table in the future."
"Ah. Then let me turn my attention to the real power."
The anchor laughed and blushed just slightly. "Here's my card, Governor. Please call me directly whenever you need anything."
A delighted smile in Caroline's direction. "I like her already, Caroline."
"We aim to please, Governor. We aim to please."
7:38 p.m.
It was time. No more Before. Now it was During.
The magic invitation had been used. It had worked. Of course it had worked. It was magic.
Everything was working.
Tonight, everything was magic.
The restaurant was already getting crowded and the sidewalk in front was jammed with people. Some of the key guests had arrived. Limos were parking at the east end of the mall. It was like a giant party. People were drinking, laughing, talking a mile a minute. It was happening. It was definitely time.
As long as they did what they were supposed to, as long as they stuck to the schedule. But they would. They had to. And now it was time to move. It was essential to move. Now.
It was not difficult to maneuver through the drinkers. There was no reason to think anyone would notice. There was absolutely no reason to notice a thing.
The guy at the front of the restaurant was so damn nice. The bathroom? Of course. Right through there, behind the bar and to the left. Right next to the stairway.
The stairway to the office.
Head down, don't make eye contact with anyone now. Don't bump into anyone. Don't knock over a drink. Don't draw attention. There she is. Right there, over by the bar. Just as she's supposed to be. I can practically touch her. No, don't raise your head. Don't do it. No attention now. None. Leave her be. Leave her be for now.
Go through the right door. No one inside. Perfect. Nice bathroom. Very nice. So clean. What was this stone? Marble? Yeah, maybe. Must have been expensive. Everything must have been expensive in this place.
Oh, it's just the way you planned it, isn't it? Exactly the way you imagined it in your head.
You are very, very smart. You are very, very, very smart.
Go into the stall now. It's part of the Plan. Close the door. Now just wait.
It's going to happen soon. Very soon. They wouldn't dare let you down. So just wait. All you have to do is wait.
No, no, what are you thinking? That's not all you have to do.
You have to check the gun.
Good. Fully loaded. Same as it was the other ten times you checked it. All ready.
Now all you have to do is wait. Wait.
Wait…
8:14 p.m.
"Let's go, people, stop the gabbing. We're falling behind schedule."
"Sorry, Chef."
"Don't be sorry. Just hold the talk till after dinner. We're way behind on the side dishes for the meat station."
A waiter careened through the swinging door to the kitchen. "I can't believe it. Everyone's ordering at exactly the same goddamn time."
"What did you expect? They all sat at the same goddamn time."
"Christ, it's hot in here. What happened to the ventilation?"
"All right, all right, what's the pecking order, people?"
"You have some leeway with table thirty-two. A couple of lovebirds. They're practically fucking at the table – they won't care how long they wait for food."
"Table twelve's the mayor. He's gabbing like he'll never stop and everyone else around him's drinking like a fish so they don't kill themselves. We can hold off on them, too."
"Okay, people, look at the shrimp. It's getting cold! Cover it, cover it! Do you hear me, Fish, cover the fucking shrimp! Jesus!"
8:19 p.m.
Eleven minutes to go.
Four people in and out of the bathroom so far. Not one even noticed there was anyone else already in there.
Still eleven minutes… wait a second! Oh, shit… Christ, goddamnit, the watch, it isn't working! It isn't fucking working!
Oh, no, it's okay… it's okay. It's fine. The second hand's moving. Everything's okay. It was just my imagination. See? That'll show the One. He always says I don't have an imagination. Well, let's see him say that now. Let's see him
"Ah. Then let me turn my attention to the real power."
The anchor laughed and blushed just slightly. "Here's my card, Governor. Please call me directly whenever you need anything."
A delighted smile in Caroline's direction. "I like her already, Caroline."
"We aim to please, Governor. We aim to please."
7:38 p.m.
It was time. No more Before. Now it was During.
The magic invitation had been used. It had worked. Of course it had worked. It was magic.
Everything was working.
Tonight, everything was magic.
The restaurant was already getting crowded and the sidewalk in front was jammed with people. Some of the key guests had arrived. Limos were parking at the east end of the mall. It was like a giant party. People were drinking, laughing, talking a mile a minute. It was happening. It was definitely time.
As long as they did what they were supposed to, as long as they stuck to the schedule. But they would. They had to. And now it was time to move. It was essential to move. Now.
It was not difficult to maneuver through the drinkers. There was no reason to think anyone would notice. There was absolutely no reason to notice a thing.
The guy at the front of the restaurant was so damn nice. The bathroom? Of course. Right through there, behind the bar and to the left. Right next to the stairway.
The stairway to the office.
Head down, don't make eye contact with anyone now. Don't bump into anyone. Don't knock over a drink. Don't draw attention. There she is. Right there, over by the bar. Just as she's supposed to be. I can practically touch her. No, don't raise your head. Don't do it. No attention now. None. Leave her be. Leave her be for now.
Go through the right door. No one inside. Perfect. Nice bathroom. Very nice. So clean. What was this stone? Marble? Yeah, maybe. Must have been expensive. Everything must have been expensive in this place.
Oh, it's just the way you planned it, isn't it? Exactly the way you imagined it in your head.
You are very, very smart. You are very, very, very smart.
Go into the stall now. It's part of the Plan. Close the door. Now just wait.
It's going to happen soon. Very soon. They wouldn't dare let you down. So just wait. All you have to do is wait.
No, no, what are you thinking? That's not all you have to do.
You have to check the gun.
Good. Fully loaded. Same as it was the other ten times you checked it. All ready.
Now all you have to do is wait. Wait.
Wait…
8:14 p.m.
"Let's go, people, stop the gabbing. We're falling behind schedule."
"Sorry, Chef."
"Don't be sorry. Just hold the talk till after dinner. We're way behind on the side dishes for the meat station."
A waiter careened through the swinging door to the kitchen. "I can't believe it. Everyone's ordering at exactly the same goddamn time."
"What did you expect? They all sat at the same goddamn time."
"Christ, it's hot in here. What happened to the ventilation?"
"All right, all right, what's the pecking order, people?"
"You have some leeway with table thirty-two. A couple of lovebirds. They're practically fucking at the table – they won't care how long they wait for food."
"Table twelve's the mayor. He's gabbing like he'll never stop and everyone else around him's drinking like a fish so they don't kill themselves. We can hold off on them, too."
"Okay, people, look at the shrimp. It's getting cold! Cover it, cover it! Do you hear me, Fish, cover the fucking shrimp! Jesus!"
8:19 p.m.
Eleven minutes to go.
Four people in and out of the bathroom so far. Not one even noticed there was anyone else already in there.
Still eleven minutes… wait a second! Oh, shit… Christ, goddamnit, the watch, it isn't working! It isn't fucking working!
Oh, no, it's okay… it's okay. It's fine. The second hand's moving. Everything's okay. It was just my imagination. See? That'll show the One. He always says I don't have an imagination. Well, let's see him say that now. Let's see him
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