AFTER MIDNIGHT, Thursday, August 25
AFTER MIDNIGHT,Thursday, August 25“Jim? Florian Declercq here. Sorry to call so late. Have you a moment?”
“No problem, Florian. Just sitting and reading.” The general clicked mute on the TV. “What can I do for you?”
“I"ve received an invitation to join a group of businessmen. You were my first thought. A man came to my Antwerp office, saying he represented someone whose interest was stirred by my company"s participation in the president"s development plan.” General Beech listened with pen in hand, a yellow pad on his lap. “When I asked about the group"s purpose, he referred to them as "the Caballeros.”
The pad flew, pages flapping on the way to the floor. “Florian, may I call you from my office? In say, an hour?”
* * *
IN THE DEEP of night, the Whi
