Act 3: Run To the Mountains Part 1
In the stillness of the early morning, Amanda turned to her side and studied her husband's face. Lee had had a restless night and she noticed that his eyes were still darting back and forth under his eyelids.
In an expression of comfort, Amanda gently brushed Lee's hair off his furrowed brow and leaned over to kiss his forehead. He didn't rouse. Amanda thought 'I wish there was something I could do....I know Lee is concerned about his uncle more than he lets on.'
Amanda tilted her chin down to kiss Lee full on the mouth. He groggily ran his hands over her body.
As they embraced Amanda wondered 'What would it have been like for us to have a child together?' She was sorry they hadn't met earlier. 'Lee would make a terrific father.'
Amanda thought back to the time when Lee had met her grandchildren. He had been great with them. 'Maybe we could adopt'. No, Amanda shook her head and dismissed that seemingly irrational thought.
Lee was becoming more cognizant now and decided to engulf Amanda in his arms. He was ready to overwhelm his wife with his love.....
Lovemaking had never been better for Lee Stetson. He felt safe, relaxed...complete. Amanda fulfilled a part of him that he always knew was missing. As he savoured his lover's/wife's embrace, Lee whispered, "Amanda, you don't know what you do to me..."
Amanda teased Lee's neck with her gentle kisses and ran her fingers through his hair. She was ready, willing and able to repay the favor.....
****
Lee held Amanda in his arms. He was wide awake now and content. As he squeezed Amanda closer toward him, she said, "Your uncle seemed pretty shook up last night."
"Yeah, I've never seen him like that. The General's death really threw him for a loop. He can't understand why his friend would want to commit suicide. Of course, he's just guessing that's the case....."
"How 'bout we get up and check on him? I could make a nice big breakfast..."
****
Lee and Amanda both got ready for the day and entered the kitchen, hand in hand. Lee's uncle was no where to be found.
"This is unusual, the Col. always gets up early.." Lee started to say as he spotted a note on the kitchen table.
He picked it up and read "Off to investigate. Be back at 1200 hours....."
Lee and Amanda looked at each other. "Oh, no!"
********
Colonel Clayton sat in the plush waitng room on the 36th floor of White Industries. He didn't have an appointment to see super magnate Edward White but the secretary had graciously informed the tycoon that Robert was there. Lucky for him, Edward was a friend of a friend. White had gone to school many years ago with Dennis Carlson.
Robert thought, 'The man's a financial genius!' as he took in his surroundings. Donald Trump paled in comparison.
The secretary nodded to Robert, "He'll see you now, sir."
Robert entered Edward White's luxurious office. 'So this is how the other half lives' he thought. The Colonel couldn't imagine...he was definitely out of his league....
Edward White looked down his nose at this military man before him and smugly leaned back in his executive chair.
"So what brings you here today, uh, Colonel, Clayton."
Robert wasn't sure but he thought he detected a bit of superiority in White's voice, "Well, sir, we have, ehm, had, a mutual friend....."
"Yes!" Was White's curt response.
"Yes, Major General Dennis Carlson." Robert stood ramrod straight.
"What do you mean 'had' a friend, has Dennis done something?...."
"No, sir, I thought you had heard, he's dead." Robert could barely get the words out.
White sat up abruptly. The Col. could tell he was shocked.
"I must tell you, Mr. White, I think it was suicide. The reason I'm here today is because...you're a powerful man. I thought you could help.......Dennis wrote this name right before his death...maybe you'll know what it means..."
*******
"You're listening to 'Air America', where Freedom Rings! Now for the news... Top story... tensions continue to build between the United States and Pakistan over anti-aircraft...."
Dorchester hastily shut off the radio. He couldn't take the lies any more. All this flared up international situation, all over a lie. A lie he knew about.
He went to sit down in front of his laptop and nervously began tapping the keys.
Everything. Everything anyone ever needed to know about the EC-130-H, the design flaws, the names of those involved....Henry's murder. It was all there.
He named White, Carlson, even himself.
The only reason Dorchester had got caught up in this mess anyway was because he was married to Carlson's daughter Lillian.
Lillian. 'How the hell am I going to explain this to Lillian?'
Dorchester knew about his wife's father's suicide. It was assuredly due to his connection to that ruthless businessman, would be politician, Ed White. White was so slick, he'd slither his way out of this mess too without ever getting caught.
White owned the manufacturing firm that engineered and built the fatally flawed 'Herc'. The defective plans had been pushed through and processed before official commendation in order to speed up production. All flawed. All for the almighty dollar. Of course, White wasn't named even once in connection to the business.
Lillian's dad had owed a debt to his old 'friend' White. All because White had prevented a career-ending mishap to destroy Dennis several years ago. That's why Carlson had approved the marred plans and encouraged the Air Force to purchase the EC-130-H prototype.
Those flaws had only now begun to show.
And now Carlson was dead...'Payback was a witch.' Dorchester thought.
****
Lee barely touched his lunch. Amanda was dispirited to see that Lee had lost his exuberance from the day before. He was really worried about his uncle.
"It's 12:15 Amanda. My uncle is never late."
****
White cooly put down the phone. With his connections, he knew it was only a short matter of time till Dorchester wished he had never been born. 'Who would believe a lowly Lt. General anyway over a magnate like me..."
He picked up the phone to make a another call. Yes, it would be good to see Ada again...
****
Ada Carlson nervously fidgeted with the paper in her hands. She wondered if she had told Colonel Clayton too much when he had come over to express his condolences. She hadn't meant to let it slip out about the suicide note but she was so distressed.
She never knew. Never. Carlson wrote "I'm devastated by the loss of our airmen...." He admitted knowledge of approving plans that caused two planes to go down and he couldn't live with himself anymore.
'How could I be married to a man for 40 years and not know that he approved plans that would kill our own soldiers?' Ada was incredulous but she couldn't deny the evidence in her hands.
Dennis' note conveyed that he had worked alone and was so devasted by the recent loss of so many young lives that he took his own.
Now, if Ada could only convince the authorities that Pakistan had not used anti-aircraft artillery. An international flare up was the last thing this world needed....
*****
It was 1:30 when Colonel Clayton finally pulled his car into the garage.
Lee heard the car and sprang to his feet.
Amanda thought Lee was going to jump out of his skin, he had been so concerned.
*****
Dorchester stared at his laptop. If he sent this information now Lillian's life would be in danger. He hit the button. At least everything was saved. All that remained was to send it.
He knew he better warn her. Time to run to the mountains.
tbc
In the stillness of the early morning, Amanda turned to her side and studied her husband's face. Lee had had a restless night and she noticed that his eyes were still darting back and forth under his eyelids.
In an expression of comfort, Amanda gently brushed Lee's hair off his furrowed brow and leaned over to kiss his forehead. He didn't rouse. Amanda thought 'I wish there was something I could do....I know Lee is concerned about his uncle more than he lets on.'
Amanda tilted her chin down to kiss Lee full on the mouth. He groggily ran his hands over her body.
As they embraced Amanda wondered 'What would it have been like for us to have a child together?' She was sorry they hadn't met earlier. 'Lee would make a terrific father.'
Amanda thought back to the time when Lee had met her grandchildren. He had been great with them. 'Maybe we could adopt'. No, Amanda shook her head and dismissed that seemingly irrational thought.
Lee was becoming more cognizant now and decided to engulf Amanda in his arms. He was ready to overwhelm his wife with his love.....
Lovemaking had never been better for Lee Stetson. He felt safe, relaxed...complete. Amanda fulfilled a part of him that he always knew was missing. As he savoured his lover's/wife's embrace, Lee whispered, "Amanda, you don't know what you do to me..."
Amanda teased Lee's neck with her gentle kisses and ran her fingers through his hair. She was ready, willing and able to repay the favor.....
****
Lee held Amanda in his arms. He was wide awake now and content. As he squeezed Amanda closer toward him, she said, "Your uncle seemed pretty shook up last night."
"Yeah, I've never seen him like that. The General's death really threw him for a loop. He can't understand why his friend would want to commit suicide. Of course, he's just guessing that's the case....."
"How 'bout we get up and check on him? I could make a nice big breakfast..."
****
Lee and Amanda both got ready for the day and entered the kitchen, hand in hand. Lee's uncle was no where to be found.
"This is unusual, the Col. always gets up early.." Lee started to say as he spotted a note on the kitchen table.
He picked it up and read "Off to investigate. Be back at 1200 hours....."
Lee and Amanda looked at each other. "Oh, no!"
********
Colonel Clayton sat in the plush waitng room on the 36th floor of White Industries. He didn't have an appointment to see super magnate Edward White but the secretary had graciously informed the tycoon that Robert was there. Lucky for him, Edward was a friend of a friend. White had gone to school many years ago with Dennis Carlson.
Robert thought, 'The man's a financial genius!' as he took in his surroundings. Donald Trump paled in comparison.
The secretary nodded to Robert, "He'll see you now, sir."
Robert entered Edward White's luxurious office. 'So this is how the other half lives' he thought. The Colonel couldn't imagine...he was definitely out of his league....
Edward White looked down his nose at this military man before him and smugly leaned back in his executive chair.
"So what brings you here today, uh, Colonel, Clayton."
Robert wasn't sure but he thought he detected a bit of superiority in White's voice, "Well, sir, we have, ehm, had, a mutual friend....."
"Yes!" Was White's curt response.
"Yes, Major General Dennis Carlson." Robert stood ramrod straight.
"What do you mean 'had' a friend, has Dennis done something?...."
"No, sir, I thought you had heard, he's dead." Robert could barely get the words out.
White sat up abruptly. The Col. could tell he was shocked.
"I must tell you, Mr. White, I think it was suicide. The reason I'm here today is because...you're a powerful man. I thought you could help.......Dennis wrote this name right before his death...maybe you'll know what it means..."
*******
"You're listening to 'Air America', where Freedom Rings! Now for the news... Top story... tensions continue to build between the United States and Pakistan over anti-aircraft...."
Dorchester hastily shut off the radio. He couldn't take the lies any more. All this flared up international situation, all over a lie. A lie he knew about.
He went to sit down in front of his laptop and nervously began tapping the keys.
Everything. Everything anyone ever needed to know about the EC-130-H, the design flaws, the names of those involved....Henry's murder. It was all there.
He named White, Carlson, even himself.
The only reason Dorchester had got caught up in this mess anyway was because he was married to Carlson's daughter Lillian.
Lillian. 'How the hell am I going to explain this to Lillian?'
Dorchester knew about his wife's father's suicide. It was assuredly due to his connection to that ruthless businessman, would be politician, Ed White. White was so slick, he'd slither his way out of this mess too without ever getting caught.
White owned the manufacturing firm that engineered and built the fatally flawed 'Herc'. The defective plans had been pushed through and processed before official commendation in order to speed up production. All flawed. All for the almighty dollar. Of course, White wasn't named even once in connection to the business.
Lillian's dad had owed a debt to his old 'friend' White. All because White had prevented a career-ending mishap to destroy Dennis several years ago. That's why Carlson had approved the marred plans and encouraged the Air Force to purchase the EC-130-H prototype.
Those flaws had only now begun to show.
And now Carlson was dead...'Payback was a witch.' Dorchester thought.
****
Lee barely touched his lunch. Amanda was dispirited to see that Lee had lost his exuberance from the day before. He was really worried about his uncle.
"It's 12:15 Amanda. My uncle is never late."
****
White cooly put down the phone. With his connections, he knew it was only a short matter of time till Dorchester wished he had never been born. 'Who would believe a lowly Lt. General anyway over a magnate like me..."
He picked up the phone to make a another call. Yes, it would be good to see Ada again...
****
Ada Carlson nervously fidgeted with the paper in her hands. She wondered if she had told Colonel Clayton too much when he had come over to express his condolences. She hadn't meant to let it slip out about the suicide note but she was so distressed.
She never knew. Never. Carlson wrote "I'm devastated by the loss of our airmen...." He admitted knowledge of approving plans that caused two planes to go down and he couldn't live with himself anymore.
'How could I be married to a man for 40 years and not know that he approved plans that would kill our own soldiers?' Ada was incredulous but she couldn't deny the evidence in her hands.
Dennis' note conveyed that he had worked alone and was so devasted by the recent loss of so many young lives that he took his own.
Now, if Ada could only convince the authorities that Pakistan had not used anti-aircraft artillery. An international flare up was the last thing this world needed....
*****
It was 1:30 when Colonel Clayton finally pulled his car into the garage.
Lee heard the car and sprang to his feet.
Amanda thought Lee was going to jump out of his skin, he had been so concerned.
*****
Dorchester stared at his laptop. If he sent this information now Lillian's life would be in danger. He hit the button. At least everything was saved. All that remained was to send it.
He knew he better warn her. Time to run to the mountains.
tbc
