One Hand On The Podium Read Online Free Page A

deserved victory.” Moss savored the thought.
    “Sounds good, I suppose. But where are you planning to mount this monstrosity and erect this monument? That’s one hell of a trophy to drag around, sir.”
    “Well, that’s still a problem, but I see it as a small one, easy to overcome.”
    “And you think the city of St. Louis is going to allow you to do this?”
    That’s federal land, down there by the river front. St. Louis has no say so. I have a friend in the Senate, a native St. Louisan, who will do an old friend a favor. You’ll see. I’ll have those folks under my control before you can say Tony Bix.”
    “Tony Bix? Who’s that?”
    “Oh, he’s some hotshot young lawyer shit who has his eyes on the seat too. Besides him, I see nothing getting in my way. Not even you.”
    “I can’t let you take that plane without permission from the Pentagon. But I have nothing against your buying that plane from the United States government.”
    “I told you, I’m not buying something that is already mine. I’m not giving it up. Look, I’m sorry you came all this way, Spencer, to have nothing to show for it.”
    “Okay, okay, so you might not have to buy it, but you’d better accept the fact that the fighter plane isn’t yours until I have completed the inspection, filled out proper forms and my superiors have given you signed permission. Just accept that. It’s a fact.”
    “That’s your opinion.”
    “No sir, I’m afraid, it is a fact.”
    Alex and the Colonel stared at each other, both gaining a little more respect for one another. “Now listen,” Alex said. “I think I know a way you can get what you want without going through the regular channels or a lot of hassle. But it might take a little longer than you planned.”
    “Don’t fuck with me, Spencer.”
    “You said yourself you haven’t even found a place to put it, so if I can just make up my report here, take a look at the plane, inventory the parts and email it all back to Washington, I would imagine you would get your plane. I mean, what’s the Air Force need with it? They want it off their books anyway. All you have to do is take me to the plane and let me get to work. I can be finished in a couple of hours.”
    “I see,” Moss thought out loud. “So you can assure me there won’t be any hassles?”
    “I can’t promise you that, but I’ll do everything in my power to help you get your trophy.”
    “You’re not feeding me a line of shit here, are you, Spencer?”
    “I have no reason to, sir. I’m just doing my job.”
    “Alright, I’ll show you the plane, but not today. I have a meeting in about an hour, and after that I have a seminar to give, then a dinner date. It’ll be a couple days before I can show it to you.”
    “Colonel, I can’t wait a couple days, or even till tomorrow. I have to see the plane today.”
    “No, not today. I just don’t have the time.”
    “Sir, I hate to inconvenience you, but this is for your own best interest, not mine. If you want me to send a favorable report to Washington, you will have to let me see it today.”
    “What’s the rush, Spencer?”
    “Colonel, my wife is sitting right down the hall waiting for me to complete this assignment so we can be on our way to Chicago for our honeymoon as soon as possible.”
    Moss stood up straight and smoothed out his clothes. “Well, hell, Spencer, you didn’t tell me your wife was with you. Where the fuck is she? Why don’t you have her come on in here and introduce us?”
    Alex smiled, scratched the back of his head, then got up and walked out the door. He stuck his head around the corner where his eyes found Mary sitting patiently reading a book she’d brought in her bag. “Mary!” he called out to her. She turned her head and saw him motion for her to come to him. She hurried down the hallway.
    “Mary, I’d like you to meet Colonel Simon Moss.”
    She nodded her head and extended her hand to him.
    The Colonel took her hand in his and