Dead Man Running by Barry Davis Read Free Book Online Page A

a nice man.  So warm and loving with the c hildren.  I thought he was just another crooked politician.  If people knew the real Ben Wiley, they would be surprised. "
    Jan smiled broadly.  " No truer words were ever spoken. "
    She and Mrs. Tolliver join ed the circle.
    "D o the hokey pokey and turn yourself around and that's what it's all about! "
    Jan smil ed as she h eld Wiley's hand.  
    She now had a new plan, one that would turn the tables on that witch Mrs. Wiley and Ben's less than loyal chief of staff.

FIVE
    They thought it best to bring Wiley back to his home, a place familiar and safe, especially with Mrs. Wiley still enjoying the Hamptons .
    Elias, Chi, Jan and Wiley were in the study.  Jan was seated as Chi and Elias pace d about.  Wiley st ood against one wall, slowly performing the hokey pokey.
    " So, he just walked out? " asked Elias.
    " He just walked out ," answered Jan for the umpteenth time.
    " What were you doing when he walked out? "
    " Sleeping. "
    " You stayed here all night?  With him? " asked Chi.  He kept his distance from Wiley.  He was slowly becoming afraid of the man….the thing .  Maybe Brinkman had been here .
    " Yes. "
    " Why? "
    " Someone has to keep an eye on him. "
    " That worked out real good.  Why don't we just parade him on Channel Two News?   All of Harlem saw him get thrown thirty feet by a car , " said Elias.
    " Break his own leg and then walk away , " added Chi.
    " So what, they'll still vote for him , " replied Jan.
    " Meanwhile we find you two at a school dancing.  I thought he could barely walk . " Chi looked at Elias, then Jan.
    " What's next, rollerb la ding?  What the hell is happening here, Jan ? " asked Elias.
    " He's changing.  Ben is becoming more alive than you thought. "
    The men look ed at each other.
    " Ben?  He's Ben now?  A couple days ago he made your skin crawl , " said Chi.
    " I'm much more comfortable with him now. "
    " I think ' Ben ' needs to be locked up till the election is over.  And you need to be locked up permanent , " said Elias.
    " There's nothing wrong with me. "
    " There better not be.  One week from tonight, I want to be celebrating his victory. "
    " And you will be ," said Jan.
    " I better be, and then Ben can take a walk. "
    " In cement shoes ," laughed Chi.
    " You can't.  He's changing. "
    " He's dead honey.  A nd in a week, Ben go bye - bye.  Are you okay with that, Jan? "
    Jan look ed over at Wiley, still dancing.
    " Yeah. "
    " Good.  Now take the dancing bear upstairs and lock him in his room. "
    " I'm going to stay with him again . "
    " I don't care what you do.  J ust don't let him get away. "
    Jan rose, grabbed Wiley's arm and le d him out of the room.
     
    Once Wiley and the girl w ere gone, Chi got in his boss' face.  " I don't like this, E.  This really don't feel right. "
    " He is different, " said Elias.
    " Yeah, a lot different.  So is she. "
    " You thinking we got to take care of her when we disappear him ? "
    " I think we need to walk away , now . "
    " Don't be we ak, Chi.  Remember those 110Gs."    
    " I remember ' em.  I just don't know if this is worth it. "
    " It's worth it, I'm telling you it's worth all this."                                 
    " I hope you're right.  What about the World Affairs address tomorrow?  You're not going to let him go? "
    " Why not, the last time Wiley spoke in public we gained ten points. " Elias laughed.
    " We're already going to win in a landslide.  Why risk it? "
    " I don't just want to win, I want a mandate.  Plus, we can always say he suffered a drug relapse if he says something wrong . "
     
    Elias sat in a small studio in CNN's Manhattan headquarters.  A studio tech routed a microphone around his back and attached it to his lapel.  The woman handed him an ear bud and Elias gave the woman – a young Hispanic woman with a gentle face, strong booty in tight knit pants and fist sized breasts wrapped in a black bra underneath a