My Only Talent Ch. 48

There was genuinely art deco style bathroom fully equipped with toiletries and a big 4 poster bed that also looked inviting. But my stomach growled first for attention. The covered tray revealed a spicy pepper pasta salad, a rare roast beef sandwich with all the expected vegetables and condiments on the side, and a big chocolate brownie. Happy camper.

I sent Nora an email about my expected arrival time tomorrow afternoon, then polished off the meal, and took a long hot shower. It had been quite a day. I set an alarm in my phone (the clock still seemed to work, even though I had no signal bars and no wi-fi showing) and snuggled into the bed.

The 4:30 alarm went off what seemed like two seconds later. I discovered my pants, underwear, socks, and my freshly laundered and pressed cotton shirt hanging on a hook on the inside of the door, and quickly dressed. The fridge yielded a fruit plate with some cantaloupe, strawberries, and cheese. Not bad. I used the supplied toothbrush and opened the door at 4:55. My grandmother always said on time means five minutes early.

Mrs. Newman was just arriving at the door. She smiled. "Good Morning, Mr. Roberts."

"Call me Robbie."

"Call me Mrs. Newman. The car is downstairs."

The car turned out to be a full sized Suburban not a Tahoe, but still black with highly tinted windows. There was a driver and another guy in the front seat. They were both about 40 and looked like they could take a bullet and then still kill me with one hand. It was only about two blocks to Ambassador Pliskin's house, and one guy went to the door and escorted him back to the Suburban.

The Ambassador read from a tablet computer while I looked out the window, then turned to me. "I need you to make an introduction for me."

"Who?"

"I want you to introduce Steven Byers to your friend Drummond McFadden. Steven is going to be stationed at the new Chunnel complex as a security liaison and I want Drummond to know he can trust him. You don't have to tell him the whole story, but simply that you two have some experiences together, and you trust Steven. Drummond does not need to know about me setting it up, though."

"Will I need to go to England to do it? Nora is due soon."

"We will work around that."

We headed northwest along the GW Parkway, went through Fort Marcy Park, and then turned off to the right. We passed into an area with lots of trees, and there were people around the trees, watching. We went through a gate flanked by bollards, with more people watching. Suddenly we were at the "George Bush Center".

There were two security checkpoints, and we were scanned and frisked at each one, even the Ambassador. We went through a series of hallways and then arrived at a medium sized assembly hall with plain stone front wall with some little stars on it. It was only about half full. Seated in the third row were Oliver Hastings Harrison and a very regal looking woman in her seventies wearing an unusual pink flannel suit. There were two seats between them, and the Ambassador directed me to sit next to the woman, then he sat next to OHH. "Hello, Pliskie" they both muttered. Pliskie?

It was still well before 7 AM. I thought ceremonies meant politicians and late starts, but not this time. There were only about 50 people in the room, and they all looked profoundly serious, not political.

The woman on my right leaned over and whispered to me in a very polished and very British accent. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Roberts. I'm Daffyth Gastrell, but some people call me Vivian Valentine. Try not to look surprised when you see someone else you know called by a name you don't."

I was shocked that my Suzie receiver seemed to be picking up something from her. It sounded like those little sparkling effervescent bubbles Nora used to try to conceal from me. Was I getting my receiver back or was this woman and extraordinarily strong sender? Both? I suddenly flashed on the fact that she looked a lot like my grandmother, and my mother. Even the way she sat look familiar. WTF?

I felt like I could talk to her. "Where are all the politicians? Why so early in the morning?"

She laughed, and then spoke softly. "This is only for the field people, no press and no pols. Everyone here must put in a full workday starting at normal morning hours. You must literally never talk about his to anyone. Pliskie and Ollie both vouched for your ability to keep your mouth shut, or you would not be here. There will be no mention of what these people did but I assure you it was a what your military calls a Bravo Foxtrot Delta."

A guy in a simple dark suit came out. I knew I had seen him on TV. He was some part of the intelligence apparatus. He gave a very short speech about three people that were being honored posthumously, and two of their teammates that were here today to also be honored. He read the names, but they meant nothing to me. They put three stars on the wall, then called for the two other people, who I assumed had survived, to come up from offstage.

The last one was introduced as Gertrude Gastrell, but it was in fact Elizabeth Ashcroft Knowles! I managed not to make any noise, but I surprised myself by letting loose with a little Suzie blast of joy. Next to me, Vivian Valentine or whoever she was jumped six inches and stared at me such that both OHH and the Ambassador noticed. She touched my elbow, and I felt a Suzie blast right back at me.

Elizabeth shook hands with the guy on stage and then walked toward me with an incredulous expression, gave me a perfunctory hug, and whispered in my ear, "We will talk in a few minutes," and then said, "Hello. Mother. I see you brought a surprise."

Vivian Valentine looked back and forth at Elizabeth and me, then said, "More than you know, dear!"

............

OHH and Elizabeth's mother in the pink suit were having an animated but whispered conversation that I could not hear as we walked out of the assembly hall. The Ambassador stayed behind them far enough so as not to obviously overhear them.

Elizabeth approached us. "Ambassador Pliskin, may I ask a favor of you?"

He smiled like crazy. "Granted, Miss Gastrell, and I still owe you two more." Wow. What exactly did she do?

"Could you ride back with Ollie and my mother and let your driver take Robbie and I for a while, so we can talk?"

He smiled even more broadly. "He will drive you all the way to Cambridge, if you want."

"Robbie, shall we go?"

"Not yet. I need to speak to your mother, privately, for a moment."

The Ambassador and Elizabeth both looked puzzled, but when I motioned to her mother she nodded and came over. We stood against to the wall under the port a cochere.

Our Suzies touched each other. "You know I love your daughter, but we could never be together. Do you understand why?"

She stopped and got an inch from my face. "Of course. I think the Victorians would have called it "back breeding" to try to reach some mythical Druidic state?"

Now I was the one that was shocked. Quick on the uptake, and what a poker player she must be.

She continued. "Do you truly love Nora Upman with all your heart?"

Without thinking, I sent her the image of little baby Nora climbing into that bassinette with little baby me.

She smiled. "I see you do. She is not as closely related as you and I are, so the back breeding should not be dangerous. But you should have interesting children. If you have this kind of ability sine prole, there is no telling what you might do after your first child is born. You must keep your talent under wraps. The Ambassador is already curious about some of the things you have done, and he and Alexander will keep wondering how you do them. Be cautious."

She shifted her stance and glanced at Ambassador Pliskin, now talking with Elizabeth. "On another subject, Pliskie wouldn't talk about his daughter when I enquired. Why? What just happened? Why are you here?"

"I won't talk either, but I think everything will be all right going forward. She is now married to a man who not only loves her but understands and accepts her."

"I hope my daughter can find that someday. You must tell her why you cannot be with her, but not about your talent. She didn't inherit mine -- she got those genes from her father I suppose, and not my father."

"I understand." She hugged me. Pliskin and OHH stared at me open mouthed. There are some things even you guys do not need to know!

Elizabeth and I walked back towards the Ambassador and her mother. "By the way, Ambassador, I'll talk to Gertrude here about Steven, she can introduce him to Drummond McFadden and his wife. I won't need to travel."

Pliskin looked amazed, but Gertrude (I just can't get used to using that name) turned bright red. Bingo! I was sure that Summer had introduced Drummond to her, not just socially, but physically, too. Good for them.

Her mother stared at Gertrude. "Drummond is a wonderful young man, mother, and I am proud to call him my friend!" Her mother looked at me and I smiled.

Gertrude and I got into the Suburban. "How much time can you take until you have to go?"

She looked unhappy. "I have to be at the airport in two hours."

"Driver, would you please give us a two-hour loop ending at Reagan?"

"Dulles." Gertrude corrected.

He nodded and put up partition between him and the passenger area. Elizabeth grabbed me and kissed me wonderfully. She was very unhappy when I was less than fully responsive.

"We need to talk, Elizabeth, er, Gertrude."

"I hate that name, but it is all mine. Elizabeth Ashcroft Knowles was a DEFRA creation."

"Well Gertrude is better than Brunhilda, I suppose."

"You must have a lot to tell me, but first, why on earth did my mother hug you? She never touches anybody in public, and barely embraces me or my father even in private. Everyone thinks she is stone killer."

"Same reason we can't marry. We are too closely related. You and I are stone killers too if it is necessary."

She looked totally shocked. "I didn't know marriage was ever on the table!"

"I told you when you got off the aircraft in Dallas that I could be happy with you for the rest of my life."

"Oh, I remember that! I always will. But I thought it was my career that was the problem. How do you even know we are related?"

"Ask your mother, but it's true. Too many genes in common to have children, plus I am already engaged."

"Yes, and to two women as I understand it. How does that work?"

"Could you and Summer work with Drummond?"

She looked intrigued. "Maybe. If they asked me. We already had a successful trial run." She giggled. I was going to miss her.

............

Lara and Nora spent two hours on the phone early Monday morning, before Nora had to go to campus. Lara told her everything except why Robbie had to stay in DC until Monday afternoon. Everything that had happened, and everything that had been discussed. They both felt sad for Suzanne but in the end wished her the best. She told Nora she was going to take Suzanne's advice about only being with Robbie. Nora said "Let's just leave that up in the air for a while. I know I am not thinking straight with all the hormones circulating around my system. Right now, it makes me super horny and gives me wild dreams, but who knows how I might feel postpartum. When awake, I can only think about Robbie and little Warren Randolph right now. But I did do something naughty recently!"

Lara was shocked.

"Robbie has been shopping for all our groceries during the day when I am at school. Lots of women are flirting with him at the store. He tells me all about it, but it turns me on a little. I described three hypothetical women and told him if anyone like that hit on him, he should try to bring them home to me! Even Robbie was shocked. I felt so wicked!"

"What kind of woman would accept an invitation to a threesome from some guy in a store who has a pregnant wife at home? What kind of women did you describe?"

"Well, it was Whole Foods! I envisioned a buff female body builder with a tattoo of a cross, a butch but tiny Asian girl with garishly dyed hair, a blonde woman taller than me with a pierced tongue and/or eyelid, and a hot Jewish girl with huge breasts and a prominent nose. I don't know where they came from. It was strictly stream of consciousness, from my hormones direct to my vocal apparatus!" She giggled. "I doubt he will ever meet anyone like that, much less talk them into coming to meet me. But stranger things have happened."

"I volunteer to be the blonde woman taller than you, but no piercings!"

When Robbie got back Monday afternoon, he and Nora had a joyous reunion, with little Warren Randolph Roberts popping off Suzie blasts like a referee blowing a whistle. There was no feeling of sadness, reserve, or suspicion like with Suzanne. It was pure joy. Lara was coming to spend the weekend, and that would make it even better, if that were possible.

............

Chrissy, Khalan, and Roger had normal busy weeks. Spring ball was about ready to start for Khalan. Roger was already busy doing his javelin track and field workouts, and Chrissy was doing an LSAT prep class. Friday night was study hall for Roger and Khalan, but Chrissy and Joyce spent the evening talking and getting each other off. Joyce knew about the condo from being there, but she did not know all about Big Bones. She wanted to see the lab report, and Chrissy had kept it. Joyce was amazed that Chrissy told Khalan and Roger, but Chrissy insisted truth was the best way to go, and then told her about her plans for all four of them after the party at Big Bones house. Joyce was nervous, but on board. Saturday morning arrived before they knew it. They all got in Chrissy's little Subaru and headed out Bee Caves Road.

Big Bones Jones' house was a prototypical Barton Creek stucco mansion, with three chimneys, a big circular drive, xeriscaping everywhere, a tall stucco wall all around the perimeter of the property, and a big swinging solar powered security gate. The next-door neighbor had a Tuscan villa with more area of expensive copper roof than ten average homes. The median value of the homes here was over $1M, but the mean was much higher -- there were some cheap $500,000 condos, some $800,000 fixer uppers, but also lots of $4M dollar mansions. About a nine-iron shot away was the home of the current ESU football coach, and the home of the previous coach was in the range of a good three-wood drive. Several homes were large enough to be mistaken for the country club headquarters. The Governor rented a home up the street a bit while the Texas Governor's Mansion was being renovated. One of Chrissy's sorority sisters that graduated last year was teaching at St. Gabriel's Catholic school nearby.

After the rent-a-cop checked his list and let her through the gate, she parked her scruffy Subaru between a Tesla Model S and a Land Rover Discovery, the two most frequently seen cars in the neighborhood. She walked with Khalan, Joyce, and Roger up to the door, and was greeted by Big Bones' party planner, who led them out to the bartender working by the huge backyard pool. Roger, Joyce, and Khalan were big eyed and taking everything in; Chrissy was taciturn. They all got a ginger ale and surveyed the early crowd. Chrissy and Joyce both perked up when Husky Varna approached and greeted Khalan. He was a hunk up close, too. Husky obviously noticed Chrissy too.

Just then Big Bones emerged from the house, loudly and unmistakably. He made a bee line for Chrissy.

"Now it's a party! So glad you came!"

"Big Bones, these are my friends Joyce, Roger, and Khalan." They offered their hands in turn. "Joyce is my sorority sister, Khalan is an ESU defensive back, and Roger throws the javelin."

Big Bones smiled. "The only thing more boring than track is field!" He guffawed at his own joke. "But that's better than catchin' it, yeah!"

Roger smiled thinly. "Very clever!"

Big Bones turned to Khalan. "I haven't seen you play."

Khalan smiled confidently. "I'm a freshman but come to the Spring Game, and you'll see me with the ones!"

"I like your attitude, man! I'll be there. Corner?" Big Bones knew that two senior cornerbacks had graduated last semester.

"Yes."

Chrissy couldn't resist. "He's got excellent hip fluidity!"

Joyce looked puzzled. Big Bones suddenly looked worried. He finally got the reference. He glanced at all four of them. "So, who is dating who?"

Joyce must be feeling more comfortable, because she answered, "We are all good friends." She winked at Roger and Khalan. Big Bones missed it.

............

The NeuroSignal boys were making progress, working diligently while I was literally fucking off in DC. They had the demo chain going, and repeatable results on baseline tests. They were waiting for me to define success from a prospective customer point of view. I had no response from the two portfolio company guys the VC gave me, so I emailed Brujo, and he put me in touch with an operations guy in the shipping line, who passed me off to their one of their IT guys in Calabria. He told me what they transmitted via satellite data link and how much they paid and defined 25% or more cost reduction as significant enough to get their attention. They didn't need higher speeds, just cheaper, but they paid for sat time by the hour, so it was all tied together. He even sent me several megabytes of "dummy data" just like they used so we could make a very realistic test. They also came up with three hypothetical scenarios to use as examples and ran a test demonstration for each one.

I had just finished updating our pitch when one of the portfolio guys called. Their interest was in achieving the same bandwidth and bit error rate with less power. I asked for some realistic parameters and what would constitute a big enough improvement. They gave me a sample data set and 3 dB desired improvement. Back to the postdocs.

Lara arrived Friday evening and Nora planned a special dinner for Saturday. After a Friday night with all three of us in bed together, Saturday morning found us hitting the Whole Foods for the shopping list for Nora's planned creations. Lara and Nora had obviously talked about her hormonal threesome fantasies, and they whispered and giggled to each other as they spotted women who loosely fit her descriptions. I had never been there on Saturday before, and saw that there were more women and a greater variety of women than on a weekday.

"What do you think of that one, Robbie?"

"Nope. No tatts, but she is pumped up. I bet she can bench more than I can."

They both twittered when a little Asian girl with blue hair walked by.

"Not butch enough, but I bet I could bench press her!"

We finally arrived at the meat counter, where Nora was looking for a particular cut of lamb she called "chump". That used to me my grandfather's nickname for me. When the person behind the counter turned around to face us, we were greeted by a gorgeous dark-haired girl with a prominent nose who looked like she knew her Halal and Kosher rules and had a magnificent chest to boot.

We all three were struck silent by her appearance. Nora recovered first but spoke in the English accent she usually only lapsed into when emotional. "I'm in the market for lamb chump chops, bone in please!"

The woman smiled. "Not loin or saddle, but rump?"

"Correct. I want the chump for slow cooking. Three pounds, please."

She smiled. "I can get that cut for you if you can wait a few moments."

"Of course. Thank you."

She twirled and headed purposely toward a meat locker. She looked exceptionally good from behind, too.

Lara bumped me with her shoulder. "Bone in! Right Robbie?"

Nora giggled. "She fits my description to a tee! Also, a fine prospect as a milk maid, I'd wager."

Now I giggled too. "She makes me proud to be a mammal!"