It was a game that he had played in the clubs back home in the UK -- basically: what could a guy get away with?Climbing up a short set of stairs, Mike...chose a seat where he could see the room and the stage; more importantly, the lighting was such that the big wing chair the club favoured was a little more hidden than most of the others."Good evening, Sir. May I get you a drink?" Engrossed in the performance of the young lady currently on stage, Mike had missed the girl's arrival."Oh! Yes, yes,. I expect that has never happened before, not in recent memory, at least." Well, there's nothing for it but to relieve him of command. Issue the order immediately. And Barnes? This is highest priority national security, and all of the Patriot Act protocols, as interpreted by our legal staff, mind you, will apply in this instance? No paper, no record, no word to anyone. Simply have the General relieved by verbal order of the President. Have it done privately, at his home, out of public view. And. T hoped that the carpet should be dry by that afternoon. I made a cup of plunger coffee and stood on my wet front veranda, sipping on the coffee, watching the road traffic and wondering if the wild spring weather was a presage to a rough summer.The screen door creaked open and closed behind me, "would you like a coffee?" I asked Mel who just stood quietly behind me to my left."I'm sorry." I looked back at her and realised that tears were streaming down her face. She'd wrapped her doona around. “What’s wrong with you? Have you never been in a chick’s room before?”Bingo! She’d nailed it in one go, and Dillon laughed hollowly for a few seconds, waving her off dismissively before dropping the act. “Umm, yeah. First time actually,” he deadpanned and Suki cackled. She could use a good laugh right now, anything to release some of the tension that had built up inside her in the past hour.“It’s not that exciting dude, it’s a room for god’s sake.”“Yeah but it’s a ... never mind.”“You’re.