. The legend says that you're indestructible and I'm beginning to think it's the truth." He offered the other man a cup of hot coffee. "I'd like you to reconsider my proposition Mr. Gordon: think of it. It's me or prison…"

Taking the steaming cup, Artie nodded. "For a week only, Jim told me. Insubordination won't put me behind bars for years."

Loveless smiled. "True, but the President will never accept your resignation because he needs you. You're one of his best agents, you are multi-talented and he trust you totally. Besides, you're a role model for all the new agents of the Secret Service, along with Mr. West, and they all want to be like the two of you. Grant will keep you locked in an office, chained to a desk in the White House if necessary, but he will never let you go. Not while he's still the President anyway. If you want to be free while Grant is still the POTUS - because a great number of agents of the Secret Service will search for you, everywhere, to bring you back - there's only one solution: stay at my side. I will offer you a safe haven, everything you need and I will protect you."

Leaving his armchair, Artie moved toward the fireplace hearth. He took a swallow of the dark brown liquid in his cup and then grimaced. "Your coffee tastes bitter. It's awful." He paused and added, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Dr. Loveless but I don't want to work for you, I'm an honorable man, not a criminal." He took another sip of coffee and grimaced again. He then added, "Besides, with my talents to disguise myself, change my voice and take any accent, no agent will ever find me. Jim included." He finished the bitter beverage and let out, "Jim's coffee is better than yours… and it's not a compliment, believe me. His coffee is undrinkable."

Loveless's blue eyes went cold and he said, "Do you know why the coffee tastes bitter?" He paused seeing Artie frown in alarm to add a dramatic effect. "That's because I put a powerful poison in it based on Amygdalin. As you probably now, as a chemist, it's a chemical compound found in many plants, but most notably in bitter almonds, hence the bitter taste. I used bitter almonds."

Paling, Artie looked down at the bottom of his now empty cup. "Good Lord…"

Loveless grinned. "To sum up, I have poisoned you with a low-acting cyanide. It's lethal, of course. And you know of course the symptoms of cyanide poisoning…?" He saw his prisoner drop his cup to the floor, where it broke in pieces, and gave Artemus a crocodile smile. "You will work for me, now – in exchange for your life. You will need an injection of anti-toxin every 6 hours to stay alive. It's not an antidote, it just stops the effects temporarily – there isn't any antidote to that poison. I made it especially for you. I tried it on a couple of homeless people and they died in horrible suffering. It works perfectly."

Even more paler than before, Artie rasped out, "You're a monster."

Leaving the couch, Miguelito Loveless joined Artie next to the fireplace. "The end justifies the means. And the results would be more accurate on humans than on rats." He took a sip from his own cup. "That coffee is good, when poison-free." He chuckled as Artemus glared at him and continued, "That poison will soon spread through your central nervous system and it will provoke, at the end muscular paralysis and subsequent suffocation and cardiac arrest… Onset of symptoms is usually within a few minutes. It will start first with a headache, with muscle weakness, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and vomiting, muscles spasms, tremors…"

Giving Loveless a dark look Artie tried to close his hands around the diminutive man's throat. "I'm going to kill you before I die." He growled, menacingly.

He'd gone so pale that he was faintly green.

But Burton standing behind his boss punched Artie in the mouth and the agent collapsed heavily to the floor like a wringing wet ragdoll, lips split, with blood on his face.

Artemus's vision blackened for a few seconds and stars appeared in front of his eyes, but he remained conscious.

Burton grinned from ear to ear, delighted for that repayment.

Miguelito Loveless shook his head. "No, you're not, because I'm the only one who can help you to survive, Mr. Gordon. Be cooperative and I'll give you the anti-toxin so you can live. Choose to leave and you will die in horrible suffering. It's up to you." He took a step back as Artemus swayed on unsteady legs. "You should feel the first effects round about now…"

Feeling dizzy Artie tried to pull himself into a sitting position but was too weak to. "I so hate you!" he said, gasping for breath. Suddenly all the color drained from his face and he gagged. "Oh boy!" Right after that he rolled on his side and vomited.

Loveless grimaced in disgust, set his cup of coffee on the low table and then asked, "Are you ready to agree to work for me, or do you want to experience the other symptoms?"

Gritting his teeth Artie let out, "Go to hell!" Then he spat a glob of bile and blood at Loveless's feet. "I will never accept that!"

He tried to move himself into a sitting position, but he was far too weak. He just lay there, his breath short and shaken with spasms.

Loveless tsked-tsked, giving Artemus a disappointed glance. "You're not reasonable Mr. Gordon. Why do you want to suffer more whereas you know there's no other solution but to agree to work for me, if you want to stay alive?"

Groaning with pain Artemus placed his hands on his temples as a violent pain exploded in his head. He could feel his muscles turning to stone then going numb and he could barely breathe. His heart started hammering in his chest painfully.

He clutched at it as a pain he had never experienced radiated through his whole body and he started to writhe on the floor, crying out.

Loveless smiled cruelly watching the other man roll in a trembling ball with pleasure, his breath harsh, deathly pale, his eyes closed. "The pain will get worse… What's your response?"

Still curled up on himself, suffering like he never had suffered before, his face damp with perspiration, his breathing harsh and labored, Artemus let out, "Please… save… me," ineffectively blinking away tears from his red-rimmed eyes. "I… I accept… I… I accept w-working for y-you. Save m-me. Plea-please!"

Loveless grinned in victory. "With great pleasure." He pulled out a small box from his inside jacket pocket and opened it. He took the already filled syringe contained inside and pushed the needle through Artemus's skin and depressed the plunger, inoculating him with a dose of the anti-toxin in the crook of his elbow. "There, you're safe now – but for six hours only."

Rolling on his back, burying his sweat-soaked face in his trembling hands, Artie felt the anti-toxin burn his way along his veins spreading through his whole body in a matter of seconds.

He could feel the effects almost immediately: his heartbeat accelerated and his pupils dilated. He was trembling and shaking and sweating, but he felt good – no, more than good. Great! Wonderful! Fantastic! He never has felt so relaxed and peaceful in his whole life.

He looked around him with a lopsided grin. He squinted his eyes. Everything was brightly colored, shining and moving – colors swirling together like a giant kaleidoscope.

It was so beautiful.

He felt absolutely wonderful.

The whole world ceased to exist. replaced by an overwhelming happiness. His own body felt as though it was dissolving into the radiant colored shapes dancing all around him.

He cried and then sobbed in pure, undiluted happiness, tears flowing down his cheeks. This was total and absolute bliss, this was heaven!

Loveless chuckled, checked Artie's dilated pupils – so dilated, there was almost no dark brown left - and smiled satisfied. That anti-toxin has interesting second effects… it's highly addictive even from the first dose. Your entire system has changed following that first injection." His smiled broadened. "You will do everything I want in order to have your next dose of liquid happiness, Mr. Gordon. You're mine now, mine!"

Feeling totally relaxed, closing his eyes Artemus breathing evened out and he drifted into a drug haze with an ecstatic smile on his face.

He pulled out of his stupor one hour later.

WWW

Much later

Loveless underground lab

Artie's room

Pale as death, shaking and sweating profusely Artemus sat on the edge of his bed and shook his head. "I was forced to accept working for you, but I won't do that! I refuse."

Loveless smiled. "Do you want to die Mr. Gordon?"

The agent of the USSS shook his head. "No." His vision blurred for a couple of seconds and he moaned feeling as weak as a newborn kitten. He folded his arms on his chest. He was cold, but his whole body was on fire at the same time. "I'm sick… and it's not the poison…"

Miguelito Loveless took a syringe already filled with the anti-toxin. "No, it's the after effects of the anti-toxin. First it gives you heaven, for one hour, only. Then the next three hours, you feel alright, normal. Then, you become sick, for another hour. The last hour is hell. During that phase, you will feel an unbearable craving for liquid bliss until the next dose, to have your heaven back."

His mind stating to get confused, Artemus flopped backward onto the mattress and gritted his teeth. "I will resist the effects of that anti-toxin, of that drug, because it's a drug."

Loveless nodded. "Yes, and a powerful one, believe me. I tested it on a third human guinea pig. I didn't let him die, like the others, I injected him with the anti-toxin to see the results. He survived, but after the first injection of anti-toxin, he was intoxicated. The craving period was so intense that he was ready to agree to kill his wife and children to have a new injection of 'liquid bliss". Moving closer to the bed on which Artie had curled up on himself, he added, "You're no different from him."

Artemus gave his Nemesis a black, feverish, look and croaked out, "I will resist. I have to… have to. No more drug…"

Loveless nodded. "And then what? You die? Because let me remind you that the poison is still in your body, Mr. Gordon. if I don't inject you with another dose of anti-toxin, you will die, and you don't want to die, do you? You're in a 'no win' situation. You're intelligent enough to realize that."

Feeling nauseous, Artie hiccupped. "I hate you so much…" he said, his voice shaky, uneven. Then, in a flash he jumped on his feet and rushed toward the sink.

He emptied his stomach in it. Loveless crinkled his nose, disgusted, and Burton standing beside his master chuckled mockingly.

Loveless looked up at his bodyguard and manservant, "Let's get him into the craving phase, then we'll come back to see him."

Both smiling, the two men left, and the huge minion locked the metallic door behind him. "You can howl, no one can hear you," he said.

WWW

Later

In Loveless's lab

Pressing the needle against Artemus's neck, Loveless said, "Resistance was futile…" He grinned. "You couldn't resist. No one could."

Eyes reddened and bleary, his teeth chattering and his whole body trembling from head to toe, Artemus croaked out, "Need it, need it. Get me some, please god, get me some, please-please. I'll do what you want. But you have to promise than no one will be hurt in the attack."

Loveless nodded. "I promise. Now let me…"

More than impatient, frantic, Artie gasped. "Now!"

The little man shook his head, his eyes flashing. "Be patient Mr. Gordon! And I don't like to be interrupted when I'm talking. I thought you were a well-mannered man..." He trailed off as he calmed down. "I took the liberty to have your trunks delivered here, to my lab as well as a box containing a few explosive devices of yours. It was easy for my men to enter the Wanderer during Mr. West's absence. It took my men half an hour to pick up your things and go back here with them. You should have thought about an alarm system locking all the doors to prevent any intrusion."

Artie sighed. "I did and I even invented one to tell us when a window is opened. But Jim didn't trigger it before leaving. That's strange." 'So we're in Washington', he thought.

Loveless shook his head. "No, it's not. Your disappearance has affected your partner a lot, ex-partner should I say and he is very disturbed. He simply forgot it. But it was good for my men. You will find all the necessary clothes you need to disguise yourself. I hope that you will come up with something creative." He rubbed his hands with glee. "One million dollars in gold! I love gold! With gold you can buy anything – and anyone. After that, I plan to kidnap the President during his trip to New York in two days – to replace him with a double working for me. As you already know, I'm very good at creating doubles! And my Ulysses S. Grant is ready."

Sinking on a chair, strengthless Artie shook his head. "I won't help you. I refuse to help you do that to President Grant!"

Loveless frowned angrily. "Then you will die!" He threw the still anti-toxin-filled syringe on the floor where it broke and stomped his foot on it. "No anti-toxin for you, Mr. Gordon!" He snapped his fingers and two henchmen framed him. "Bring Mr. Gordon to his room and tie him to his bed."

Standing Artemus raised a weak fist. "Don't do that!" he took a step forward, menacing the two hulking thugs and swayed on his legs, his vision graying at the edges. He squeezed his eyes shut, suppressing a gasp and crashed to his knees. "I won't let you do that to the President…" He breathed before sprawling face down on the parquet floor of the lab.

Loveless eyes went cold. "Oh, you will. Believe me."

WWW

In Artie's room,

later

Dr. Loveless entered Artie's small room half-an hour later, 30 minutes before the poison running in the other man's veins would kill him.

He grimaced at the acrid smell floating in the stale air. Sweat and vomit.

He was delighted to find his tear-streaked prisoner writhing on his sweat soaked bedding, his ankles and wrists roped to the bedposts, raw-scraped and bleeding. There were patches of vomit and bile everywhere around him and even on the floor.

He grinned as Artemus Gordon howled in unbearable pain at the top of his lungs, his whole body shaken with tremors, each muscle tensing impossibly under its onslaught.

Still grinning, the little man pulled up a chair from the left wall and moved it next to the agent's bedside. He took his place on it, and said, "You'll do anything I ask, give me anything I want. Anything." Looking down at his watch, he added, "You should feel the last effects of the poison soon, Mr. Gordon, as your time is short. Muscular paralysis and subsequent suffocation and cardiac arrest… Unless, of course, you agree participation in next project. Your choice."

Shaking his head Artemus hoarsely said, "No, no, no… "

Loveless stood. "Alright. Then you will suffer some more – and die in agony." He headed toward the door, paused and turned around. "Last chance…"

Glancing up at Loveless, eyes red and puffy, tears running down his cheeks, his trembling fingers digging into the sheets, Artie parted his split and cracked lips and whispered, "Alright… you win, I'll do it,"

He started to muse: he didn't want to die. Loveless was now persuaded that he had him in his power, at his mercy. That he was his puppet.

It was now time to use that to his advantage in order to fulfil his mission. He had to find a way to warn Jim of what Loveless planned to do, then he would try to escape Loveless's hideout, to tell the authorities then where Loveless and his men were hiding.

His mission would be accomplished. Loveless and his men would end up in prison, and after a trial, end up in the gallows.

It was a deadly stunt, because if he didn't succeed, Loveless would be so furious, so enraged, that he would let him die.

But he would die knowing that President Grant would be safe.

He ended his musing as he watched Loveless move the syringe filled with anti-toxin toward the crook of his elbow and he passed out.

WWW

In the evening

on the Wanderer

Thunder crackled in the distance when Colonel Richmond knocked at the door and entered the parlor car right after, his brow furrowed, lost in his thoughts, troubled.

He folded his wet umbrella and placed it in a bucket to the right side, sitting on the carpeted floor, where it joined another one, dry.

Looking at Jim sitting at the dining table, eating an omelet with potatoes and onions accompanied by pickled gherkins, surrounded by the three cats eating pieces of raw fish on a plate each, he said, "Good morning, Jim." Then he folded his dripping coat over the back of a chair.

Frowning in concern, Jim asked, "What is it Colonel? It must be very important for you to come here through the rainstorm. You seem preoccupied… " And he paled. "Oh no! You have bad news about Artemus? You found him, he's dead," he said, his voice was tight and shaky.

The Head of the Secret Service took his place in the chair and facing his agent, he added, "Fortunately, no." He sighed and said, "A convoy transporting gold to the Treasury Department was attacked on its way to Washington two hours ago. Fortunately no one was injured. The soldiers are fine but the gold bars are gone." He took a place at the table and accepted a cup of coffee. "Thank you. They fell into a clever trap. They stopped to help a woman who had just come out of the road with her carriage… and while they were busy putting the carriage back on the road, bandits attacked them… and neutralized them with knock out gas." He pulled out a small silver sphere from his jacket pocket. "Using devices like this one. It's a smoke bomb. This one is still intact, probably because it's defective. It didn't explode but the others did."

Frowning Jim took the small device its pin intact in Richmond's palm and observed it closely. "It looks a lot like one of Artemus's smoke bombs…"

Richmond nodded. "It is one of his smoke bombs. I had it analyzed for fingerprints by the science department, and the ones on this device match the fingerprints in Artemus's Treasury Department file."

Frowning, Jim said, "It's not defective, Colonel. All of Artie's gadgets work perfectly because our lives depend on them. People came here when I was absent and took Artie's trunks and stole a box of different explosives devices."

Richmond frowned, "Loveless's henchmen."

Looking at his CO Jim nodded. "Yes. No doubt. Are you suggesting that Artie participated in that attack? One of Loveless's men could have used it, not necessarily Artie, Colonel."

Richmond took a sip of coffee and continued. "Artemus participated in that attack, Jim, I'm sure of it because he was that woman! I mean that he was impersonating that woman – a woman called Artemis McGordon. She or he gave that name to the escort officer."

Pouring himself a cup of coffee Jim nodded. "Then, there's no doubt. It's him. Artemis McGordon is one of Artie's pseudonyms when he chooses to disguise himself as a woman. Then he left that intact smoke bomb in place to tell us he's still alive." He grinned. "That's wonderful!... So he has agreed to work for Loveless. Did he leave something for us? So we could locate him?"

Richmond fished something else from his pocket: a handkerchief monogrammed AG. "No, but he left this in the carriage. There is nothing written on it, even using invisible ink. The people from the science department examined it and didn't find anything. Maybe he simply lost it, but I brought it to you anyway, in case you have an idea…"

Jim took the handkerchief and observed it with attention. "That's a good idea, Sir." Then he took a magnifying glass from the drawer of the sideboard and put it close to the handkerchief. He noticed a series of minuscule holes in the white lace surrounding the fabric apparently made with a needle: lone puncture points and couples of puncture points. He smiled. "It's a message from Artie, in Morse code… That's very clever." He stood, moved toward a green gas lamp and added, "Loveless had to search him before letting him go 'on a mission' but he did not see that. It's almost invisible."

Richmond was impressed. "But you immediately saw it."

Still smiling Jim nodded. "It's because Artemus has already used this way to convey a message that I knew where to find it, Colonel," he replied. "So… one puncture point for a dot and two puncture points for a dash, let's translated this," he said.

Colonel Richmond joined Jim beside the bracket green lamp of the parlor car, squinted his eyes and saw the dots and dashes he hadn't noticed before. "What does he say?"

Lifting the handkerchief closer to the bright light, Jim read, "Lss UH – unable to loc – but in W - ll try to escp – bt prbly die - Lss plans attack PDT – enroute to NY - protect PDT - goodbye – Lv Y Jm." Then he added, "Fll My Fd."

Frowning, lost, Richmond asked, "Can you translate that for me please?"

Blanching Jim lowered the piece of white silk. "Artie says that he was unable to locate Loveless UH for Underground Hideout; but it's in W, for Washington. He adds that he'll try to escape, but that he'll probably die doing it." He paused, his voice almost shaking with anxiety. "He says that Loveless plans to attack the PDT for President, while he's enroute to NY for New York, and he asks me us to protect the President… And… Lv Y Jm is for Love you Jim and Fll My Fd stands for Farewell My Friend."

Colonel Richmond nodded. "We'll find a way to help Artemus Jim, and remember that he's undestructible. Now I have to leave for the White House."

Before the older man could head toward the door, Jim said, "I have a way to find Artie, Colonel – and save him at the same time. I have to locate Mo. I had a 'revelation' just a few minutes ago. I wanted to send you a telegram but I received yours before I can do it, telling me you were coming here. I was so desperate about Artie's fate that I completely missed it. It was so obvious! When Loveless's men kidnapped Artie they kidnapped his Cheyenne horse too. Such a horse doesn't go unnoticed in Washington. And Mo's a beautiful horse, one of Loveless's men probably kept him for himself instead of getting rid of him by selling him."

Richmond nodded. "And Mo is going to lead you to that man, and that man will tell you where Loveless is, and then…"

Smiling, Jim finished his CO's sentence, "We'll find Artie."

The Colonel smiled too. "That's a brilliant idea, Jim. I hope you're right about Mo. I'm going to give you all the agents I have here to help you to search for Artemus's horse, and I'm going to contact the police too so they stand ready to arrest Loveless and his men. I'll be there too, with Dr. Henderson and his black bag, in case someone's hurt."

A flash of lightning lit up the room with a loud bang.

WWW

Loveless's underground hideout

Much later

Laid on his bed, (with fresh clean bedding), with his back propped on a pillow, the ropes gone, his wrists and ankles disinfected and bandaged, Artemus was reading the article on the President's soon-to-be voyage to New York when the first tremor hit his left hand.

He muttered a curse under his breath. He would soon crave the anti-toxin. "It's time to escape, old boy. Or try to." He folded the Washington Herald, left his bed and moved toward the door.

It wasn't locked anymore as Loveless thought he had him in his power, thanks to the anti-toxin. And because of that 'drug's 'influence' he wouldn't do anything silly like escaping. Escaping meant no anti-toxin, and then death. But it was a big mistake.

Dying didn't frighten him. It was part of his job. He had his mind made up about death, got himself accustomed to the idea that one day he would certainly die brutally on a mission.

He had only one goal in mind. Only one thing mattered, getting rid of Miguelito Loveless, he thought as he took the passage that had been carved into the gray rock, decorated with colored drapes, taking the direction of Loveless's lab.

He found the diminutive man there, sitting on a pile of gold bars, beaming. "Ah! Mr. Gordon! I forgot to tell you thank you, for all this."

His face neutral, Artie said, "There's no need. I was forced to do that."

Dr. Loveless scowled. "Spoilsport!" He let himself down to the floor and then glanced at his golden pocket watch. "You're right on time for your injection Mr. Gordon." He put it back in the pocket of his waistcoat and snapped his fingers.

Burton standing beside his boss fetched one already anti-toxin-filled syringe from the long table covered with a complete chemical lab and gave it to Loveless.

Sitting on a chair, Artemus pulled his shirt sleeve up, exposing the crook of his right arm. He felt sweat beading across his hairline and palms. "Do it! Hurry! I can already feel my body weakening… "

Loveless halted in front of Artemus. "Here's another dose of liquid bliss to avoid death Mr. Gordon." He pointed at a glass bottle filled with a red liquid. There was a black notebook beside it. "I prepared a new bottle of anti-toxin – because I intend to keep you at my side for a long time. I wrote the formula in that black notebook, along with others, like drug and poison formulas… I'll show you it later, as I know that you're a skilled chemist."

Suddenly Artemus grabbed his Nemesis's wrist and forced his hand down, and plunged the needle toward the little man's leg. Miguelito Loveless gasped in both surprise and pain when Artie pierced his skin and injected the anti-toxin in his thigh.

He saw Burton draw his gun but before the giant could fire, he ran toward the big table and leaped over hit to take shelter behind it.

He quickly overturned everything there (except the bottle of anti-toxin and Loveless's notebook)… Bunsen burners included.

Dodging bullets flying everywhere around him, he managed to take the bottle of anti-toxin and Loveless's notebook which he slid inside his shirt.

He could survive with them! – 'but first you have to leave this place alive!' he thought.

flames had in the meantime ignited certain chemicals and flames were now wrapped around the table as others were spreading to the carpet and to the drapes.

Soon the whole room was on fire.

Using that fire and the billowing smoke to leave the burning lab, Artemus tried to escape slaloming between the huge flames but Burton spotted him and he pulled the trigger.

Hit in his side, Artie yelped and crashed to the floor, pressing a trembling hand on his bleeding wound, grimacing at the throbbing, tearing pain.

Then the hulking man took Loveless - who was starting to hallucinate - in his arms before heading toward the door.

WWW

Washington D. C.

Martin Street livery stable

Hand resting on the wet handle of his Colt, Jim ran toward the livery stable through the dense sheets of cold, pelting rain which had turned the street into a muddy river. He had spotted Mo there, tied in a stall a few hours before after a discreet reconnaissance.

He had sent a telegram to Colonel Richmond and the head of the Secret Service had immediately sent a telegram back telling him that 20 policemen and 10 agents were on their way to his location to help him find Loveless, and Artie.

Richmond had added that Dr. Henderson and he would be there too as soon as possible.

Jim entered the place knowing that it would be empty as the two men who were previously posted in front of the large door, seated in chairs, rifles on their laps had gone to the saloon for a break. And no one had replaced them at their post.

While hiding behind a pile of crates, he had heard the tallest of the two men say, "I'm frozen, need a whisky, but if Doctor Loveless hears about this, he'll have Burton kill us in a wink."

He had smiled then. Loveless was here – and therefore Artie!

The shortest minion had replied that he was more interested in Molly, the saloon girl warming him up, than in whisky. Then they had left, chuckling lewdly.

Mo recognized Jim when the human entered his stall. He raised his head, nickered and then rubbed his muzzle in the man's dripping dark brown hair, ruffling it.

Smiling, Jim patted the black and white gelding's neck. "I'm happy to see you too, Mo. Where's Artie? The last time he was in danger after those Indians shot him, you led me to him. Where is he?"

Mo snorted and stamped a hoof. Then he scraped the ground with it and neighed.

Suddenly the pinto horse let out some kind of snort that Jim recognized immediately. The horse was scared and he knew why when he noticed plumes of smoke coming out from between the slats of the floor, which was almost completely covered with hay and straw.

He removed the hay and straw there and, in front of Mo's stall, he discovered a trapdoor through which the smoke was escaping. "You're a very intelligent horse, Mo." He said, impressed.

Mo raised his tail signaling that way that he was happy.

He had found the secret entrance to Loveless's underground hideout – which was probably burning. It was all he knew.

He untied Mo and led him into the street. Once there the intelligent pinto horse settled under the roof of a large shelter containing firewood, to protect itself from the rain.

He repeated the action with the six quarter horses in the livery stable which joined Mo, pressing against each other, head to tail.

Then he gestured to the agents and policemen hidden there, in the saloon, in the barber shop, in dark alleys, etc. to follow him.

Soon the livery stable was crowded with soaked wet lawmen. Guns in hands they hid wherever they could and waited in total silence, ready for action.

Shortly after that the trapdoor opened and Burton holding Loveless passed out in his arms appeared amidst a cloud of thick acrid smoke. He was quickly followed by a dozen men coughing and crying – President Grant's double amongst them.

They were immediately surrounded by the agents and the policemen. They dropped their guns and raised their hands – except Burton who had Loveless in his arms.

Colonel Richmond entered the stable framed by Jeremy Pike and Frank Harper on one side and by Dr. Henderson on the other side.

For a couple of seconds they froze in front of the fake Ulysses S. Grant, then Jim explained, "It's not the President, but a double. Loveless's doing."

Richmond nodded. "On behalf of the president of the United States you're all under arrest!" He said. "Loveless, finally!"

Moving toward the giant cradling an unconscious Miguelito Loveless in his arms Jim asked, "Where is Artemus Gordon?"

Burton offered Jim a large cruel smile. "I shot him! He was badly wounded. He's probably burning alive down there… You're too late! Good riddance!"

Fear pooling in his belly, Jim felt his heart seize in his chest and rushed toward the trapdoor… and gasped in (agreeable) surprise when he saw his partner's head appear in front of him. "Artie! You're not dead!"

Grimacing in pain, Artie replied, "No but I'm injured. But I've had worse…" And gratefully let his partner help him to climb the last steps of the spiral staircase.

Frowning in concern, Jim was beside Artemus in an instant and he gently pulled his best friend in his arms, bride-style and followed everyone outside as the livery stable began to burn.

He crossed the street getting Artie soaked within seconds and then knelt down on the boardwalk away from the torrential downpour. He slowly, cautiously maneuvered Artemus onto his back on the disjointed and muddy boards and paled in deep worry at the sight of Artie's shirt, soaked with blood. "Doctor Henderson! Come here!"

Breathing hard Artie said, "That's nothing. The bottle… my shirt… mind it. Anti-toxin… Need an injection… I'm dying… help me…"

Stephen Henderson holding his big black bag crouched beside Artemus and took the bottle filled with a red liquid in his belt. "What's this?"

Closing his eyes, shivering, Artie responded, "It's an anti-toxin. Loveless has poisoned me. This anti-toxin is the only thing that keeps me alive. He used that way to force me to work for him. I need an injection every 6 hours. I need one… now, before it's too late." His breath started to hitch and his pounding heart, hurt.

Richmond nodded. "How many cc?"

Blinking tears from his smoke-reddened eyes Artemus shook his head and coughed. "The whole barrel. Please, hurry…"

Frowning Jim looked at Burton holding a still unconscious Loveless. "We need the antidote. Loveless has it, no doubt."

Shaking his head, now spasming, his temples damp with sweat, Artie whispered, "There's none… Loveless didn't create one. Just an anti-toxin to keep me alive and… dependent. It's a powerful drug, highly addictive from the first injection." He winced. Every movement, even breathing, hurt.

Dr. Henderson filled the barrel of the syringe with the anti-toxin and looked down at Artemus's crook of his right elbow covered with several small puncture wounds.

He administrated the ant-toxin to his patient and almost immediately afterwards a broad smile, languid and slow formed on Artie's pale lips as he started enjoying the wave of pleasure that overtook him. Pain vanished. Everything vanished into the warm fuzziness of the drug. He felt his mind start to drift away and completely relaxed, an ecstatic smile on his lips.

He lifted a hand, his body floating, "All those shiny spiraling colors… whirling rainbows…" He let out, his eyes red rimmed and his pupils dilated. Then his body went completely limp.

The CMO of the Washington Military Hospital pressed two fingers against Artemus's neck for a pulse and felt his heart pound wildly and erratically.

He ripped Artemus shirt open revealing a bullet wound. He gently rolled the other man on his side and sighed in relief as he saw an exit wound. "The bullet went through. I won't have to remove it. But you're losing a lot of blood… You need surgery. "

Shaking, Artie mumbled something incomprehensible.

Smiling reassuringly Jim took his partner's hand in his and pressed it. "You're going to be okay Artie. You did it buddy! You did it. Mission accomplished." He removed his blue bolero jacket and covered Artie's upper body with it. "Loveless and his accomplices are under arrest – and they won't escape this time, believe me." He ran brotherly fingers through the older man's sweaty hair and then added, "But next time that you go on a solo mission, I'll go with you. No discussion. In fact, from now on, I won't let you go somewhere without me! Do that and I will hit you! You understand?"

Blinking, Artie smiled weakly, eyes glassy and drugged to the gills.

WWW

Much later in the Washington Military Hospital

At night

President Ulysses S. Grant sat on a chair beside the bed that Artemus occupied. The other man was stark white. His eyes were shadowed by dark circles and his stubbled cheeks were sunken. He was also so still that he looked like a dead body.

Grant looked up at Dr. Henderson standing next to the door. "How is he Stephen?"

The doctor sighed and settled the bottle of anti-toxin he held on a table. "Not good, Sir."

Pause.

Suddenly a loud, booming noise resonated and there was a flash of light. For less than a second, the white-painted room was brightly illuminated.

In his bed, Artemus woke up, but too tired to open his eyes, he left them closed.

Paling in worry, Grant nodded. "Tell me everything."

Leaning against the wall, Henderson said, "No organ was hit and the bullet wound will heal nicely. I'm not worried about that, but about that poison running in Artemus's veins. I gave Loveless' notebook where the formula of that poison is written – among others - to a friend who's a specialist in poisons, Dr. Hopkins, from the New York General Hospital – and he told me it would take weeks to find an antidote to the poison Loveless has created and administrated to Artemus."

Grant cringed while fishing around in the pockets of his jacket (loaded with two dozen cigars, a day's supply, the same as during the war), taking out a long, thick, cigar and a small pocket knife. "Then tell your friend to start immediately."

Henderson sighed. "It's not that simple, Sir. Even if my friend makes an antidote, Artemus will be dead long before that."

Frowning, puzzled, Ulysses S. Grant said, "But I read in your report that if he took that anti-toxin every six hours, he'd stay alive."

The CMO nodded. "That's what Artemus told me, Sir. But what he didn't know, because Loveless hid that information, is that is anti-toxin is a poison in itself. It is weakening his heart. If Artemus continues to take this anti-toxin, he will die, and if he doesn't take it he will die too. In both cases, he will have a heart attack that will be fatal." He swallowed hard and buried his hands in his white coat pockets, pausing, his expression dark. "He's a condemned man. He's going to die."

Posture hunched, Grant sucked in a sharp breath. He opened the small knife and clipped the end of the cigars off, then he put it back in his pocket. He was nervous. Smoking would help him to relax, he thought. "Tell your friend to find that antidote as soon as possible."

Stephen Henderson shook his head sadly. "He'll find it too late. If Artemus continues to take that anti-toxin, he'll be dead within a week."

The President cringed. "I'm sure that Dr. Loveless know an antidote to that poison, or if not, he's capable of making one, rapidly. He created the poison and the anti-toxin, after all."

Stephen Henderson nodded. "It's possible, yes, Sir. Dr. Loveless is a master in creating all kind of poisons and drugs. But he's not going to help Artemus, because he wants him dead. In addition to that, that drug is lethal. Dr. Loveless wrote that in his book too, that after a few dozen injections, the 'patient' will die from cardiac arrest.

The lightning flashed again, even brighter this time. Deafening thunder followed soon after and torrents of rain pounded down, pelleting the window panes.

The President nodded. He pulled out a box of matches from his breast coat pocket, struck one against the headboard of the bed and lit up his cigar. "Only Dr. Loveless can help Artemus. I'm sure that Colonel Richmond will find a solution to force him to cooperate."

Henderson nodded. "Then he should hurry, Sir. Because Artemus's heart is weakening a little more each time he takes that drug."

President Grant frowned in anger against Loveless, sticking the cigar between his teeth and chewing it. –"Is there anything you can do to help him?"

Dr. Henderson shook his head. "No, Sir. Besides, Dr. Loveless noted in his notebook that the anti-toxin is a highly addictive drug. In the case Artemus receives an injection of the antidote, it won't stop the cravings. He will have to face drug withdrawal… and do that cold turkey, Sir. In his state, with an already weakened heart, it could be fatal."

Grant took a series of short draws then blew the blueish smoke out. "He's not going to die. Artemus survived far worst situations that this one."

Suddenly Artie's eyes fluttered open. He licked his crackled lips and whispered, "It's… alright, everyone dies… but I'd have preferred to a bed… But it's my time."

He was very tired but managed to keep his bleary eyes open taking in his surroundings. He was lying on a bed, in a rather bare private hospital room with white walls, two chairs, a bedside table, curtains on each side of the window, two paintings. It was dimly lit by two wall lights, one placed above the door and one above the headboard.

He sighed. He had ended up there numerous times before.

Feeling uneasy the President lowered his cigar, and with his free hand he took the other man's hand in his, pressing it with affection. "Did you hear what Stephen and I said Artemus?"

Turning his head toward the President, Artie looked up at the man he considered to be like a surrogate father and added, "Yes. As I won't be able to work for the Secret Service anymore, I'd like to resign, for real this time, Sir, and go to my Cheyenne band to spend my last days there, when I'm still capable of doing it."

Ulysses S. Grant shook his head. "No, I don't accept your resignation, Artemus. As long as there is life, there is hope. A soldier fights to the end."

Tears rolling down his cheeks Artie rasped out, "My end is near, Sir. Loveless and his accomplices are behind bars. I don't regret anything. What happened to me was worth it. He won't plot against you anymore, kill people anymore." Gingerly pulling himself into a sitting position, Henderson helping him, Artie winced and said, "Then if I can't resign, can I ask for medical leave? I need some rest, and the life among the Cheyenne is peaceful and restful." He heaved a long sigh. "I'll stay there, enjoying a simple life, waiting to die. Because I will. Soon. Dr. Loveless won't cooperate, Sir. He wants me dead. He didn't kill me when he had me because he wanted my help, but now he's in prison, I'm no longer of any use to him."

President Grant said, "Colonel Henderson will find a way to persuade him to create the antidote. You have to keep up hope, Artemus."

Shaking his head, Artie said, "There's none. I know." An enormous boom of thunder filled the air and the hospital room flashed brightly with lightning, again. He blinked back tears and looking at Grant he added, "I'm going to miss you, Sir. You were a second father to me. Thank you, thank you for everything. It was an honor and a privilege to fight at your side Sir, in the Army and to serve under your direct orders as a special agent of the Secret Service." He saluted, tears rolling down his stubbled cheeks.

President Grant saluted back then he took the other man in his arms and hugged him for long minutes. Then he took a step back. Tears were welling up in his eyes. "It's a farewell, Artemus, not a goodbye. You won't die, I'm sure of it, I know it."

Smiling, Artie said, "Yes, Sir." In order to please Grant, but he knew that he was going to die. But death didn't frighten him.

Ulysses S. Grant nodded, placed his cigar back in his mouth and left the room, wiping away tears with the back of his left hand.

Watching the President leave the room, Artie sniffed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Then, finally realizing that Jim wasn't at his side, surprised, he glanced at Henderson and asked him, "Where's Jim? I thought he would be here."

Henderson responded, "He's escorting Miguelito Loveless and his accomplices to the high security Federal Prison on the outskirts of Washington. He wanted to be sure he will end up behind bars. He should be back by tonight." Then he patted Artie's shoulder. "Everything is going to be alright." He stood. "I have a dozen of patients to visit, I'll come back afterward. In the meantime, try to rest."

Artie nodded but he had other things in mind. "Yes, Sir."

Dr. Henderson left the room in his turn.

He came back one hour later to see if Artemus needed something… and found the room empty, the bottle of anti-toxin gone and two letters on the bed. One of them was addressed to Mrs. Helena Gordon, Greenhill, Illinois and the other to James T. West.

WWW

Furious. Jim was furious. Artie had left without a single goodbye! He opened the letter addressed to him and read:

James,

I don't like goodbyes, so I won't be here anymore when you read this letter. I took the Wanderer to go to the Cheyenne Territory. I have plans to stay there a little before… my ultimate demise. Dr. Henderson probably told you that I'll die – either poisoned by Loveless's toxin, or by his anti-toxin. It's not my intention to die that way. I will kill myself. A bullet in my head is preferable to a slow and very painful death.

It was a pleasure and an honor to be your best friend, your partner and your surrogate brother, Jim. We will see each other one day – as late as possible I hope.

I'll send the Wanderer back to Washington as soon as possible.

Be well, James. Take care, and keep yourself safe.

Artemus.

He growled. "I'm so going to hit him!"

Tbc.