Rex leaned back in his executive chair and looked out through the 15th floor window.
"Ahhh," he sighed like pleased cat at the scene in front of him
The sea looked calm and the turquoise waters lapped at the shore.
Suddenly his peace of mind was disrupted. Flynn burst through the office door.
"Morning, why were you not at the committee meeting last night?"
Rex was startled by Flynn's unannounced entrance.
Rex looked at his watch and took a deep breath.
"My brother, it is 7:30 a.m. on a Friday morning and most of the country is still in their bed, why have you kicked off my door to come into my inner sanctum asking why wasn't I at meeting last night? The last time I checked, I put on my own brief Flynn." Rex's baritone voice boomed in the room..
"Sorry, boss."
Flynn's eyes genuflected to the floor.
Rex watched in disgust as Flynn still grabbed a chair before the huge mahogany desk.
"The Chief was looking for you, but you never answered any of his calls."
"And so?" Rex asked.
"Yesterday was my 35th anniversary Flynn, everybody knows that Veronica demands at least one day that I focus on her and the country can go to hell."
"Boy, Boss, the Chief was hopping mad last night. You are his main strategist, and you were absent. He is getting antsy… the elections are due in less than a year and the polls are not positive at all."
Flynn responded.
Rex blew his breath through his lips… hard.
"Flynn, this is an agency of the government, how many times have I told you not to come in here to talk party business. The fucking walls have ears. For all I know the opposition could have bugs planted in hear. How else could they know what and when the Chief was going to make his big pronouncements?" Rex half shouted.
"Sorry Boss, but we have a problem and a big one," Flynn replied under his breath.
"Rass, Flynn leave your phones on my desk and come with me." Rex said as he stood up.
He watched as Flynn emptied all three phones on the desk and Rex too left his I phone and then took up his glock.. 40 and stuffed it in the small of his back.
"When did you get that?" Flynn asked his eyes widened in shock. .
"Shit" Rex replied under his breath.
Five minutes later they were standing at the water's edge... Rex's nerves were jangling and the only thing that was keeping him from strangling the scrawny man beside him was the fact that Flynn was the brother-in-law to the Chief.
"What is the problem now Flynn?" Rex asked.
"Boss, the Chief is nervous that he might not win the next election and he thinks you are not pulling your weight."
Rex felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and a knot form in his stomach. Rex took a breath and rolled his eyes behind his closed eyelids. He stretched his neck, rolled his head and the muscles tightened in his neck.
"These politicians don't listen to anyone with sense, Flynn. I told him that he has to decide between personal ambition and the country just before he took the oath of office for the second time. He swore that this term would be for the Country, but did he listen? No Flynn he said he was listening to the voice in his head. Blasted idiot... he has made decisions to suit the five persons around him instead of feeding the hundred and now he feels nervous on the threshold of another election. The people of St Barts aren't fools, Flynn."
Rex took another deep breath.
"Flynn, this stays here. If you ever tell your sister and words reaches the Chief, I will kill you with my bare hands." Rex said through clenched teeth."
"Relax, Boss. I'd never do that; I know you are just venting," Flynn responded with a half chuckle. "The real problem is that a journalist found a trail of funds directly to the Chief's bank account offshore."
"What does that have to do with me Flynn?" Rex asked.
"You remember the program we ran a few months ago and we said it was emergency? It turns out one of the accounts belonged to the holding company that the Chief uses to stash his campaign slush funds," Flynn replied.
"What!?" Rex growled. "You assured me Flynn that everything went well with that programme. What do we know about the journalist? Is he someone we can reason with? Is he a gambler, a drinker or does he have woman problem Flynn?"
Rex asked… while clasping his hands praying for the right answer.
"No Boss, he is squeaky clean, not even a speeding ticket and he is not gay either, there is no leverage we can use.'
"Have you tried cash Flynn?" Rex asked.
"He sent it back unopened twice Boss," Flynn replied.
"Well, send Ratty to clean it up."
"Ratty, Boss?" Flynn asked. "Boss, remember Ratty got pinched after he became too greedy."
"Shaving cream Flynn. What about his second? Scatta the fisherman?" Rex asked.
"Boss what if…? Flynn asked as his voice trailed off.
"Listen to me Flynn, power is not won in this tiny country by debating the issues. It is the base of the party and those in the masses that we invigorate and get them to vote on the day. I've told the Chief not to worry, but he has no faith in what we have tried and tested over and over. Flooding the streets with projects will only put money in the hands of the greedy and not the needy. We have to be strategic and stay calm. I know the middle class and intellectuals are just beating up their gums but at the end of the day. It's the grassroots that matter. Those with very little education and reasoning ability will give us power. Yes, fix the obvious, but the bigger issues we will leave until we get reelected. Remember Flynn, the cycle is the same every four years… we sweet up, shake hands spend money in the grass roots… paint a few kerbs, give out some schoolbooks. We will be fine Flynn," Rex urged while tapping Flynn's shoulder.
"Now tell me about this journalist. I want to know everything about him… what time does he shit, shower or shave. We have to find leverage or he must become fertilizer," Rex said rather matter a factly...
Flynn had a puzzled look on his face.
"What is the problem Flynn? Since you joined us… you bought more than two houses, your wife drives a Mercedes, your son has a scholarship for medical school and the little 'kitty' who you have stashed in the country drives a CRV. Would you want anything
to happen to your way of life?" Rex asked.
Flynn looked out to sea. Rex shook his head.
If you weren't the Chief's brother- in- law you should be so close to where the real power broking takes place. Rex thought.
"Ok, evidently you have a lot to think about Flynn, but my job is to keep you guys out of the real reality Flynn, don't worry about the journalist, I will deal with it." Rex half smiled as he spoke
A few days later
Scatta's bike coasted quietly to the gate with a food delivery bag on his back… the black helmet hid anything that could identify him.
"I didn't order any food," the journalist said as Scatta approached the gate... his eyes opened wide like the bulbs at stadium on a FIFA world cup match... the muzzle flashed twice....darkness fell upon the presses... Scatta never missed and he waited to see the last kick of the feet. The bike slid quietly down the road in broad daylight and not even a dog dared to bark.
Five years earlier
Rex Morgan stood out of the spotlight... the handsome young President had just won his second term.
"People, the country was excited about the change, the progress and invigorated by the youthfulness of the government. The status quo had been banished. Old foggies were being retired. The time has come for the sacrifices to bear fruit."
President Small shouted into the microphone to a rapturous applause.
Rex smiled looking at the duffle bag that laid at his feet. The Colombians came through just in time and Small had no clue how close he came to being a one-term government. Rex mused to himself.
Lesley Small stood beside her husband, but Rex noticed that she was always scanning the shadows for a sign of him.
Why didn't she wear the dress that I had picked out for her?he thought. Instead she wore the body hugging dress with the split that rose almost to her waist. Image was everything and the detractors would want to comment on the inappropriate dressing of the first Lady. Rex my boy, don't even think about it, but it was difficult not to return the look Lesley was a sight to behold. She was the real brain behind the outfit, but she did not have the political capital and she spoke her mind. People disliked that, but Rex loved her honesty, but her choice of dress was not for Small to see, but she knew Rex would notice and appreciate the thongless appearance.
Rex grabbed the duffle bag and left the Party headquarters. He knew if he didn't Lesley would tempt him to be unfaithful and he wasn't going to allow a 4" tongue to bring him to his knees. Lesley could be ruthless and seductive and knew how to touch a man in ways that brought out what she desired. President Small was her tool to wield, but Rex Morgan knew when to cut. The contents of the duffle bag were not known by Small and while Rex suspected that Lesley knew... there was a price to be paid to Rex.
The cash would be easy to rinse. Small had invited several business processing outsourcing companies to St. Barts and they paid their bonus in cash on a Friday. Morgan would be paid via cheque as consultant and earn ninety dollars for every hundred dollars that he supplied. It was a small price to pay for clean money. His consultancy firm would make hefty donations to the party and St. Barts did not have a campaign financing disclosure act. Something which President Small had touted in his campaign. However, Rex knew the real story... honey catches more wasps than water… Rex never declared to Small or to Lesley the contents of this trip.