Chapter 16

Chapter 16—Allison recruits Reginald

11:15 a.m., Tuesday, December 13

Bernadette was sitting at a table next to the small fence that separated the eating area from museum exhibits, when Reginald Black walked by on his way to the sandwich counter. She had chosen a seat right there so she could catch him as he passed. “Reg. How are you?”
 “I’m well,” Reginald said, quite obviously caught by surprise. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
“My name is Bernadette. I am a very good friend of Allison’s.”
“Okay,” Reginald responded, suddenly aware that the handsome woman he was talking to was actually Allison. “And you? How are you?”
“I’m pleased to say,” Bernadette answered, “I’m always great.”
 “Well, Bernadette, I’ll just grab a sandwich and join you.”
“No need, I bought one for you, and a soda. Just hop over the fence and sit down.”
Reginald had no problem stepping over the low fence—he was in excellent shape. While pushing sixty from the wrong side, he exercised daily. It was rumored that he ran several miles every morning before breakfast, but he never boasted about it. He let his trim physique tell the story.
“So, Bernadette, tell me. What’s on your mind?”
Reginald never questioned Bob or Allison about anything. If asked, he gave his opinion—but never unsolicited. While he was caught off guard by Allison’s disguise, he didn’t question it. However, sitting across the table from Allison in disguise, Reginald found it a struggle to demonstrate the same level of respect he was accustomed to showing Allison.
 “Here’s the deal.” Bernadette said. “A few of my closest associates share a concern with me. I’m sure you’ve heard the chatter. … Namely, the seats that have been lost, and those that are about to be lost. And, it’s not just the fact that they’ve been lost—it’s which ones that have been lost, and how badly. It has a number of us very concerned.”
“I understand the problem,” Reginald said.
“Well, my three associates, my friends, and I, have agreed that we would like you to join us for a private discussion or two, regarding our options.”
“Okay.”
“Reg, somehow we’ve got to stop the bleeding.”
“It might not be that easy. The public is running scared.” Reginald said. He paused for a couple seconds to gather his thoughts, and continued. “Actually, Al, I mean Bernadette, it’s not they’re so much running scared, they’re flat panicked.”
“Exactly right. And they are angry. The mid-terms were the worst ever, and who knows what to expect with the next presidential election. Even if I challenged and won the nomination, I might not win. Hell, I probably wouldn’t win. I’ve never seen it like this before—you can cut the anger and mistrust with a knife.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“We can’t discuss it here, or anywhere in public.”
“I understand.”
“What I want you to do is this: I want you to put your fine mind to this. Our group will attack the problem from every conceivable angle. But do not write anything down. There must never be a handwritten note, nor a computer entry. We will simply think about it first, and then we will talk about it.”
“Makes sense.”
“One of the reasons we want you to consider this project is that we all know you can be discrete. And that you can make things happen.”
“Who are the other three?”
“I can’t reveal them to you at this time. If you decide you want to be a part of our group, you must let me know after you have had a little time to digest what we talk about today. Then, if you want in, you can let me know when I contact you the next time.”
“How and when will you contact me?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay.”
“Here’s the deal, Reg. Bob has his own thing going. He will not be a part of these discussions. So, if his absence is the deal breaker for you, then don’t get involved.”
“Is Bob aware of any of this?”
“He is not. ... Now, I know that the two of you were very tight. Bob thought, rather he still thinks, that you are one of the best minds in the country. He trusts you completely.”
Allison felt that by appealing to Reginald’s ego, he would be more likely to acquiesce to her wishes. But Reginald did not respond to her comments.
“If there is one thing I know about my husband, it is this—if he feels he can trust a person, that person is pretty damn straight. Bob is a great judge of people.”
“Bob is a friend of mine. And I have always admired his talents,” Reginald finally said.
“That’s why we decided to approach you. We believe you can be trusted.”
“I would still like to know who the other parties are.”
“Can’t tell you right now. Suffice it to say you know them all. And if you made a short list, they would all be on it. Nobody new.”
“If I change my mind once I find out, or after the first meeting, is that a problem?”
“Damn right it is. Once you’re in, that’s it. Just like with Bob. Once you’re in, the only way you get out is on a gurney.”
“That sounds very ominous. I’m not sure I can accept those terms.”
“That’s why Bernadette and not Allison is meeting with you here and now. There is not a way to know what we will end up with if we do nothing.” Bernadette then slid in closer to Reginald, bringing her nose to within a few inches of his. She had seen Bob do this many times to make a point. Besides, she did not want anyone to overhear her next words. “Reg, this country is on the verge of a revolution. People are angry. More angry than ever before—at least in recent history. … And they have no jobs, and no prospects. This guy just keeps spending money like there’s no end to it. We cannot possibly survive this fiasco without rampant inflation, or worse. And when people start spending ten dollars for a loaf of bread, or a gallon of gas, they’re going to revolt. Now, my fear is that this just might result in a real civil war, not a simple political turf battle.”  
“I know what you’re saying. It’s the worst I can recall. At least when Newt rode into town on his white horse, we had someone we could attack—and we did. But this time, it’s our own guy.”
“Newt will look like a damn white knight, compared to what we’re about to see. Every idiot conservative thinks he’s going to win next time. All our friends are gonna be sent packin’. It’s gonna to be a damn blood bath, if we don’t stop it.”
“Well, Al, uh, you’ve given me a lot to think about. I’ll wait to hear from you. Give me a few days.”
“You’ve got two hours. I’ll call you in two hours. If you want in, you will respond with this: ‘I would love to come to dinner.’ If you decide to take a pass on it, say ‘Sorry, I can’t make it.’ Not a word more, and not a word less. It is strictly hardball from this point on. No hard feelings if you opt out. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
With that, Bernadette stood to her feet and reached out to shake Reginald’s hand, “It was really great seeing you again, Reg. We must do this more often.”
Reginald then stood, smiled and returned the gesture. “It was great to see you too, Bernadette.”
Bernadette briskly walked away, as Reginald scooped up the remains of their lunch, and tossed it in the appropriate receptacles. True to form, he stayed behind to clean up the mess. That was one of the other characteristics that had endeared him to Bob.
As Reginald finished cleaning up, and prepared to walk away, he took a look around him at some of the thousands of statues and other artifacts housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So much of it revolved around the public figures of past centuries.
Leaders would rise to power, develop an overinflated view of their significance, and then die. And all too often their demise would be ignominious. Many, if not most, were summarily dismissed by someone younger, and envious.
Reginald took his time leaving, because he did not want to follow too closely on “Bernadette’s” heels. Instead he took a little side trip, through the magnificent new Greek and Roman Galleries. Completed in 2007. Reginald did not like to visit The Met without at least taking a quick walk through the thousands of displays.
One of his favorites was the “Black Bedroom,” originally built by Agrippa for Emperor Augustus. “I wonder how many leaders were murdered in beds like that,” he wondered, “while they slept peacefully, convinced that they would rule forever.”
Reginald had an uneasy feeling about his meeting with Allison. There was just something different about this one. He wondered just what his outcome would be if he accepted her offer. … Or, if he rejected it.