The brown, leather satchel rode smoothly on its side on the seat next to the Governor. He laid his hand protectively on it and gently rubbed the smooth surface. Soon his dreams would come true; his problems would be behind him. He knew this day would come. A quick glance at the satchel proved what the touch of his right hand told him. It was still there.
Months of planning, learning, plotting without knowing if what he dreamt of could come true. His business was a failure, he would soon have to file for bankruptcy, but now it didn’t matter.
He drove down a long, winding driveway lined with crab apple trees and hosta. He had been here before, in the spring, when the trees were flowering and filled the air with their intoxicating smell and the pink petals created a path to the house. Vadim provided a newly emigrated Russian family with housing in exchange for their keeping up the property. They worked hard in exchange and also served as guardians. One of them appeared from around the corner of the house as the Governor pulled into a parking spot in front of the garage. When the gardener recognized the Governor, he relaxed and walked over to the car and opened the door for him.
“He’s at the pool, sir. Can I help you with your bag?”
The Governor held tightly to the handle of the satchel. “I’ll take it, thanks. I probably won’t be long.”
The sun shimmered on the surface of the swimming pool. A light breeze pushed a blue air mattress around in the corner of the pool where it gently bumped against the side. Vadim looked up from his book and waved the Governor to join him in a lounge chair next to him. A table between the two chairs held a pitcher of something cold. Its sides dripped with condensation from the humid air. “Hello, my friend. Join me. Can I offer you some lemonade?”
The Governor sat down in the chair and gently set the satchel on its side at his feet. “I would love a glass, thanks.” The Governor drank half of it and put the glass on the table. With the pleasantries completed between them, he couldn’t wait to get on to why he was here.
“Vadim, I have been successful in obtaining the final piece.”
Vadim closed his book and sat up. “You got it?”
“Yes, but I have a small problem I want to take care of.”
“What is it?” Vadim asked.
“One of the FBI agents who’s been trying to solve the bank robberies. He’s getting closer than I would like him to be. I have a plan to take care of him and I think the distraction may be beneficial to our other endeavor.”
“How can I help?”
“I need a gun, and a rifle with a scope.” The Governor sat up and turned to look at Vadim. “I need it tonight, and I need to practice some. It’ll be about a quarter mile shot.”
“Let me get somebody to take care of it for you.”
“Thanks, but it’s something I need to do.” The Governor forced himself to relax and speak evenly. “It’s safe. I won’t put the job at risk, but it’s something I need to do.”
Vadim swatted a yellow jacket away from the lip of his glass of lemonade. “You are sure I cannot have somebody take care of this for you?” The question hung in the air. “It would be no problem.”
The Governor shook his head.
One of the gardeners appeared from behind them through some bushes. Vadim and the gardener exchanged some words in Russian before Vadim turned to the Governor.
“Follow him. He will get you everything you need. I will take the satchel. Is everything I need here?”
“Everything but the password.”