“Who are you — How’d you get in here?” the Congressman asked, then leaned to his intercom. “Pam, call security.”
Hal rose, striding to the Congressman’s desk. Appearing ominous, decked head to toe in the SCIROC suit. Hal handed him the flash drive. “I know you’re a straight shooter, Congressman. And as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, you should look at this.” Trent accepted the flash drive with curiosity. “Call the Ambassador to China. He’ll confirm everything. He’ll ask you to draw up Articles of Impeachment for the President of the United States. Do it — it’s warranted — as you’ll see.”
Hal heard the commotion of security guards arriving in the neighboring office outside. He put the helmet on and disappeared. Congressman Trent couldn’t believe his eyes. Two guards barged in, finding the Congressman alone at his desk.
“Are you alright, sir?”
Trent nodded. “I’m okay. Sorry fellas. False alarm.”
“No problem, sir.”
The guards left and Congressman Trent strode around his desk to the area where Hal stood a moment ago. He swiped his arm through the air. “Where’d you go? Are you still here?”
A pair of hands leaned a framed painting against the side of a cemetery headstone that read, Henry Alfred Banks — An Uncle to All. 1946–2018. The frame was a weatherproof, outdoor picture frame. The painting inside — a small print of Frederic Remington’s “The Cowboy.” Henry’s headstone was next to his wife’s. Hal stood up from the headstone, beside Jenny, also dressed in black. She set a vase of wild flowers on Henry’s grave. They paid their respects, turned and walked away, toward the New Mexico dusk. Hal held her hand as they passed through the green cemetery dotted with trees.
Hal’s truck was parked and empty in Henry’s driveway. A gust of wind blew a folder open on the passenger seat, revealing the title of a legal document within… Last Will and Testament. Henry Bank’s name was at the top of the document with the name of his sole heir typed at the bottom… Harold Dennis Sheridan.
The large painting swung wide and the safe door opened above Henry’s bed. Hal placed the folded SCIROC suit in and put the helmet, boots and gloves on top. He locked it and swung the Remington back in place over the safe.
Fight for the Water Hole