Morroway returns to the others, looking perturbed and a bit shaken. "Bourbon." He takes a seat next to George. "It seems my company is part of an investigation. There's trouble waiting for me in New York. Whether we can reach the president or not, I'll need to speak with the director of the secret service. Unless..." He takes a sip.
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Victor laughs. If only every world leader knew you Couple of words, and snap! *Victor snaps his fingers* Every nation is a democracy... Victor turns to Morroway. Unless.... Yes, yes, get on with it.
George eyes Hoadley and shakes his head and says, "You need to want it and take it. Anyway, the Secret Service would only be investigating you if they thought you were involved in counterfeiting currency or that you were a threat on the president or other such VIP. That is damned peculiar."
Hearing the upsetting news from Morroway, Harry makes a suggestion.
"It does not look like we will be able to speak with anyone from your government, so perhaps we should speak to someone from mine...or more precisely, His Majesty's. I am worried that someone powerful in your government is attempting to foil our plans to expose this alien conspiracy. Maybe a 'foreign' government might aid us."
Good idea. The invaders might not be widespread, as to have agents in all countries.
George looks at them and says, "I have another suggestion, we could stay here and you can call the British or German or even the Argentine Embassy, and we could go to the first one who would give us an appointment. I got it, we can go to the Senate building and see a Senator from New York."
"Yes, he of all people should have time for me." Morroway agrees, visibly relieved at the suggestion.
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"I will contact the ambassador at the British Embassy and set up a meeting if the rest of you wish to try and contact this senator."
If they agree, Harry will head out and go directly to the embassy. As a representative of the government he hopes he should be able to see the ambassador quickly.
George says, "I think it is not such a sound idea, considering the lack of help they can really provide. If you feel so compelled then have a stellar time there, sport."
He turns to Morroway and says, "Are you a DOdgers or a Giants fan?"
Harry makes his way to the British Embassy, and is given the runaround for a couple of hours, before handed a card offering an appointment with the assistant to the head of security at the Embassy for early the next morning.
Harry thanks the staff and returns to see if the group is still waiting at the hotel.
The senator it is, then. Victor turns to George. That's baseball, right? I wouldn't know, I'm more of a hockey person.
While Harry tries to find an ear at the British Embassy, the rest of the group tries to finagle a meeting with a Senator from New York. However after a few fruitless hours, they seem no closer to securing a meeting with anyone important.
Van Winkle is flummoxed by their lack of progress, but Morroway recognizes the routine as a standard bureaucratic runaround. He surmises that some or all of the group is a persona non grata at the moment, and given the nature of the phone call he received...
"I think it might be best if you fellows proceed without me until I've resolved these outrageous allegations. I can spend my time mobilizing corporate assets to our aid." Morroway suggests, looking very worried.
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This sounds worrying. If it's that bad, we may want to find out what's wrong before they do.
George smiles and says, "I surmise these reptilemen are trying too hard to be clever. I postulate a dual pronged approach, lady and gentlemen. Lure them out of hiding maybe at the Willard by looking like a large target and perchance another group to smoke them out to make a different mistake."
Harry returns to see the group just getting back from their own meetings.
"Well I have an appointment with the assistant head of security for tomorrow, if that will do much good. But it is a start. How did you all fair?"
"I think I should retire for the day and make an appearance at my local office tomorrow to speak with my accusers. But I've a bad feeling about how this will end, if the sheriff at the congressman's house is any indication." Morroway looks around to the others for ideas.
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George says, "I could go with either of you if you would like. I figure if I get a message I can go visit the President or Secretary at their convenience."
"I'm guessing I could use the assistance, political or... otherwise." Morroway says, pasting his jacket to indicate his pistol for those in the know.
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I hide myself, and go with you, Morroway. You'll have an extra gun if things go wrong.
Van Winkle says, "Hmm, I could meet with the representation of the German King of England from the House of Sachse-Gotha. Nah, I will come with you Morroway."
George then walks to the reception and has them order two carriages for the day and gets in the one going to where Morroway needs to go.
Van Winkle, Morroway, and Victor arrive at the local Morroway Securities office to find it in disarray. Files are boxed up in wooden crates, and most of the employees are gone, replaced instead with men in suits searching the walls for hidden compartments.
The man who seems to be in charge approaches Morroway with a stern look. "I'm agent Marshall of the United States Secret Service. Morroway, I presume? Your office has been cooperative so far, but I'm going to need the combination to the private safe in your office, and any other places you might have hidden documents relating to business dealings in Columbia and what is now the country of Panama. Selling mercenary services to fight American-backed forces is highly illegal, even treasonous, and I promise we're going to get to the bottom of this."
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Harry and Evelyn travel to the British Embassy, and wait only a few minutes before being taken to the office of the assistant head of security. It's a cramped room, and the desk is covered in disheveled papers. The nameplate on the desk reads "Mr. Alan Smythe."
The man at the desk is wiry and balding, with thin-rimmed glasses hanging off his nose. He barely glances up, continuing to scribble on the papers in front of him. "Go ahead. I'm listening."
Van Winkle jots down the information and being an avid reader of the newspaper listens to what the Secret Service man says and then inquires, "It seems to me, my good man, that alleged activity falls outside of the purview of the Secret Service."
He stops taps out a pinch of snuff between his thumb and pointer finger proffering it to all there.
As he continues," Right irregular, I shall say, hmmm, The Thousand Days War is it, it is complete and it seems the new president Reyes is looking to reconcile with the United States, according to recent articles in the Sun and the New York Times. You do know if he had been elected as was assumed four years ago, the whole nastiness may have been avoided. Such nasty business, I shall say, incredulous. Being a veteran of Cuba, it is such a shame. Trade is the key."
He snorts the snuff and says, "Would you perchance have some sort of evidence to substantiate you claim? As you probably know, all of this is highly irregular. Or is it 'Inter arme silent leges?'"
Harry lays out the entire story as far as he knows it. It also asks if the British Government has any idea about what is going on with Morroway.
Victor glances at Van Winkles notes, and tries to remember the recent news. Nothing came to mind, other than using newspaper to clean up some spilled whiskey. Dammit George, don't get him all riled up.
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Agent Marshall looks Van Winkle up and down. "Are you his legal counsel? Otherwise I can't share details of the investigation with you."
Mr. Smythe stops writing when Harry mentions the lizard men. He looks at the photographs calmly.
"I have no time for your Hindu superstitions. Please see yourselves out."
Harry looks to Evelyn and then back to the assistant security chief.
"This has nothing to do with my religion, sir. This has to do with the destabilization of this countries government and the unfortunate consequences it will have on the Empire. I have a writ here from HRH office to investigate the American mechanization and modernization techniques, and I bloody well think that this is as, if not more, important to our government."
Harry tries to remain calm, but the prejudice of this man is wearing his patiences thin.
Morroway surveys his disarrayed office coldly, then addresses the agent.
"Mr Marshall, I am a very busy man, what with contracting security services to keep the citizens of this fine county safe and free. I'll thank you to address my colleagues as you would me. Now regarding the business of these outrageous allegations, unless and until you can demonstrate a reasonable suspicion, I need to ask you to restore my office and staff so I can attend to business. I'll let you examine the contents of the safe before you leave."
He turns and proceeds to his office, opening the door for the agent.
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"We've received some information that's enough to merit an investigation. I'm sure with your help we can sort all this out."
Victor looks around the disarrayed office, and follows Morroway.
"Mr Van Winkle, see if you can't pull some strings for me when you're in the White House. In the meantime, I'll handle all this nonsense directly."
Evelyn sits in the office with her hands resting calmly on her small elegant handbag. "I'm sure you didn't mean to be so uncouth to my friend here, and your hesitation to believe us is, regrettably, understandable. Let me assure you, however, sir, that our story is nothing but the unvarnished truth. I don't ask that you believe us without evidence. First, you have the photographs there in front of you. Second, it would do no harm, surely, to ask about and see if what we say is true. This sir seems to be a conspiracy that reaches into this country's' government. Surely it behoves you, as His Majesty's representative here, to investigate?"
George says, "Sure, when I see the president, I will have this cleared up for you."
He then turns to the agent and says, "Would you happen to know...? Surely, this is a minor misunderstanding. Mr. Morroway surely wants to see us succeed in what is now Panama where our friends the French did not."
Psychology
Agent Marshall takes Morroway into the office so they can begin sorting out the mess.
"Ma'am, if you think there is no harm in my claiming a foreign government is infiltrated by lizard men, then you clearly know nothing of politics. If you could come back with some real, tangible evidence, I'd consider it. Until then, you can see yourselves out."
Victor walks over to Van Winkle when it seems like no one is listening in. Shall I accompany you to the White House,visit our friends at the Embassy or stay here? I wouldn't be terribly useful in all three places, though.
George says, "I highly doubt the British Embassy is going to be of much help. We could go back to the Willard to see if we have gotten an appointment and if not we can pay a visit to the Secret Service HQ to get to the bottom of this for Morroway."
The Secret Service HQ, then the Willard. I'll act as your bodyguard, after all, I'll need a reason to be there.
George and Victor return to the Willard to check for messages, but find none.
As they retire to their rooms to refresh, George notices that someone has been in the room, and surreptitiously going through his things.
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George freshens up and make his way back to the front desk and says, 'Good Day. I would like to leave a tip for such amazing service. Can I speak to the person'
Curing in his native tongue as he leaves, Harry turns to Evelyn.
"My pardon good lady. I had hoped His Royal Highness's representative here would be a little more helpful to our cause, but I can see that I was being naive. Is there anyplace I can escort you?"
Victor heads to the lobby, pretending to take a break, but watching George to look for any trouble approaching him.
George spots that the front desk clerk looks nervous and confused.
"But, sir... housekeeping has not yet attended to your room."
He's quite clearly hiding something.
Detective for anyone watching.
And then whispers,
"Well, you seem to be playing a foolish game with your employer and the hotel's Reputation. I know my room has been very shabbily rummaged through. I need you to tell me who and why. You can do it discreetly as if you are giving me directions to the Opera. By the way have I received a letter from the President?"
"S-s-sir, some policemen came in and demanded access to your room. They mentioned something about blackmail, and my supervisor told me to comply. They said not to alert you, so please don't let anyone know I said anything."
'Look,your manager has infringed upon my 4th Ammendment rights. Do you have a visiting card from one of these gentlemen? No judge could have provided such a writ so quickly because I had no idea I would be coming to DC until yesterday. O would like to clear this up'