Chapter 24

At eight o'clock on Thursday morning, Jamie, who had left his parents' home at six in order to beat the worst of the morning rush hour traffic, was still south of Baltimore. Traffic on the Beltway had been worse than usual, and even once he'd merged onto I-95 Northbound, it had been usually heavy for a Thursday. The Baltimore radio station he always tuned to for traffic reports was reporting delays on all the major roadways through and around the city and advising drivers to avoid the Francis Scott Key Bridge if at all possible.

"They don't call it the "Car-Strangled Spanner" for nothing," Jamie thought. He decided to get off at the next exit and find a cup of coffee and the bagel he'd promised his mother he'd have for breakfast; a few miles later he saw a sign for a popular 'quick breakfast all day' restaurant, The Buttered Biscuit. "That will work just fine," he thought. He exited, found the restaurant and was about to get out of the car when his pager beeped. The number display told him that his boss, Robert Bukowski, was calling, so he reached for his mobile phone and dialed the number.

"Bukowski. That was quick, J- Man."

"I had just pulled over to get some breakfast when you buzzed. I'm still south of Baltimore, Bob; the traffic on the Beltway was hellish, and Baltimore is supposed to be just as bad. At least I don't have to drive over the Key Bridge."

"You don't have to drive over any of them, J-Man. The session has been postponed. The blushing bride woke up this morning with the mother of all summer colds, and no amount of makeup can fix a nose as red as Rudolph's. So, since you don't have anything until the Buccigrossi wedding on Saturday night, and you can get to the other work I have for you on the secure server at Lee's office, I'm giving you the next two days off. Enjoy."

"Hey, thanks, Bob! Your timing is perfect; I met a girl last night - long story I'll tell you later – and this will give me a chance to spend some time with her."

"Oh, now that sounds intriguing. I want all the details when you get back up here on Saturday, capisce?"

"Absolutely. I'll be back in town by noon. Fortunately, my tux is hanging in my closet ready to go. See you later."

Since time was no longer an issue, Jamie went into the restaurant, used the men's room, and then ordered a full breakfast, which he took to a quiet corner of the almost- empty restaurant. He polished off a stack of pancakes with butter and syrup and a side order of sausage links that he washed down with the Biscuit's good coffee, got a coffee to go, and went back to his car. Reaching for his phone, he dialed the extension that rang on his mother's desk.

"Amanda Stetson."

"Hi, Mom. I want you to know that I stopped for breakfast, and not just a bagel. I had pancakes and sausage."

"Well, I'm glad, Jamie, but you don't usually call me to tell me that you ate breakfast."

"No, I'm calling to tell you that Bob called to cancel the shoot today – the blushing bride has a terrible cold. I've got the next two days off from the photo business, and he says I can do the other job from Lee's office, so I'm coming back. I'm just south of Baltimore."

"You've been on the road for two hours and you haven't even gotten to Baltimore yet?"

"Nope. The Beltway was a bear and Baltimore is worse, from what I'm hearing. Anyway, I'm coming back. You didn't rent out my room yet, did you?"

"No, you can still stay there for another couple of nights before I move the next tenant in."

"Oh, good. What's the news?"

"Oh, plenty, but I'll tell you once you get back. Come here first."

"Can do easy. What's Miss Abby doing today?"

"She said something about writing letters -turns out she has twelve sets of aunts and uncles, plus the usual grandparents – and then she asked to borrow my sewing machine so she could make herself a summer shorts outfit."

"She sews?"

"She's from a small town in Nebraska, Jamie; of course, she sews."

"Wow. Okay, I'm heading back now. See you soon."

When the house phone at the Agency guest house rang a few minutes before nine, Matt and Deb had finished breakfast- his specialty, pancakes with crisp bacon – Matt had loaded the dishwasher, and they were enjoying another cup of coffee and talking about what they wanted to do for the day.

"I wonder who that is?" Deb mused as Matt reached for the phone on the side table and picked up the receiver.

"Guest House, Matthew Davis speaking."

"'Good morning, Colonel Davis. My name is Harry Thornton. I hope I'm not interrupting your breakfast with your bride?"

"Not at all, Mr. Thornton. Where are you calling from, may I ask, sir?"

"Across the street, Lee Stetson's office. You obviously know who I am, so I'll dispense with the introductions. We have a problem at the Foundation, Colonel, and we think you might be able to help us solve it."

"What sort of problem, Mr. Thornton?"

"Harry, please. Our executive director has resigned effectively immediately, resigned before I could fire him, to be precise – and we need someone to take his place. Lee Stetson suggested that you might be willing to consider the position. We know that you're still on active duty, but we also know that you've put in your retirement papers and that you'd like to stay in this area. I think we can help each other out, Colonel."

"Matthew, or Matt, please, Harry. Why exactly did the previous executive director resign? As of our wedding reception last night, I heard nothing about a change in the foundation's administration from my daughter or Phillip King."

"The events all happened last night after your reception, Matthew, when you and Mrs. Davis had already gone back to the guest house," Harry said. He went on to give Matthew a succinct summary of all that had happened, ending by saying, "My foundation's reputation is very important to me, Matthew. If there is any sort of improper or unethical behavior going on, I want it cleaned out. I'm looking for someone who can be counted on to do that cleaning, even if it makes some people unhappy. Lee tells me that you are the person I need."

"I'm honored to be considered, Mr. Thornton, but are you sure that a combat arms officer is the person you're looking for?"

"I'm sure, Colonel, and so is my fellow director, William Melrose."

"Melrose – his daughter Retta was in Kendra's Station One group. She told me that he was director of field operations until ill health forced him to retire a few years ago."

"That is correct. He can serve as the exec director for a short time while you transition out of the army, but his doctor won't allow him to take the job on long-term."

"I understand. Mr. Thornton, you've taken me by complete surprise today, but my wife is sending me signals that she approves of the idea, and I trust her judgment. What's the next step?"

"There's a specially called board meeting at the foundation offices at eleven. Would it be possible for you, or you and Mrs. Davis if she wishes to attend, to be present?"

"A board meeting at eleven? Yes, we can be there."

"Excellent. Would you like for me to send a car, or would you prefer to drive yourself and Mrs. Davis?"

"We'll drive."

"Very well. The parking garage is on 19th Street. Take P Street to DuPont Circle, turn right into the circle, and then turn right again onto 19th Street. About half a block down you'll see the parking garage on your left. Just tell the attendant who you are and follow his directions to the executive director's parking space, then take the elevator up to the first floor reception area. I'll meet you there and take you to the boardroom."

"We'll be there at 10:45."

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to meeting you, Matthew. See you soon."

Matthew replaced the cordless telephone in its charging station and said, "Well, how do you like them apples, Darling Deb? Executive Director at the Thornton Foundation and I haven't even left the army yet!"

"I'm not surprised in the least, Matt. You know your cousin Lee nominated you for the job, but he would never have done that if he didn't think you were qualified."

"No, I know he wouldn't; Lee Stetson is as much of a pragmatist as I am, and he wouldn't let emotion get in the way of making a decision like this. I'm glad that Melrose will be taking the job in the interim, though; he'll make sure he leaves the foundation in good shape."

"What happened last night, anyway?" Deb asked.

Matt told her and she shook her head in dismay and disapproval. "I'm sorry that an innocent bystander like Abigail got caught up in that mess, but I'm glad our girl and the King boys were there to help her – and Lee, of course," she said.

"And now she has a safe place to live with Lee and Amanda."

"Yes. We need to go back to the house so I can dress properly for this interview, Matt."

"The dress you wore last night was gorgeous; why not wear that?"

"It's a little too fancy for daywear. I want to change into the suit I wore when Kenleigh got her master's last month, and that's hanging in my closet at home."

"I'll buy you something new if you want it."

"The suit is new, Matt; I've only worn it once. Besides, the stores don't open until ten, so we really don't have time to go shopping. Oh, and we need to call Kendra and give her the news. She'll have left the house to take your parents to the airport by now, and I'm not sure what her plans are for the day, since Phillip has the day off."

"We'll call her and find out."