soldiers, killed with gun --
clean, simple, quick. But enemy kept coming to kill us.
When mujahideen kill us, they take time. Sometimes they cut off ears, take out eye or cut off nose. Next day, they cut off balls. Maybe they take five days to kill Russian. They slice off skin and tie body to big rock in desert so his comrades can see. Whole companies of Russian soldiers refuse to fight when they see this. They kill commander rather than fight such people. Some desert to enemy, become Muslim. We learn lesson from Afghanistan. We lose war because enemy kills better than us. Now we Afghantsi kill skillfully. Teamsters never again bother us.
I guarantee you this."
PERMANENT INTERESTS
59
"Let's just get the fuck out of here."
Dimitrov eyed O'Meara, who was slumped against the crates crying uncontrollably. He had vomited all over the duffle bag.
Ricky stiffened. "Don't even think of it. He's useful.
You don't know how useful. Without him, we're finished.
He's not going to breathe a word about this. Are you Eddie?"
The customs man whimpered. He held his knees tightly and rocked back and forth.
"He knows that if he talks or welches, he's next. Leave him alone," Ricky commanded.
"Okay. But if he betrays us, I fillet him like sturgeon.
And his family also."
O'Meara burbled that he understood.
"Bags, Herman. Load this stuff fast. Take Eddie home.
Give him a couple stiff drinks first, so his wife'll think he's like this because he's plastered." Ricky locked his eyes onto Dimitrov's. "Okay, Jack the Ripper. Let's leave the talking to Uncle Al and Yakov." Ricky spat, then about-faced and sprinted out.
60 JAMES
BRUNO
CHAPTER SIX
Bernard J. Scher was put in charge of the government-wide effort to investigate Mortimer's death. He headed an Interagency Working Group, or IWG for short, comprising State, NSC, FBI, CIA, Defense, Homeland Security and the Secret Service. The IWG met twice a week to compare notes and seek ways to advance the investigation.
The national chairman of the President's party personally phoned daily for updates. Mortimer was a key supporter of the party and President. The party would miss the hundreds of thousands Mortimer raised through the PACs.
Secretary of State Dennison, seen by most Americans issuing sound-bites from breezy links at warm resorts, also wanted to know every detail, any clues that might lead somewhere. Mortimer had made Dennison, as chairman of the Committee to Re-elect the President, look good. In the coming race, he wouldn't have it so easy without Mortimer's golden geyser.
The press was merciless in commentaries on the government's mishandling of the investigation. The Washington Post questioned Scher's abilities as an investigator, noting that his hum-drum performance as a PERMANENT INTERESTS
61
corporate attorney at his old law firm ill-equipped him as the government's chief diplomatic lawyer. The Post , the New York Times and the Sunday morning talking heads questioned the administration's assumption that terrorists did Mortimer in.
While this was distinctly an inside-the-beltway hullaballoo which held virtually zero interest for the average American, at election time, political opponents of the administration on the Hill and critics in the media would be slavering to turn it into ammunition to undercut the electoral chances of the President and his party.
Innes tried mentally and emotionally to remove himself from the whole affair. He had learned long ago to keep as much distance as possible from fools and their shenanigans inside the government. Sycophantic office directors and Deputy Assistant Secretaries pursued with unquestioning vigor the line laid down by Scher and his ass-kissing staff.
All manner of hyper-ambitious bureaucrats came out of the woodwork to weasel their way onto the investigation team.
The word around the corridor water fountains was that this could be "career enhancing" -- governmentese for fast promotions. His obligatory attendance at Scher's
clean, simple, quick. But enemy kept coming to kill us.
When mujahideen kill us, they take time. Sometimes they cut off ears, take out eye or cut off nose. Next day, they cut off balls. Maybe they take five days to kill Russian. They slice off skin and tie body to big rock in desert so his comrades can see. Whole companies of Russian soldiers refuse to fight when they see this. They kill commander rather than fight such people. Some desert to enemy, become Muslim. We learn lesson from Afghanistan. We lose war because enemy kills better than us. Now we Afghantsi kill skillfully. Teamsters never again bother us.
I guarantee you this."
PERMANENT INTERESTS
59
"Let's just get the fuck out of here."
Dimitrov eyed O'Meara, who was slumped against the crates crying uncontrollably. He had vomited all over the duffle bag.
Ricky stiffened. "Don't even think of it. He's useful.
You don't know how useful. Without him, we're finished.
He's not going to breathe a word about this. Are you Eddie?"
The customs man whimpered. He held his knees tightly and rocked back and forth.
"He knows that if he talks or welches, he's next. Leave him alone," Ricky commanded.
"Okay. But if he betrays us, I fillet him like sturgeon.
And his family also."
O'Meara burbled that he understood.
"Bags, Herman. Load this stuff fast. Take Eddie home.
Give him a couple stiff drinks first, so his wife'll think he's like this because he's plastered." Ricky locked his eyes onto Dimitrov's. "Okay, Jack the Ripper. Let's leave the talking to Uncle Al and Yakov." Ricky spat, then about-faced and sprinted out.
60 JAMES
BRUNO
CHAPTER SIX
Bernard J. Scher was put in charge of the government-wide effort to investigate Mortimer's death. He headed an Interagency Working Group, or IWG for short, comprising State, NSC, FBI, CIA, Defense, Homeland Security and the Secret Service. The IWG met twice a week to compare notes and seek ways to advance the investigation.
The national chairman of the President's party personally phoned daily for updates. Mortimer was a key supporter of the party and President. The party would miss the hundreds of thousands Mortimer raised through the PACs.
Secretary of State Dennison, seen by most Americans issuing sound-bites from breezy links at warm resorts, also wanted to know every detail, any clues that might lead somewhere. Mortimer had made Dennison, as chairman of the Committee to Re-elect the President, look good. In the coming race, he wouldn't have it so easy without Mortimer's golden geyser.
The press was merciless in commentaries on the government's mishandling of the investigation. The Washington Post questioned Scher's abilities as an investigator, noting that his hum-drum performance as a PERMANENT INTERESTS
61
corporate attorney at his old law firm ill-equipped him as the government's chief diplomatic lawyer. The Post , the New York Times and the Sunday morning talking heads questioned the administration's assumption that terrorists did Mortimer in.
While this was distinctly an inside-the-beltway hullaballoo which held virtually zero interest for the average American, at election time, political opponents of the administration on the Hill and critics in the media would be slavering to turn it into ammunition to undercut the electoral chances of the President and his party.
Innes tried mentally and emotionally to remove himself from the whole affair. He had learned long ago to keep as much distance as possible from fools and their shenanigans inside the government. Sycophantic office directors and Deputy Assistant Secretaries pursued with unquestioning vigor the line laid down by Scher and his ass-kissing staff.
All manner of hyper-ambitious bureaucrats came out of the woodwork to weasel their way onto the investigation team.
The word around the corridor water fountains was that this could be "career enhancing" -- governmentese for fast promotions. His obligatory attendance at Scher's
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