3. The Frame Up 2

In the spur-of-the-moment, Laura, her parents, and the Human Rights Activists ran out of the house and met her astounded security men. The pressmen were still hiding their heads and could not explain how the soldiers left.

“What is the matter? I heard gunshots,” Laura asked curiously and looked at the military helicopter that had taken off.

“They shot him,” a pressman raised his head and answered.  

“Oh, my God! I am unaware that they would arrive so soon and pick him up,” Laura boasted.

Now, the pressmen were getting up one after the other and had to give an account of what they did not witness, even if it meant cooking up stories.

“They have killed him. The Head of State has zero tolerance for domestic violence.”

“Yes. Violence against women, especially pregnant women, angers him,” a reporter confirmed.

“It serves him right,” her father pointed out and his befuddled wife lurched forward and castigated him, “Oh, dear! He died a painful and shameful death.”

“Yes. Our daughter gave him the privilege to live but he abused it. I love the Head of State for this action,” her father opined.

Laura was calm and tried to process the whole thing. Although she wanted Tim out of her life but was undecided whether to be happy over his death or not. She looked at the pressmen with an unreadable expression. 

Nevertheless, the press must report what would favor them and their readers, listeners, or viewers. They took different photographs of Laura and her happy parents. Afterward, they left.

At The Military Headquarters

The three gunshots by the jealous superior, Gen. Sidney McDonald, were to herald the emergence of the officer who would take over from him. He was the third man in the country and was certain that Tim was better than him and would move their country, Canterbury, to a greater height. The pressmen interpreted it wrongly but the military knew better. 

“I was wrong, Generals, and guilty of treason. I deserve to be punished by death,” General MacDonald confessed, put his two hands forward, and was ready to be handcuffed.

The Head of State, Gen. Felix Richmond, ignored him and looked at Tim.

“We are glad to have you, General,” he stated.

Instantly, Tim gave him a military salute accordingly, “Good morning, Gen. Richmond. Thank you for having me. You sent for me.”

He returned the salute and said, “Yes, I did. You are free to sit down.”

Likewise, he ushered him to a seat. Tim put his hand down, adjusted his bag, and sat down. He looked at the members of the Supreme Military Council and greeted them with a smile. They smiled back at him and the meeting began.

“For three years, the entire military squad had combed the country searching for you but to no avail,” General Richmond explained. 

Tim tried to get up and apologize but he stopped him.

“Keep the apologies and explanation for later, Tim. Now that we have found you, we are contented.”

He sat down again and appreciated him, “Thank you for having me, Your Excellency.”

“Good. Just for clarity’s sake, did you beat your wife?”

“Not at all, General. If I did, she would have been dead,” he answered and Gen. Richmond looked at him critically to ascertain the truth but he realized that his left eye was swollen. He furrowed his brow and inquired, “What happened to your eye?”

“Why is it swollen?” The Second in Command, Gen. Kay Hill, asked anxiously.

Tim smiled shyly and answered, “I am not proud to say that I allowed a woman to hit me. Pardon my weakness.”

“Hit you? Why is she playing the victim?” Gen. Hill asked. 

Tim smiled calmly and the Head of State continued, “We believe you. From now on, you are General Tim Williams, and all your information is classified. Your work starts now.”

“Thank you, General, for the honor,” he appreciated him and stood up for decoration. To pacify the house, Gen. McDonald walked briskly to the shelf and got a military uniform with the General's insignia on the collar. They watched the Head of State decorate him, and everyone saluted him joyously.

Afterward, he faced Gen. McDonald and looked intently at him. Everyone was calm and waited for his verdict while the culprit expected nothing but death.

The Broadcast

(It serves him right. Yes. Our daughter gave him the privilege to live but he abused it. I love the Head of State for this action.)

Mr. Dickson's remark concerning Tim's death and the Head of State's action took the center page of the news. The death of his lazy son-in-law gave him instant popularity and he loved it.

“This is good, hubby. The Head of State may invite you for an award concerning this,” his wife joyously pointed out.

“Yes. Mom is right, Dad. I will speak to my boss about you tomorrow and you will be rewarded for speaking good about the Head of State,” Laura promised.

“Wow! This is the best to happen to us. Good riddance to bad rubbish," Mr. Dickson said. 

He was a poor teacher in a public school. Apart from Laura, he had two boys, Gerald and Samuel who loved Tim. He lost his job during the war and lived from hand to mouth with his family and son-in-law until Laura got her present job. Meanwhile, she was not a soldier but scaled through their rigorous Military Aptitude Test which made her chairman conclude that there must be a military man behind her and tolerated her domineering manners.

The broadcast also captured Laura's calm demeanor and could be interpreted as nonchalance over her ex-husband's death. However, the captions gave her concern but she cheered up:

(She is happy with her new status as a divorcee.)

(A beautiful young widow.)

(She recovered so fast after the miscarriage.)

The news of her family was making rounds on the airwaves and social media until the Head of State's broadcast quashed it.

At The Military Headquarters

After looking at Gen. McDonald for a while Tim passed his judgment.

 “Gen. McDonald, you deserved to be killed just as you intended to do to me. Your actions allowed our enemies to kill a few of us which was against my wish.”

“You are right, Gen. Williams. I deserve to be killed.”

Without answering him, he continued. 

“The families of those soldiers wept when their loved ones did not return. Their wives and children were widowed and orphaned.”

He paused and looked at the Head of State, his Second in Command, and the other members of the council and they were moody. After a few seconds, he pleaded. 

“I am aware that you have done this in the past but permit me to request. Shall we rise for a minute's silence to honor and remember the deceased?”  

At once, everyone stood up with heavy hearts and bent their heads. After a minute, he prayed, “May their souls find eternal rest.”

“Amen,” they chorused, sat down, and waited for his verdict on Gen. McDonald. 

He looked into the Head of State's eyes, smiled bitterly, and pleaded again, “May I request that we erect a cenotaph of those who have died in the heart of Canterbury.”

“Your wish is granted forthwith,” the Head of State responded.

“I appreciate it, Your Excellency.”

Now, the culprit twitched his eyes and waited for the worst while Tim faced him and continued.

“Imagine how your wife and children will feel if you don't return home to them today. Their hopes of getting a hug from their father and a peck from a husband would be dashed forever.”

At that point, everyone was sorrowful, including the Head of State.