Page 58 of Locked Down

“Bill wanted to speak with you. He thought it was important the two of you meet.”

Ryker stared through the scope of the rifle. Davis did not look happy.

“Okay.”He shifted his weight and seemed to sigh. It was hard to hear. The transmitter wasn’t great. They hadn’t been able to position the equipment as close as they would have liked to the meeting. Flynn put it in place on his way by earlier and he had to avoid being seen by Davis so it was in a tree about fifteen feet away from the bench.

“Your actions are making people nervous,”Bill stated.

Davis snorted.“I’m doing what I said I would do. I’m galvanizing my base and getting ready to lead.”

“Yes, but it’s the way you’re doing it. You are getting ahead at the expense of your family. That doesn’t play well in the mainstream press. The President doesn’t like it.”

Davis grunted and turned to Cal.“You said the President’s opinion didn’t matter. It could be managed.”

“Now, Austin, that’s not exactly what I said. The President still gets a say. You need to remember that. I’ve told you that the whole drive-by shooting at your niece was not well received.”

“So, it’s fine to send someone to take a shot at me but not at my niece, is that what you want to tell me?”

Bill threw a handful of bread to the ducks and there was a flurry of squawking and flapping of wings, so Ryker missed some of what Parsons said.“…tread lightly. Nothing is ever a done deal until it is.”

Davis glared at Cal.“You said we had a deal. Now this guy, whoever he is, says it’s undecided. Which is it?”he demanded.

Cal lifted his hands in a placating gesture.“Austin, be patient and listen to Bill. He and his friends have the power to make this deal or break it. They know what they’re talking about.”

Davis’s face had turned an interested shade of eggplant. He wasn’t pleased. Not at all.

“We hear rumors that you have something…”Ryker lost the rest of Parsons’ sentence to a mother of twin boys. The toddlers ran up to the ducks, yelling and laughing.

Davis said something Ryker missed and then,“…party to announce….”

Cal frowned.“I’m not sure…could be…”

“Can someone move those kids?”Flynn growled.“Can’t hear a thing.”

The mother of the boys handed them each some torn bread. The ducks had swum away from the boys initially but turned and the flock came back toward them, making the boys squeal even louder.

“…family…time…popular.”Cal finished speaking.

Bill’s voice came through loud and clear again as the boys quieted down.“I appreciate the appeal you’re trying to create but I’m not sure this is the way to go about it.”

Davis let out an exasperated sigh.“This is a prime opportunity, and I won’t miss it. It would be stupid to not utilize it to the fullest.”

Bill glanced up at him.“But…long time…never a good idea.”The boys were screaming and running around again.“I’ve heard rumors…bomb…very bad,”Bill continued.

Bomb? Ryker’s heart skipped a beat.“Did he say bomb?”

The others were silent. They all listened.

“I know you want…just not…fit.”

“What do you mean not a good fit?”Davis demanded sharply.

The mother and the two boys stopped and stared at the men.

Cal sent them a smile.“Now, Austin,”he said in a placating voice,“Bill here is the best at what he does. He is the President’s inner circle. What he says goes. Don’t be stupid.”It was said in a conciliatory tone, but Ryker had been around Cal Wallingford enough to know he was deeply angry at the moment. Davis needed to watch himself.

Davis seemed to rein himself in.“Of course.”His accent got thicker, a sure-fire clue that he was lying through his teeth.“I’m overly anxious is all. You tell me what you think is best and we’ll work it out.”

Bill studied Davis for a long moment and then he stood up.“We’ll be in touch, Senator.”He nodded to Cal and then headed off down the path off to the right. A minute later, he was gone from sight.

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