he headed to his quarters and his bed, where he blacked out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, not waiting for the call, he placed one to Barns and was told that everything worked out OK. The driver did have a gun permit, although he had left it at home. The papers in the car proved to be directions to Worthington’s office and the map was computer generated with street names in Arabic so he could read them. The Police insisted on doing a fast search anyway and questioned Fazzi about the meeting that evening and who was involved so that they could verify his story. Fazzi had been told that the incident had caused the Army to go into a standby mode. They did apologize and while they were sorry for the inconvenience, that in the future, he should see to it that the driver carried the gun permit at all times.

He then called Fazzi, who told him about the same story he had heard from Barns. “Can you imagine them thinking I was a terrorist and about to blow up the George Washington Bridge,” Fazzi said. “What idiots! They came charging in here like a bunch of movie cowboys!”

“They were just doing their job,” Joseph told him, trying to calm the still excited Arab down. “We are just lucky that they didn’t shoot up the place first and ask questions later. Anyway, by the time I got back, we were told to forget about the alert. I guess they were embarrassed and want to keep the whole incident a secret or something.”

“Yes I can see why they would want that. I guess we are lucky that someone was not shot, the way they charged into the place. If I had not been right there when they started to pound on the door they might have broke the door down. I keep thinking that if you had not left and they had burst into the room…we would both be red faced.“

“After our dialogue last night and the decisions we came to, for my part I no longer care if they find out about you and me,” Joseph said. “I worry about you though.”

“That is so sweet, darling. What are you plans for the rest of the week? I need to see you as soon as you can break away. We have lots to talk about. I have decided to do as you suggested. I have decided that Mary can have her freedom. She and I will separate. I am sure something; even a quiet divorce can be arranged without too much fuss. As far as Kassie and you are concerned–that is for the two of you to decide. You can use her to cover our ‘arrangement’ or she can leave also. One way or the other, it will be just the two of us together. We have much unfinished business to take care of, my love.”

“Yes, but all this will have wait a while,” he said, “as I told you this coming week is going to be real busy and next week is graduation. I will let you know all the details as soon as I can get permission for you and the family to attend. After graduation, I will make the time to finish our business. The next few days and over the weekend I’m going to study for the exams. I will telephone or see Worthington and check to see how he