Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It is Wednesday Story Day time again. Last week we were surprised by the fact that the agents called up by Agent Moore turned out to be working for Cortez. They took Pricilla and intend to force her to trade Lazar for his daughter, Carolyn. The agents left Larry and Andrew in restraints on the floor. We really should follow Pricilla to see what goes down at the Highway patrol headquarters when Pricilla asks Lieutenant Mayfield to turn over Lazar. Let’s not forget the fact that this little story involves Larry and Andrew. Let’s go there first and see how the boys are doing. (man, this is becoming a nightmare to stage a scene.)

“How you. doing?”

“I’m an old man. I really don’t do well laying on my stomach with my hands behind my back. This floor dust is killing my asthma.”

“Roll over then.”

“Easier said than done. I have no leverage since these guys pulled my arms up high.”

“Let me scoot over to you. Hold on. Okay, use me to lean against and roll yourself over.”

“Whoa. That worked. Man, clean, fresh air.”

“I feel bad taking an old codger like you on this trip.”

“Never mind the codger stuff. Start thinking of a way to get free. How about since you are close? Try to feel the restraints on my wrists. Here I’ll turn on my side.”

“Okay, I’ll turn on my side and come closer to you. Okay, here I am. I can feel the restraints, and it is not good.”

“Why not.”

“These are standard issue heavy duty and will need to be cut off.”

“Could we manage it with a knife?”

“I think even if we had our hands free, it would be tricky to cut through these. We really need a pair of wire cutters.”

“But these are plastic.”

“trust me, they might as well be made of steel.”

“I have a penknife in my pocket. You want to at least try?”

“Why is it you old guys always have a penknife? Quills have been obsolete for centuries.”

“The fact that I have one may help us get out of this mess so you can mock it all you want. Besides, it is a Swiss Army penknife and has a right handy nail file.”

“The visual of you filing your nails has me ready to barf. Hold on. Someone’s coming.”

“What the hell are you two doing?”

“Ah, our old buddy Agent Moore the turncoat.”

“Turncoat? What are you talking about?”

“You called agents to come to guard Pricilla, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, they arrived and took her to the Highway Patrol Headquarters to get Lazar released to trade for Carolyn. By the way, could you possibly find something and cut us free?”

“The agents I called haven’t arrived yet. They called and said they were twenty minutes out. That’s why I came in here to tell you. I have a release right here. There you are free, Larry. Here you go, Andrew.”

“Damn, so how did these guys know to pretend to be the protection detail?”

“I’m sure I don’t know.”

“We need to call Lieutenant Mayfield.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we were all amazed that Agent Moore had to take a call in private. He then arranged some 24-hour security people heading over to Ms. Thomas’s office even as we speak. At the end of the discussion, Moore mentioned a survey like he was providing cable customer service. Larry had a problem with that and the private call. Let’s head back to Thomas’s office and see where this mess is heading.

“What do you think of that survey remark, Pricilla?”

“I think he was joking. You know how everyone is nuts for surveys these days.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t imagine the FBI sending surveys.”

“Which makes it all the funnier.”

“Ms. Thomas.”

“Yes, Andrew.”

“You have to understand. Larry has no sense of humor. In fact, he has less than no sense of humor.”

“Come on, Andrew. I have a sense of humor.”

“Right.”

“In any case, you two. I think Agent Moore was making a joke. I also think he needed to call his office in private for whatever reason, and we ought to accept that fact.”

“You are the boss.”

“Hold on. The front desk is calling. Yes? Send them in. It is the two security guys.”

“Is that them knocking?”

“Come in.”

“Ms. Thomas?”

“Yes.”

“I’m agent Fuller, and this is agent Scott.”

“Welcome, gentlemen. This is Larry Dunfee and Andrew Cummings. They are from the Boston police department.”

“Pleased to meet you officers. First things first. We will be with you for twelve hours and then relieved by another team. We don’t want to hamper your lifestyle but need to stay with you. That pretty much means one of us has to be with you at all times.”

“What about the ladies’ room?”

“Of course, you can have your privacy, but we need to check it out before you enter.”

“This is going to be a challenge.”

“Don’t worry. We have provided protection to many people and pride ourselves in discretion and the ability to not be overbearing.”

“What about home.”

“We will drive you there and stay with you as well.”

“It’s going to be unusual, but as you say, you’ve done this before.”

“Agent Scott will be outside the door, and I will stay here. Any questions?”

“I have one.”

“Yes, Mr. Dunfee.”

“May we see your credentials.”

“Of course. I apologize. It is the first thing I normally do. I have them right here.”

“That looks more like a gun than a badge.”

“Shut up and turn around.”

“Gonna shoot me in the back?”

“No, I’m going to relieve you of your gun then, with all due respect, ask you to get down on the floor. You as well . . . ah . . .er.”

“Cummings. Andrew Cummings.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cummings. Get on the floor as well. Agent Scott is going to put some restraints on you. Be nice, and he won’t cut the blood flow to your hands.”

“Okay, we are down. What is this about?”

“Well, we are going to take Ms. Thomas here for a little ride.”

“I’m not going with you.”

“This Glock says something a little different. Put the restraints on her too, Scott. Now here is how this little play is going to go. Thomas will be a nice person and fetch Popović, and then we will go get Carolyn. If everyone behaves themselves, Carolyn and Thomas will find their way back to safety. We will have Popović, and you will have Carolyn. Nobody gets hurt, and we won’t have any double-dealings in the trade. We know our offer of trade probably caused some angst within your team, Thomas. Now there is no moral dilemma. Nice and clean.”

“Except you are kidnapping me and interfering in an ongoing investigation and heaven knows how many other charges.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t mean a thing to us. You boys comfy?”

“Laying on the floor with our hands behind our back. What do you think.?”

“Once we leave, you can roll around all you want. Okay, Ms. Thomas. Let’s go.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Let’s not go there. So far, everything has been civil. I would hate to be forced to get nasty.”

“How nasty?”

“Bullet in the knee nasty.”

“Okay, I get it.”

“Thank you. You can follow Scott. Ta-ta for now, gentleman.”