down the road. As soon as her children were out of sight, Charlotte’s emotions broke free. For the entire hour drive to London she fought back the tears, occasionally giving in.
*
“Excuse me,” Colonel Levanetz apologized as he interrupted the Manning family reunion. It had been fifteen minutes since the media blitz and the family had embraced for the first time. “Can we have a moment more of your time?”
The colonel didn’t appear to be bothered by his unwanted interruption. He towered over the family, displaying a semi-polite authority.
Manning was not understanding. “I would like to be with my family right now, Colonel.” “This will only take a few minutes,” the colonel insisted, gripping Manning’s arm. “I assure you,” he said to Manning’s wife, “this will be the last time.”
Manning had no choice. “Wait here.” The MP’s support group included his parents, brothers, nephews, wife, and baby boy. They had all been through a mental hell.
“I won’t be long,” he assured them. Seconds later he disappeared behind a metal door.
The MP was led through a long tile enclosed corridor. The lights flickered as they silently advanced into the darkness. Their short journey ended at an unobtrusive looking door. The colonel pushed it open, and a sweeping light fell upon the three other MPs. They sat in wooden chairs in the middle of a dark, empty room.
“Please take a seat, Mr. Manning,” offered the colonel. He motioned to the only remaining chair. “We’ll be with you shortly.”
The colonel stepped out, allowing the door to slam shut. The blow resonated in the void chamber. Despite the absence of barred windows and ratty bunk beds, the ambiance was prisonlike. It smelled of mold and floral air fresheners.
“What is this?” Sykes asked, highly irritated.
“Bullshit! That’s what it is,” Manning said, more cynical. “It’s all a damn lie.”
For the next few minutes, the four MPs stared at the door. There was nothing left to say. They wanted this behind them. They wanted their lives back.
The faint sound of a turning knob and the creak of an opening door soon replaced the silence. The room gradually illuminated with the shrill release of a rusty hinge.
The men who entered the room appeared as dark silhouettes against a bright background, intense beams of yellow outlining their imposing figures. When all six had cleared the threshold, the door again slammed shut.
A few struggling lights gradually rose to a dull dim.
A short, leather faced man in the middle spoke first. “Good evening, gentlemen. Please remain seated.” His voice was raspy and unimpassioned. “This will not take long.”
Despite their dark suits and dress shoes, something about their presentation appeared soldier-like. They emitted that certain swagger unique to the military.
“Please forgive me if I do not introduce myself. Given the situation, you surely understand.”
“Let us go,” Sykes said, refusing to be intimidated. “We did our part.”
“You did.” The man’s lack of emotion and monotone delivery was unsettling. “And we appreciate your cooperation. But your loyalty to the crown is not yet over. In fact, must never be.”
The man reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an unwrapped cigar. Holding the dark leaf at a 45-degree angle, he torched the end and placed the fresh cut to his lips. With a swift breath, he blew out the flame, then drew a sweet cloud into his mouth.
The smoke rose from deep within his throat. “Gentlemen, you’re some of the brightest in Britain. Therefore, you can appreciate our duty to this nation.” He drew heavily from his Dominican. “Our job is to keep the people safe, happy, and free—by any means.” He flicked his ashes onto the cracked vinyl floor. “Whether you four like it or not, you are now part of our fraternity.” He swirled his cigar, weaving a trail of smoke around the men who accompanied him. “We know Captain Brooks spoke
*
“Excuse me,” Colonel Levanetz apologized as he interrupted the Manning family reunion. It had been fifteen minutes since the media blitz and the family had embraced for the first time. “Can we have a moment more of your time?”
The colonel didn’t appear to be bothered by his unwanted interruption. He towered over the family, displaying a semi-polite authority.
Manning was not understanding. “I would like to be with my family right now, Colonel.” “This will only take a few minutes,” the colonel insisted, gripping Manning’s arm. “I assure you,” he said to Manning’s wife, “this will be the last time.”
Manning had no choice. “Wait here.” The MP’s support group included his parents, brothers, nephews, wife, and baby boy. They had all been through a mental hell.
“I won’t be long,” he assured them. Seconds later he disappeared behind a metal door.
The MP was led through a long tile enclosed corridor. The lights flickered as they silently advanced into the darkness. Their short journey ended at an unobtrusive looking door. The colonel pushed it open, and a sweeping light fell upon the three other MPs. They sat in wooden chairs in the middle of a dark, empty room.
“Please take a seat, Mr. Manning,” offered the colonel. He motioned to the only remaining chair. “We’ll be with you shortly.”
The colonel stepped out, allowing the door to slam shut. The blow resonated in the void chamber. Despite the absence of barred windows and ratty bunk beds, the ambiance was prisonlike. It smelled of mold and floral air fresheners.
“What is this?” Sykes asked, highly irritated.
“Bullshit! That’s what it is,” Manning said, more cynical. “It’s all a damn lie.”
For the next few minutes, the four MPs stared at the door. There was nothing left to say. They wanted this behind them. They wanted their lives back.
The faint sound of a turning knob and the creak of an opening door soon replaced the silence. The room gradually illuminated with the shrill release of a rusty hinge.
The men who entered the room appeared as dark silhouettes against a bright background, intense beams of yellow outlining their imposing figures. When all six had cleared the threshold, the door again slammed shut.
A few struggling lights gradually rose to a dull dim.
A short, leather faced man in the middle spoke first. “Good evening, gentlemen. Please remain seated.” His voice was raspy and unimpassioned. “This will not take long.”
Despite their dark suits and dress shoes, something about their presentation appeared soldier-like. They emitted that certain swagger unique to the military.
“Please forgive me if I do not introduce myself. Given the situation, you surely understand.”
“Let us go,” Sykes said, refusing to be intimidated. “We did our part.”
“You did.” The man’s lack of emotion and monotone delivery was unsettling. “And we appreciate your cooperation. But your loyalty to the crown is not yet over. In fact, must never be.”
The man reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an unwrapped cigar. Holding the dark leaf at a 45-degree angle, he torched the end and placed the fresh cut to his lips. With a swift breath, he blew out the flame, then drew a sweet cloud into his mouth.
The smoke rose from deep within his throat. “Gentlemen, you’re some of the brightest in Britain. Therefore, you can appreciate our duty to this nation.” He drew heavily from his Dominican. “Our job is to keep the people safe, happy, and free—by any means.” He flicked his ashes onto the cracked vinyl floor. “Whether you four like it or not, you are now part of our fraternity.” He swirled his cigar, weaving a trail of smoke around the men who accompanied him. “We know Captain Brooks spoke
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