Or is it better to be silent and let the war inside subside?
― Anthony Liccione
Go-Between
I'm planning to bring three strong-willed women together in my front room and hope we can achieve a peaceful solution regarding the state secrets entrusted to me by Maine Blair.
Maybe I'm dreaming in technicolour because the RCMP and CSIS don't have a history of cooperation and neither one views Juliet's sources as orthodox either. I mean, her father owns a newspaper and knows people in high places―that doesn't cut it with most government organizations.
Still, the situation isn't exactly conventional and requires flexibility and a little imagination―again, not exactly a strong suit when it comes to civil servants...
But facts are, I'm out of options.
Regardless of my doubts, I go ahead and phone Elise to outline my plan and to my amazement, she's in total agreement. Next, I phone Juliet and Abigail and set up the meeting for eight in the evening.
My gut tells me it can't be this easy, but I've got them at least agreeing to meet. But truth is, they're cats and herding cats is not easy.
I know the way I' m thinking is politically incorrect and I reserve the right to be wrong, but my instincts have never yet failed me―Okay, maybe I was charmed by Shannon, but aside from that lapse, I know managing this situation is going to be tricky.
Elise arrives first and helps me make coffee. She's dressed in a frilly grey blouse and tight jeans that look sensational but don't exactly create a business-like air.
Juliet and Abigail arrive looking gorgeous but dressed in tasteful business suits―they look prepared to negotiate and if I'm honest, I'm slightly intimidated.
I'm expecting Elise to comment on the other two women but surprisingly, she's very subdued and thankfully, avoids jockeying for position.
I make introductions and seat each woman round the fire with a mug of coffee. It may be a long night.
Thinking it's best to cut to the chase, I begin by explaining about the alien artifact and the contents of the sealed file Maine Blair entrusted to me.
And as soon as I finish, Abigail leaps in. "I appreciate the summary of the documents, Cole, but I need to see the originals."
I try to downplay the request, "I prefer to negotiate first because Blair entrusted them to me and I don't want them confiscated."
"I thought as much," Abigail smirked, waving a paper in the air. "I secured a warrant to search the premises."
"There's no need for that," Juliet flares, "the whole purpose of this meeting is to come to an agreement about what to do with the evidence."
Abigail is adamant. "The only problem with that is the documents are state secrets. They don't belong to Blair or Cole and merely possessing them is a criminal offence. I'm doing my job in executing a warrant."
I intervene to calm the situation . "You can search all you want, Abigail, but the materials aren't here. I anticipated this might happen."
"You can trust what Cole has told you," Elise adds. "I saw the alien artifact myself. It's definitely not manufactured on this planet."
Abigail is still unbending. "I need proof―otherwise, this is all conjecture."
"How can you say that?" Jules retorts, "The world has known since 2001 there's an alien presence. There was a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that featured 20 retired Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration and intelligence officers who all testified to what Cole just described."
Elise was furious. "Are you doubting the eye witness testimony of your own people, all of them esteemed members of the government?"
"Just saying I need the receipts―the hard evidence."
"We won't get anywhere with a standoff," Elise reasoned. "How can we compromise?"
Abigail, hesitated a moment, then tore up the search warrant. "All right, Ms. CSIS, I'll declare a truce and promise not to confiscate the evidence."
Everyone relaxed, especially me. I bluffed about not having the materials on the premises, but now I had to take Abigail at her word.
We'd soon find out who was worthy of being trusted.