Chapter Two

Councilman Quinn was seething by the time he exited Mark Crawford’s suite.

Rex continued limping down the hallway in obvious pain from his door-kicking fiasco. He repeatedly rubbed his head with his left hand and then inspected it, looking for blood. After concluding that he wasn’t as injured as he felt, he turned to look rearward and realized that the rest of the group had fallen behind. He wasn’t so far ahead to escape his employer’s burning glare. He stopped almost in mid-stride and waited for the group to catch up.

John DePalma continued on past Rex. His complexion was dramatically changed from just moments ago. He was as ashen as anyone Rex had ever seen. Perspiration ran freely down his temples, soaking into his tightly buttoned collar. He never acknowledged Rex; his eyes transfixed toward some distant point and glazed.

As Quinn passed with Stephanie in tow, Rex joined them, walking closely at Quinn’s side. They continued for a few paces in silence except for the sound of their heels on the marble hallway. Stephanie refused to look anywhere in Quinn’s direction as they continued their retreat to the shuttle landing.

The hallway opened into a large circular atrium that vaulted with breathtaking beauty another three floors. The ceiling far above was domed and ornately decorated in ancient Corinthian details. Each ascending floor intruded the atrium enough to allow balconies that encircled the space, broken only by the marble staircases at either side. The twin stairs broadened as they neared the lower floor, a central fountain dividing the space between them.

As they neared the fountain, Rex stopped and grasped Quinn’s arm in an effort to turn him around, to face him. He needed to clear the air. He needed to make amends for losing all control in Crawford’s suite. The tension was tangible… unbearable. “Councilman…”

Quinn wrenched his arm free with his fist raised and his first finger extended, pointing toward the dome above. He continued two more steps, never lowering his fist. He then turned and leveled his arm at Rex, stabbing the air with his finger to punctuate his rage.

“Never grab me again- never! I regret ever choosing you- pulling your sorry fat out of the fire! I truly thought you could be useful to me. Well, I was wrong, and I hate to be proven wrong!”

“Not useful to you!… not useful!”

Rex’s outburst surprised both Stephanie and Quinn. The forcefulness and bitterness of his tone belayed a hidden hatred, suddenly exposed. Quinn’s mouth tightened to a thin line as he took a step back.

“The things I have done for you… things I’m not proud of, were all done in the name of loyalty. Yes- loyalty! You repay me with threats? With contempt? Do you think I’m blind to what’s happened to my predecessors? Did you think I was stupid enough not to notice the ones that disappeared?” Rex lowered his voice to a threatening whisper only Quinn was able to hear. “Take care old man. I’m smart enough to protect myself, even from the likes of you. If something happens to me…well, it will be at your own peril!”

“So… you’ve grown a backbone after all this time. I would be careful Mr. Randolph, the road you’re taking has many pitfalls.”

“We’re both on the same road,” Rex replied, “… the road you paved a long time ago.” He looked past Quinn into Stephanie’s face, studying her eyes.

“Is it true?” Rex asked Stephanie. His voice was different now, it was in control- he was in control. “Are we in danger Ms. Long? Or is what Crawford said true?”

“From what I know… I believe what he said is true. Make no mistake, there are major problems, that’s now apparent, but I don’t believe we’re in any immediate danger.”

“Thanks for your honesty Ms. Long.” Rex glanced at Quinn. “Not much of that lately.” Rex turned an about-face and strode in the direction of the far exit, the same path DePalma had taken. He couldn’t care any less if the others followed or not.

Quinn resumed his slower trek toward the exit. He was well beyond the cascading fountain before he realized Stephanie wasn’t in tow. She was still standing where they had left her. He waved impatiently for her to catch up.

“I’m through Councilman, do you here me? I’m through!” She spoke loud enough to overpower the sound of the fountain, her voice echoing throughout the atrium. “Unless I see my father… I’m through with you for good!

Quinn walked back to stand in front of Stephanie. Two mutinies in one morning pushed him to the brink of control. He would deal with Rex in due time. He knew that beyond any doubt. Stephanie was a different matter entirely- she had no advantages over him. She was going nowhere. Still… it seemed prudent to defuse the tension. She would be much more productive, more attentive, with a softer approach.

“Come, come Stephanie… you’ll see him soon enough as I promised. These things take time and meticulous planning. When you’re reunited with your father, the time it has taken to get there will seem insignificant. You’ll have to continue being patient, my dear. In the meantime, I expect your full cooperation, and nothing less. You will have to do much better than you did this morning. Hopefully Crawford was distracted enough by Rex that he didn’t catch your blunder. It‘s too soon to give away that we’re investigating him.”

“You’re going to have to produce proof before I help you anymore. I can’t survive on blind faith any longer…,” Stephanie’s voice cracked, “…I have to see him for myself!” She covered her face with both hands and began to sob convulsively.

“In due time, dear, in due time. It won’t be long now, I promise.”

Stephanie allowed Quinn to hold her arm as they continued together past the fountain towards the exit.

Above the fountain on the second floor balcony, tucked alongside one of the many large Corinthian columns, a figure watched with peaked interest.  

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