Honour Among Thieves

to get back to the set,' said Cavalli. 'You stay put for ten minutes and then take a taxi to Dulles airport. And when you get to Brazil, don't spend all the money on a girl. And Rex, don't even think about coming back. If you do, it won't just be the Feds who are waiting for you at the airport.' Angelo had somehow managed to get Dollar Bill dressed, but he still stank of Guinness, and he certainly didn't look like the President's personal physician - or anybody else's physician for that matter. 'Sorry, lad. Sorry, lad,' Dollar Bill kept repeating. 'I hope this won't get you into any trouble.' 'It will if you don't sober up in time to play your part and see that the parchment is transferred into the special cylinder. Because if Cavalli ever finds out I wasn't with you last night, you're dead, and more important, so am I.' 'Settle down, lad, and just make me a Bloody Mary. Two parts tomato juice and one part vodka. I'll be as right as rain in no time, you'll see.' Angelo looked doubtful as the little man's head fell back on the pillow. As Cavalli closed the door of room 1137, a woman pushing a large laundry basket passed him in the corridor. He took the lift to the ground floor and walked straight out of the hotel. The first thing he saw as he left the Willard and crossed the plaza that divided the hotel from Pennsylvania Avenue was that the morning traffic was backed up for half a mile down 15th Street. Al and Johnny came running towards him from different directions. 'What's going on?' were Cavalli's first words. 'Normal morning traffic coming in from Virginia, the police assure us, except we're blocking a lane and a half with our twelve vehicles and six outriders.' 'Damn, my mistake,' said Cavalli. 'I should have anticipated it. So what do you suggest, Al?' 'I send my boys over to Atlantic Garage on 13 th and F until the police get the traffic on the move again, and then bring them back nearer the starting time.' 'It's a hell of a risk,' said Johnny. 'That permit only allows me to film for forty-five minutes, and they aren't going to stretch it by a second.' 'But if my cars stay put you might never get started at all,' said Al. 'OK, Al, you get moving, but make sure you're back on the grid by 9.50.' Cavalli checked his watch. 'That's twenty-seven minutes.' Al began running towards the parked cars. Cavalli turned his attention to the director. 'What time are you bringing the actor out?' 'Nine-fifty-five, or the moment the last car is back in place. He's being made up in that trailer over there,' said Johnny. Cavalli watched as the sixth limousine pulled away, and was relieved to see the traffic start to flow again. '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 to 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 co-ordinating 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 9.59. We'll have you moving on time, I promise.' 'Thank you, officer,' said Cavalli, and quickly dialled 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