IN A GREEN leather recliner, the man glanced at his watch and returned to the annual report on his lap. It was just past nine. It had been a great year, and his greeting proclaimed it when the phone rang.
IN A GREEN“They sank four missile cruisers. You were right. They also have the Bush listing. I don"t think she"ll go down, but they"ll have a problem moving her.”
Bush“Make sure we get the pictures to the right people.” He hung up. He raised his glass in a toast to the empty room, “Happy New Year.” He left his report, went up a fifteen-foot-wide staircase, and began dressing for his guests. The steps heard “Auld Lang Syne” as he climbed.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR. NOT,” Fritz said. Linda frowned in response. Fritz turned on the TV as soon as they got in. Linda put TJ to bed and showed Mary the g
