Bishop's Song (31 page)

The class-A motorhome reminded Grim of the similar unit being used by Terri
as her portable office back in West Texas. The accommodations, mobility and built-in infrastructure were just hard to beat in a post-SHTF world. Parked in an area with restricted access, Grim had to pass another ring of security before being allowed entrance to the section comprising the luxurious living quarters. Beckworth greeted him with open arms and a huge smile, none of which mellowed the contractor’s attitude towards his ex-commander.

“I retired six years ago,” the former officer announced. “
The idea for this operation came to me as I was reading a history book on the Roman Legions. Since the beginning of organized armies, bands of regular citizens have followed warriors wherever their campaigns have taken them. When I found out about Operation Heartland, I decided I could provide a valuable service to our loyal soldiers, and I began organizing all that you see around you.”

“Camp followers,” Grim
summarized.

Beckworth
shrugged. “Call it what you will. At first, those tight asses in Memphis HQ declared our little community off limits. But that changed over time. As morale worsened and desertions began to rise, the stuffed shirts running that show began to loosen up. They now look the other way, and even cooperate with our endeavors now and then.”

After two glasses of wine
, poured by the man Grim assumed was a steward, Beckworth continued. “Now, morale has improved, and in addition, we’re helping the local civilians with trade and employment.”

And so the conversation went. Grim was served a medium rare
steak, complete with baked potato and canned corn. The food was of much higher quality than anything he’d seen in the surrounding stalls, but then again, rank always did have its privileges.

Just as
Grim remembered, the man across from him focused most of the conversation on himself. Terms, like
egotistical ass
, and
self-centered shitbird
rolling through the visitor’s mind as his host droned on and on. Despite his distaste for the man, the food wasn’t bad, and he managed to keep a polite smile painted on his face.

They
were practically finished with the meal before Beckworth got around to asking, “So, what have you been doing since everything went to hell?

Grim didn’t see any reason to lie or h
old back from his host. He began relating the story of his employment guarding the man who eventually became the new president of the United States. The dinner guest even managed to entertain, passing along a few humorous stories about working at the West Virginia mountain retreat of the then Senator Moreland.

“
And so what brings you here?” Beckworth finally got around to asking.

Here we go
, thought Grim. “My house burned down while I was away. I guess my wife and daughter didn’t have any choice and came to work here at your place of business.”

The man across the table tensed, staring deeply into the serious eyes across from him.
Like both Grim and Bishop, the ex-major immediately entertained thoughts from the dark side. This line of reasoning made him glance toward the door, wondering how close his security was.

He’s scared of me
, thought Grim.
He thinks my wife and daughter are selling their bodies, and I’m here to kill him. Taking advantage of that fear might be fun.

Beckworth
cleared his throat, “You know I don’t personally hire anyone… for any role. I’m sorry about your home, Grim. I had no idea any of your loved ones were working here.”

I bet you’re sorry, you piece of shit
, Grim thought. “I just want to take them back with me,” Grim replied, leaning forward for emphasis, and adding, “without any trouble.”

Beckworth
smiled, waving off his guest’s concerns. “No problem, Grim. You know that…”

A knock on the door interrupted the rest of his statement. Annoyed, the host glanced in the direction of the offending noise. “Yes.”

The security chief opened the door, not shy about his intrusion. “Sir, there is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention. My apologies for barging in, but this couldn’t wait.”

“Go on.”

The large man glanced at Grim, and then back to his boss. “This matter is sensitive, sir. Private.”

With a grimace on his face,
Beckworth folded his napkin and rose. Looking at his guest, he apologized, “Business calls. Pardon me for just a moment,” and then made for the door.

When they were outside, the guard glanced back at the camper and then
spoke. “I ran pictures of your guest and the man accompanying him. Five minutes ago, a Blackhawk landed outside our perimeter and discharged a rather unhappy colonel from the Memphis HQ. He informed me that a man named ‘Bishop’ is traveling with Grim, and he is of ‘special interest’ to those at the highest levels in Washington.”

Beckworth
was clearly taken aback by the news. He knew Grim had worked on some very sensitive prerogatives during his time with the military, but there were thousands of such operators, all having similar backgrounds.

The security man continued, “We are to wait
for instructions, but under no circumstances are we to let this Bishop character out of our sight. Our messenger from Memphis made it clear that our continued ‘good standing’ status was in danger if anything went wrong.”

“Shit
. Go put a man on this Bishop fellow,” Beckworth replied and then glanced back at his RV. “I think I might be able to occupy our guests for a while… at least until Washington decides what to do.”

“Well, that’s a problem. He left via the front entrance
20 minutes ago,” the bodyguard said, and then relayed the story of the pickpocket to his boss.

“Shit! Go see if you can find out anything more about where our new friend Bishop might have
gone. I doubt he wandered far, given his partner is still here.”

When
Beckworth returned from his emergency, Grim could tell something had changed. His host was now stressed. The man across from him was now so intense, for a moment Grim thought he had done something wrong.

“Are you traveling with another man, Grim?”

Oh shit
, thought the operator.
What the hell has Bishop done now
?

“Yes
… yes I am. Why do you ask?” he answered, his mind racing with next steps.

“There was an incident in the big tent. Your partner caught a thief and detained him for my security
people. He seems to be a man with certain skills.”

“Bishop does okay. He’s not bad for a
man who never served with any of the Special Forces. One of these days that Texas swagger of his is going to get him killed, if you ask me.”

Beckworth
tilted his head, “Texan?”

“Yes. I live in West Texas now. I hope to take my wife and daughter back there. The
people there have organized… managed to get a lot of infrastructure up and running, and it’s a pretty good place to hang your hat – at least compared to anything else I’ve seen so far.”

Now it all makes sense
, the major thought.
Now the pieces of the puzzle are coming together
.
West Texas is quite the hot topic of conversation in Washington. Bishop must be someone important.

Beckworth
seemed to relax, his facade reverting to its pre-interruption smug.

Something in
Grim’s answer had obviously pleased his host. So much so, he ordered his assistant to break out two cigars. After clipping and lighting the stogies, Beckworth leaned back in his chair and exhaled a fog of blue smoke. “I’ve heard quite a few stories concerning your friends down in the Lone Star State. What is really going on down there, Grim?”

Grim hesitated before answering, unable to figure out
where Beckworth was coming from, why was there such a sudden curiosity about Texas. “I’m nothing more than a security guard, major. I only know a few of the people there. Most of my time is spent training their militia and setting up security for their key facilities and infrastructure.”

“And your traveling companion?”

Warning bells erupted inside Grim’s head. The question came to fast – almost eager. Besides, the man sitting across from him wouldn’t normally give a rat’s ass about some stranger, let alone inquire about him twice. Something was going on, and the operator suddenly felt like he was in over his head.

“I don’t really know him that well,” Grim lied. “He
is just a guy assigned to help me retrieve my family. Other than that, I’ve only seen him around a few times.”

Grim felt the ex-spook’s eye boring in on him, trying to peel back the layers of the
deception onion. Eventually, Beckworth shrugged his shoulders as if pronouncing the matter unimportant.

“Let me pull up the records on your wife and daughter
. I am running a business here, and I need to verify my investment before reaching a decision. I’m sure everything will be fine, but I have to double-check. In the meantime, I’ll reschedule their day off, so you three can have a happy reunion. I’ll also make housing arrangements so you can all stay in the same unit.”

Grim smiled, the anticipation of finally seeing his loved ones more satisfying than the steak he’d just consumed.

“Oh,” Beckworth added as Grim rose to leave. “How rude of me. I’ll also make separate arrangements for your friend. All on the house, of course.”

“Thank you,
major,” Grim replied, and then made for the door.

As the retired officer watched
his guest being escorted back to the main compound, he shook his head. “I don’t really know him that well… He was just a guy...” he mocked. “Bullshit, Grim. Absolute, 100% farm fresh bullshit. Never try and deceive a professional liar.”

“Frankly, I would have issued you this pass without returning the deserter’s body,” the
captain said, sliding two pieces of paper across the desk to Bishop. “It’s fewer mouths we have to feed. I wish everyone would come and retrieve their relatives and get them away from here.”

Bishop accepted the documents, holding them up to read.

“This first one gives you permission to travel through the region for 10 days,” the JAG officer continued. “The second allows for you to carry a personal firearm. I wouldn’t have normally granted that privilege, but my junior officers relayed what you did for them at the Circus.”

“Thank you,
Captain.”

Bishop left the building more than happy with his little scheme. He had to stop himself from whistling as he passed through the barbwire perimeter and guard shacks that had been erected around what had once been a middle school.

One small set of lies had achieved so much. He now had a way to pass back over the Mississippi with Grim and his family, managed a proper burial for Deke’s body and, just for icing on the cake, insured that the army wouldn’t be looking for Matt. They now thought the missing sergeant was dead.

The drive back to the Circus passed without incident
. Bishop’s only remaining concern was the release of Grim’s family, but that seemed to going their way as well.

Passing through security went smoothly, and he found Grim sitting at their original table, teasing Mary
anne about the weak beer.