The Dark that Doesn't Sleep

For Louis and Penelope 1 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DCDecember 27, 1967, 2:00 A.M.The room was brightly lit. Pale blue walls shone white and the black floor tiles shimmered and rippled like water. Paper chains and tired snowflakes hung from the ceiling and a Christmas tree sat unhappily in the corner, leaning forward but somehow not tipping. In the middle of the room was a flimsy Formica table and on either side sat two men, neither of whom wanted to be there.Jack Miller was relaxed but wary, his 2 Langley, Block BDecember 27, 4:00 A.M.Jack poured himself a cup of coffee and glanced around the deputy director’s office. It was the same as he remembered, only this time more of a mess. Files were stacked on bookcases and piled up on cabinets. They’d gathered on the desk, too, leaving only the smallest square of workspace. On the wall was the obligatory army photograph that all the Agency seniors had to prove they’d actually fired a gun at someone once. Jack knew half the people