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Chapter 15 - Howie and the Watch

Pete popped back into the Doctor's office with Ryan Ard, and Howie.

"The hell, Pete! I hadn't tested that watch with three!" the Doctor complained.

"Oh, hell. Calm down. Howie used his own." Pete told him.

Howie had already spotted the damn whiskey on the table. Jake, Shakes and Malcolm had already left.

Howie poured himself a glass. He drank it quickly and refilled it. One right after the other.

The Doctor looked at him. "Howie. You alright?"

Howie shook his head. "I misunderstood. I thought you said you should be sober when you used that damn thing. I completely disagree."

Pete and the Doctor laughed at him.

The Doctor came over and shook the CIA agent's hand. "What did you think of your ride over, Mr. Ard?"

"Nah, call me Ryan. Umm... Still making up my mind about it honestly."

Howie was sitting on the couch. "Certainly jerks a knot in your tail!"

Pete patted Ryan's shoulder. "Come on over and have a drink. It will help."

Howie rubbed his face. "So we are meeting with an acreocracy that's going to help Space Desperado get Rose above the bend?"

The Doctor looked confused at Pete. "I've been drinking for an hour and half. I didn't catch that."

Pete looked confused, "Neither did I."

Ryan sat down in the chair next to Howie and poured himself a drink. "Oh, the hell! Do you even understand what you are saying you old coot?"

"Coot?" Howie exclaimed. "Listen here you! I'll air my lungs and absquatulate you abisselfa! You can just amputate your timber!"

"Amputate your timber? Oh, that doesn't sound good at all." the Doctor told Pete.

Pete raised his hand. "No, that means to 'go away'. But, yeah. I see what you mean."

Pete shook his head and laughed. "Okay, we need to cut Howie off. I can't understand him already, and he has to be back in an hour to meet with the Joint Chiefs."

Howie tossed his hands up, "Oh, Pete. You're all beer and skittles! I allot upon this here meeting."

The Doctor rubbed his face. "Oh, brother. This guy."

Michelle buzzed his phone, and sent in the architect. He was a tall man with a dark tan. You could tell he worked outside a lot. He wore an oxford and khaki pants. He carried a notebook and files.

After the men all introduced one another, they got right to work.

Howie started. "So. This here Angolmaniac wants his diggings on an island. All standing, I understand why. I'm here to make sure you don't bamboozle my friend. I don't know you."

The Doctor laughed under this breath. "Thank you, Howie. But, we have this."

Howie returned to drinking the damn whiskey. "Hey! Don't dilly dally! I have a meeting to get to. Let's have the long and the short of it!"

Pete smiled and shook his head at his friend. "You need to lay off of that whiskey, you idiot!"

Howie laughed, "Oh no way, Pete. I've got a long slipe to go."

Ryan shook his head. "Nevermind him. He doesn't get out much."

The architect looked at Howie. "He looks just like President Howard Shepherd from the United States."

Pete laughed. "Oh, it's not. It's just my friend Howie. Different guy. Believe me. I'm sure a President of an entire nation wouldn't drink that bad!"

The Doctor laughed as he handed the architect the notebook Pete, him and Rose had taken notes on the day before. "My bride and I would like to build a home on a remote island. Ryan here is thinking about coming on board as my property manager to oversee the construction. These are the things we talked about that we would like in our house. We have security that would need their own suites, separate from the house as well."

The architect looked over the paper. He nodded, "Very well thought out. I can work with this."

Pete asked him, "How does this work? I'm not familiar with this process. Doctor Smith is extremely anxious to get it all built as soon as possible."

The architect asked, "Rush job? That will cost extra."

Pete interjected. "Money is no object. It has become a safety concern to his family. I'll pay the rush fee."

The Doctor looked surprised. "You don't have to do that, Pete."

He waved his hand. "I insist."

The architect rubbed his chin. "Well, let me take this information. I'll return to my office and draw up some plans. Then we will meet again to let you pick which ones you prefer. As soon as you approve the design, we'll get started the next day. I'll need the location of this island, of course."

Pete asked him, "How about these guys that work with you? I'd rather it not be known who they are building it for if possible."

Howie told him, "We will tell them that it is for a top secret, government operation. I'll have my office send your office a confidentiality agreement. Do any of your guys have security clearance?"

The architect shrugged his shoulders. "Of course."

Howie smiled and looked around. Pete, Ryan and the Doctor were all staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

Ryan spoke. "I understood that. What happened there?"

Howie shook his head. "Damn, it's wearing off. I've gotta get snapped before I have to go back! Damn it!" He took the bottle and poured himself another glass.

Pete and the Doctor laughed.

The architect pointed at Howie. "That even sounds like the President of the United States. How could he send me that information if he wasn't -"

Ryan interrupted him. "Oh, he meant to say that he would have me send those papers. I work with the CIA in Washington. It's not a big deal. Do you have a card so I can get those out today?"

The Doctor laughed under his breath. Ryan fit in perfectly with this lot. And thank goodness. When you were dealing with damn whiskey and President Howard Shepherd, you needed all of the help you could get.

Pete waved it off. "So, if Ryan joins us, he needs to be prepared to start rather soon. How long do you think it will take to get completed?"

The architect shook his head. "Hard to say. I'd rather get the plan approved first, and then look at the site. Then give you an estimate."

Howie finished drinking, "Wow. He doesn't bark at your knot. Does he?"

Pete exclaimed. "Oh shut up, Howie."

The Doctor nodded. "That sounds fair. My number is on the top of that paper. Call it anytime."

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The architect had left.

Pete, Howie, Ryan, Jake and the Doctor continued to drink the damn whiskey as they sat around and chatted.

Howie picked up the empty bottle and declared. "I think we have a dead solider here now, boys!"

The Doctor's head was spinning. Apparently, him returning to a full on Time Lord didn't affect his ability to keep from getting drunk off alcohol. Or maybe it was just that alcohol. It had always, as Howie would say, "Shot him in the neck."

The Doctor sat back with his feet propped up on the table, listening to the men.

Howie looked at his watch. "Damn. I've gotta get back to deal with these damn politicians! Am I speaking clearly, yet?"

Jake laughed. "Yep. Sound halfway normal."

Pete shook his head. "I think we should get you a medical alert bracelet, Howie. Have it say, 'Probably just shit faced'."

They all laughed at that. Howie pointed at Pete. "Hey! I only drink a little. But when I do, I turn into another person. And that person drinks a lot. HA!"

The Doctor rubbed his face and laughed. "Well, I'm grateful for both of you. Thank you for taking the time to come over today. It was great to see you. Ryan. Let me know what you decide."

Ryan nodded his head. "Oh, I've decided. I'm in! This is too crazy to pass up. Plus, I think you need some help with this guy." he pointed at Howie.

Pete agreed. "He's a handful, he is."

Howie slapped Ryan on the back as he stood up. "Come on. I'll 'watch' you back to the states."

They started to walk over to the other side of the room. Howie suddenly thought of something.

"Hey, Doc! Pete, Jake and I have a bet. That night, back at the White House. Rose asked you that question about the Royal family."

The Doctor knew what Howie was about to ask him. He ran his hand across his face. "Oh, the gods! Howie! I'm not telling you that!"

Jake was laughing. "We just haven't gotten him drunk enough to tell us! Come on, Doc! Two for sure. How many in all?"

He laughed under his breath as he looked up at Jake embarrassingly. "I'm not telling you that. No way."

Pete was laughing. "We'll get it out of him one day. Until then, double or nothing? Everyone remember their guess?"

Ryan was confused. "What the hell is this about?"

Jake filled him in. "The Doc has slept with two members of the Royal family. We think it's more. So, we all have bets down on how many. But, he won't tell us."

Ryan continued to look confused. "There's a Royal family, still?"

Pete added, "Where he's from there is. Different country. Want in on the bet?"

The Doctor poured himself another drink and laughed under his breath. "You guys are impossible. I'm not telling you that. Never! You can't get me drunk enough. Forget it."

Ryan looked at the Doctor. "Yeah, I'll have some of that. But, I'll bet that he won't tell you."

Howie threw his arms up. "Well, that's shit. We'll have to put a time limit on it now!"

Ryan added, "$200 says he won't tell you, before the house is built."

"Deal!" all of the men agreed.

The Doctor pointed at Ryan. "That's a good bet!"

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