M. Forsythe - While Rome Was Sleeping

She had become more assertive and demanding and their little time together was increasingly burdensome and dangerous for Brad.

They had often quarreled over her jealousy of Olivia. Though it seemed totally irrational to him, Lia was furious that he was not jealous of her affair with Durkan.

They argued bitterly when Lia found out that Brad was leaving for Hawaii to meet Olivia. For the first time Brad confronted her about the information she had earlier passed to the Viet Cong, careful not to mention the further information he had learned from Paul. “I know that information on our POW’s was given to the VC and it came from you. You sold out some of your own people.”

He then told her the relationship was too dangerous to continue.Eyes snapping she struck back ridiculing him, “Who are ‘my’ people? Just remember, Baby, the information came from you, so if I get caught you get caught too.”

She accused him of believing everything Paul Thayer told him saying, “Oh yes, I know the two of you have dinners together, how cozy! You think I don’t know what goes on? People tell me things. You let Paul Thayer make up your mind for you and he tells you lies about me.

“Our relationship will be over when I say so… Baby! Don’t forget I always know what you like and how you like it, more than that dull wife of yours. Does she make you feel the way I do, Baby?” she screamed.

For the first time he quietly walked out in response to her fury, vowing to dissolve the relationship one way or the other. He stayed as busy as possible hoping Lia would see Phillip Durkan when he was in Saigon, but it was clear that her relationship with Durkan was not as intense as Brad would have wished.

Durkan didn’t offer Lia the prestige she desired, but now it seemed that her trips to Paris had added a new dimension of excitement to her life. Small wonder, Brad thought. He looked forward to R and R and seeing Olivia.

It had been wonderful with Olivia in Honolulu. The excitement of their courtship was rekindled and Brad silently vowed that he wouldn’t risk his reputation or career any longer. The time with Olivia in Hawaii would hold Brad’s resolve that nothing would stand in the way of his military career or of a marriage that was very much an asset to all of his plans.

He recalled his last six months of duty in Vietnam. During that time his encounters with Lia had been few. The war was creeping closer to Saigon and there had been numerous raids on Than Son Nhut airport. Brad’s responsibilities at Headquarters left little time for anything else. When he did see Lia it was usually at the embassy or at meetings with Perkins.

His friendship with Paul Thayer had strengthened and though Paul’s assignments often took him out of Saigon, they had managed to socialize once or twice a month.

On a March evening of 1970, Brad and Paul had had a drink together earlier. Paul was preparing to drive to Long Binh early the next morning. Brad had returned to his office and was preparing to work when he heard shouting and a commotion in the corridor. Military Policemen were there in numbers searching through the buildings.

Inquiring what was going on he was told that a sailor who had been slightly injured on a river boat mission had walked away from the hospital. The patient, Bos Anderson was due to be returned to duty later in the week, but he had managed to slip out and was missing. The dispensary had been burgled; narcotics had been stolen and it was suspected that Anderson was the culprit. After a thorough search it was determined that Anderson was not on the premises and was listed as officially AWOL.

The search continued, but Anderson had managed to elude his pursuers. He noticed a supply truck that was returning to Saigon and jumped in the back. As soon as he was in the city he looked for one of the hotels where some of the military officers were billeted. He saw an officer standing by a vehicle close to the Ham Ngi and speaking with an army non-com gesturing toward the jeep. Anderson got close enough to hear that it was all fueled and the driver would be there at 0400. He would wait until just before the driver was due and take the vehicle.

Brad returned to the hotel and was tempted to knock on Paul’s door but remembered Paul was leaving for Long Binh at 0400 and would be asleep by now.

When Paul Thayer entered his quarters he was surprised to find George Kelshaw waiting for him.

“What’s going on?” he asked Kelshaw.

Kelshaw spoke hurriedly, “We’re leaving now—leave everything behind—no ID; we got the message—‘The Bird is in the air’. We have to meet Klein, now.”

Shortly before morning a blast tore through the street close to the hotel. It jarred Brad and the residents out of bed. Throwing clothes on quickly everyone was running and it was unclear where the attack had originated.

Outside, Paul’s driver spotted Brad in the crowd and moved to his side. “Colonel Coleman, Sir, I’m Corporal Bodega, I was to drive Colonel Thayer to Long Binh this morning. That’s the vehicle we were to use… I was detained at a road block; they’re looking for some guy who bailed out of the hospital and checking everybody in and out. Anyway I was late trying to get to Colonel Thayer. Have you seen him, Sir?”

Brad surveyed the crowd and then said “Let’s check his room. I’m sure he didn’t sleep through this.”

After checking Paul’s quarters and checking through the hotel it became clear that Paul was not there. No one had seen him and most of his personal items were still in his room.

Shock was beginning to make its way into Brad’s consciousness. After a fruitless search for Paul, it was determined that everyone else was accounted for except Thayer. What was left of a charred body was found inside the burned and twisted hulk of the vehicle; and as the morning wore on and Paul didn’t appear Brad’s worst fears became reality.

Later, after a preliminary investigation it was concluded that Lt. Colonel Thayer was the victim. The investigators conjectured that an explosive device was placed in the vehicle in such a way that it was triggered by the weight of something or someone as they entered it.

Little forensic evidence or even dental work was available because of the extensive damage to the body, burned beyond recognition.

Brad was thoroughly shaken and wondered if Paul had been targeted and why. Thayer was well liked by everyone who knew him with the exception of one person whom Brad knew hated him. But surely she wouldn’t go that far, would she?

With difficulty Brad wrote a letter to Charlene telling her of the explosion that had claimed Paul’s life and then wrote to Olivia. He then made arrangements to accompany Paul’s body home.

Lia was in his quarters waiting for him when he arrived to pack for the flight.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “I thought I told you it was over.”

“You don’t have to worry anymore, Baby, now that Paul Thayer is dead. We’re free and clear!” She said softly, wrapping her arms around him. “No more Paul Thayer to tell lies to you about me and keep watch on you. Now we can be together as much as we want,” she insisted. “I made sure of that.”

“What do you mean, you made sure of that?” Brad’s voice was low and he felt frozen inside. “What did you do or what did you have your Commie friends do?”

“What do you think, Baby? Colonel Thayer was making big trouble for me… and for you too, but no more.” She was smiling as she slowly removed her dress. “Let’s make love, Baby, I’ll make it good for you,”

Not responding verbally, Brad succumbed, hating himself, but unable to resist the sight and the excitement of her body. This would be the last time. He knew it had to be.