Part Thirty-Five

"Excuse me, sir. Could I ask you to take your seat please?" The woman in the green shirt spoke firmly to Raoul. She carried a two-way radio.

"I was trying to have a conversation," insisted Raoul.

"You are blocking the aisle, sir."

Peggy motioned for Raoul to sit down. "I don't think the gentleman wants to be bothered at the moment."

They were at R.F.K. Stadium in Washington, attending a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies. The evening was warm and humid.

Marjorie and Stan had surprised them by obtaining four tickets to the game. Peggy had initially declined, explaining to Marjorie that she was moving out of the hotel and cutting short her vacation with Raoul.

"But Stan got these great tickets from a friend who's on vacation and he really wants to take Raoul to the game," Marjorie had said.

"Can we arrange to give him a seat on the other side of the stadium?" Peggy said.

"Mom, it can't be that bad."

"You should have been at the hearing. He almost got into a fight with this guy from the Sierra Club."

"Those people can be obnoxious," said Marjorie.

"Now you're sounding like Raoul. My children are supposed to take my side, you know."

"I am on your side. Look, break up with him tomorrow, but tonight let's go to the ball game. We'll get some Thai food before we go."

Peggy relented. Raoul was thrilled. He was even more thrilled when they got to the stadium and he realized the excellent seats Stan had procured: third row, immediately behind the home team dugout.

  The man in the lower right corner is Michael Chertoff, Director of Homeland Security.

"Wow. What an amazing view," Raoul said as they settled into their seats. Peggy sat between Stan and Marjorie. Stan sat next to Raoul, who sat on the end of the row.

Stan leaned over to Raoul and whispered in his ear. "The guy in front of us is Michael Chertoff, the Director of Homeland Security."

"No way," said Raoul. "My firm is trying to win some new business with that agency. Maybe I should introduce myself."

Stan shook his head. "It would be considered bad form. When you sit in the V.I.P. section you don't talk to the V.I.P.s. Besides, that woman in the green shirt right there is keeping an eye on him. You might get thrown out."



The game went well for the home team. John Patterson, the pitcher, was working on an impressive shut-out when Raoul stepped into the aisle and positioned himself facing Chertoff.

Peggy looked at him, puzzled. Stan explained what was going on. Peggy groaned and sunk into her seat as she watched Raoul.

Chertoff smiled politely and shook Raoul's hand, then tried to look around Raoul to see the current play of the game. Raoul pulled out some business cards and started to hand them to Chertoff. A man with a large rack of cotton candy was trying to get around Raoul just as a sweating beer vendor was going up the other way. It was at that point that the woman in the green shirt with the two-way radio approached Raoul and asked him to sit down.

Raoul finally returned to his seat at the urging of Stan and Peggy. Two innings later he leaned forward to talk to Chertoff.

"Our international law practice has a proven reputation in the areas of border and port regulations," Raoul was saying as he offered a handful of business cards. Chertoff's wife looked at Raoul like he was from Mars.

Peggy said to Marjorie, "I wish I could just disappear."

"He does seem a bit assertive tonight," said Marjorie.

Peggy saw Chertoff nod his head in the direction of the woman in the green shirt. She talked into the two-way radio. A large man with a bald head and a colorful shirt came down the aisle to Raoul.

"Excuse me, sir, can I have a word with you?" the tall man said in a deep voice.

Raoul looked stunned. "About what?"

Stan looked at Peggy. "He's plainclothes security. Ouch."

"I'm going to ask you to leave the game, sir."

"What?"

"You are disturbing other patrons. I suggest you come with me quietly. The alternative is that four men will carry you out. There could be media coverage."

"This is outrageous," said Raoul.

The man talked into a small radio. Raoul, Stan and Peggy turned and saw four uniformed men standing a few rows up, waiting for instructions.

"You're serious, aren't you?" said Raoul.

"Serious as a heart attack," said the guard.

"I'm not moving an inch," said Raoul.

The four guards came down. All eyes around them were now on Raoul as he was lifted from his seat, protesting, by the four guards. A man with a video camera on his shoulder rushed forward and got some footage. Several flashes went off. Raoul was momentarily bathed in white light.

"All right, I'll walk," cried Raoul.

They set him down. Peggy watched him trudge up the stairs. He looked back. Peggy waved.

Chertoff turned around and smiled at Stan. "Sorry about your friend. Can't imagine anyone hiring him as a lawyer."

"He's not from here," said Stan. "Doesn't know the rules."

"Can I use your guest room tonight?" Peggy asked Marjorie once everyone had turned their attention back to the game.

"You can use it for as long as you wish," her daughter answered.

The home team won, four-nothing.

  Plainclothes guard speaking after the game: Some guys just don't get it.