Honor Among Thieves

“And Gino’s Secret Service agents, what will happen to them now that the cars have gone?”

“Most of them are hanging around with the extras, but they aren’t looking too convincing.”

Cavalli’s cellular phone began to ring. “I have to get back or you won’t have a film, real or otherwise,” said Johnny. Cavalli nodded and said, “Yes” into the mouthpiece as the director rushed away. Something caught Cavalli’s eye as he tried to concentrate on the voice on the other end of the line.

“The helicopter is all set to take off at ten o’clock sharp, boss; but it loses its slot at seven minutes past. The traffic cops won’t let it go up after that, however much you gave to the Fraternal Order of Police.”

“We’re still running on schedule, despite some problems,” said Cavalli, “so take her up at ten and just hover over the route. Marshall and his staff must be able to see and hear you when we arrive at the Archives. That’s all I care about.”

“OK, boss. Understood.”

Cavalli checked his watch again. It was 9:36 and the traffic was now flowing smoothly. He walked over to the officer coordinating the shoot for the city’s motion picture and television office.

“Don’t worry,” said the Lieutenant even before Cavalli had opened his mouth. “The traffic will be stopped and the detour signs in place by nine fifty-nine. We’ll have you moving on time, I promise.”

“Thank you, Officer,” said Cavalli, and quickly dialed Al Calabrese.

“I think you’d better start getting your boys back…”

“Number one has already left with two outriders. Number two’s just about to go; after that, they leave at twenty-second intervals.”

“You should have been an army general,” said Cavalli.

“You can blame the government for that. I just didn’t get the right education.”

Suddenly, Pennsylvania Avenue was ablaze with lights. Cavalli, like everyone else, shielded his eyes and then, just as suddenly, the lights were switched off, making the morning sun appear like a dim light bulb.

“Good sparks,” Cavalli heard the director shout. “I could only spot one that didn’t function. The seventh on the right.”

Cavalli stood on the sidewalk and looked towards the corner of 13th Street. He could see the first of Al’s limousines with two outriders edging its way back through the traffic. The sight of the shining black limo made him feel nervous for the first time.

A tall, well-built, bald man wearing dark glasses, a dark blue suit, white shirt and a red, white and blue striped tie was walking towards him. He stopped by Cavalli’s side as the first of the two outriders and the leading police car drew in to the curb.

“How are you feeling?” asked Cavalli.

“Like all first nights,” said Lloyd Adams. “I’ll be just fine once the curtain goes up.”

“Well, you sure knew your lines word perfect last night.”

“My lines aren’t the problem,” said Adams. “It’s Marshall’s I’m worried about.”

“What do you mean?” asked Cavalli.

“He’s not been able to attend any of our rehearsals, has he?” replied the actor. “So he doesn’t know his cues.”

The second car drew into line, accompanied by two more outriders, as Al came running across the sidewalk and Lloyd Adams strode off in the direction of the trailer.

“Can you still do it in eleven minutes?” asked Cavalli, looking at his watch.

“As long as Chief Thomas’s finest don’t foul things up like they do every other morning,” said Al. He headed towards the cars and immediately began to organize the unfurling of the presidential flag on the front of the third car before checking on any specks of dirt that might have appeared on the bodywork after one trip around the block.

The staff van drew up in line. Scasiatore immediately swung around on his high stool and, through a megaphone, told the actor, the secretary, the Lieutenant and the physician to be ready to climb into the third and fourth cars.

When the director asked for the Lieutenant and the physician, Cavalli suddenly realized that he hadn’t seen Dollar Bill or Angelo all morning. Perhaps they’d been waiting in the trailer.

The fourth limousine drew up as Cavalli’s eyes swept the horizon, searching for Angelo.

The Klaxon sounded again for several seconds, this time to warn the film crew that they had ten minutes left before shooting. The noise almost prevented Cavalli from hearing his phone ringing.