Mid-Sunday morning, Vic and Evan were standing on the
front porch of Frank Marshall's home in a middle class neighborhood on the
eastside of the city. Vic had phoned ahead, and once he'd explained who he was,
Marshall had
agreed to meet with him.
The door opened, revealing a pleasant-looking, very
pregnant woman who introduced herself as Felicity Marshall. "Frank will be
down in a moment." She ushered them into the living room just as her
husband came into the room.
"One more fight averted," Frank Marshall
said, shaking his head. "Kids."
Vic introduced Evan and then handed Frank the
envelope he was carrying.
Frank opened it then asked, "As far as you know,
these are the only copies?"
"Yes."
"Who had them?"
"Arthur Margolin. Unfortunately… All right,
maybe I shouldn't be telling you this."
Frank smiled. "You got them back somewhat
illegally."
"Now I didn't say that but…" Vic shrugged.
"Frankly," Felicity Marshal said, wrapping
her arm around her husband's waist, "we don't give a damn how you got
them. What's important is that you did and this nightmare can end. Before you
ask, yes, I know what's in the photos. Frank was very open with me about his
life before we met. All of it."
Vic nodded, asking, "Do you have any idea how
Margolin got his hands on them?"
"I can hazard a guess. We had a break-in here
about two months ago. At the time, we thought it was just druggies looking for
whatever they could find to sell, since several small electronics were taken,
plus a few other items of value."
"Where were the pictures?"
"In the safe in my office. It didn't appear to
have been touched and the police officers who took my call agreed. Stupidly,
I'll admit, I didn't actually open it to see."
"You don't have a security system?" Evan
asked.
"Of course we do. The moment it was breached,
the security company sent someone out and called me. Their man got here just in
time to see the perps driving off. They got a license number but, of course,
the car had been stolen. If Margolin set it up—and I'd say he did given that he
was the blackmailer—he was very smart about it and hired someone who knew how
to get into a safe fast and without leaving a trace."
"Time to upgrade to a better one," Evan
told him.
"I have." Frank smiled wryly. "Locking
the barn door and all that."
"May I ask, just out of curiosity, why you kept
those pictures?" Vic said.
Frank looked at his wife, smiling at her when she
nodded. "Memories of my past and the man who helped me find a new life.
They're the only pictures I have of Hal. That was his name, Hal. We broke up
two days after they were taken, but we remained friends until… until he died
saving my life."
Vic nodded. "I remember reading about that a
couple of years ago."
"He was a good man," Felicity said,
"and a good friend."
"I would say so." Vic held out his hand.
"It was a pleasure to meet you in person, Frank. I hope you win the
primary—and the election."
Frank shook his hand. "Thank you for all you
did."
Vic shrugged. "All in a day's work."
"From the look of you, it must be rough work,
unless you got those bruises playing football," Frank replied as he
escorted Vic and Evan to the front door.
"Not a chance."
"Didn't think so. Again, thank you."
"You're quite welcome. Just remember me when you
become… President?"
Frank laughed. "I don't think I'll be aiming
that high."
"You never know what the future holds."
A few moments later, as they got into Evan's car, Vic
said, "I do know what my immediate
future holds. Dinner out with someone I'd like to get to know better, now that
this is all behind us."
Evan smiled. "Presuming that someone is me, I
think the feeling is mutual."
"Good, because I have plans that extend beyond
tonight and they all involve you. I hope."
"Time will tell, but I suspect they will."
The End
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