The Richard Jackson Saga: Book: 9 Cold War

Riverwalk. There was a boat dock right at the downstairs exit to the hotel so it would be very easy to get around. You could also walk the entire path if you so desired.
On the way to the hotel, the Marshal and I discussed how I was viewed within the Marshal’s Service. It had become common knowledge that I carried a Deputy Marshal badge. Some approved, most didn’t. The reason I had been made a Deputy was never made clear to the rank and file so they had good reason to question it.
I had never been told that I couldn’t share that information. I briefly told him my story about my run-ins with the KGB. My first encounter was in Cuba finding critical information about the Soviets building missile launching pads.
I was very vague about the incident at the airbase. It made sense not to spread how we almost got into World War III. For Mary’s kidnapping, I gave a graphic description of how the family reacted. You could see him cringe at the beheadings.
Then there was the counter-surveillance training where a Soviet spy ring was exposed. This was followed up by a KGB trap led by an FBI traitor. Finally, there was the most recent attempt at the dry-cleaning store.
I explained that I had never been told not to share these stories but he probably should keep them within the Marshal Service if he chose to share them and that I would appreciate it if he would do that across channels rather than up to his superiors.
I would probably catch hell about this down the line but I would rather ask forgiveness than permission. I had to deal with the Marshal’s for the entire trip, and those questioning my validity could endanger me.
That was all a worry for later. I unpacked at the hotel. I didn’t have any commitments until the following day. I was to be at the Majestic Theater after lunch. I would be in the lobby an hour and a half before showtime signing autographed pictures.
It was ironic that the Majestic had been picked. It was well past its glory days and now only had B-movies. This is what ‘Over the Ohio’, was initially budgeted as. Well, it did come in within budget so I guess it technically was still a B-movie. You couldn’t tell it from all the reviews.
To get in free you had to be a member of my fan club. My understanding was that the few real members I had, plus a few paid ones, were sent to all the parks with summer recreation programs and youth centers in town to pass out membership cards which had a free ticket attached.
Since I was free for the evening I walked around the Riverwalk. It was a pleasant evening, not too hot. It seemed like there was an enticing restaurant every inch of the way. Roving bands of musicians kept the crowds in a happy mood. There were bridges every couple of hundred feet so you could cross to stores and restaurants on the other side easily.
The boats, really little barges chugged along the river every several minutes. The Riverwalk was truly a continuous festival.  I was able to get into a program called, “Fiesta Noche del Rio,” at the Arneson River Theater. It had upbeat music and dancing all with a Southwestern or Mexican heritage. I was well aware that you had to be careful not to call a Tejano a Mexican. These were people of Mexican descent who were in Texas before the revolution. They fought for freedom alongside Houston, Bowie, and Crockett. They were proud of their heritage and rightly so.
They were the true founding families of Texas and to this day had great influence. Their music and food had even been diverging from Mexico. The food was now called Tex-Mex. To say it was spicy was an understatement. I think I know why their young ladies were said to have fire in their blood. Not that I would know. One could only hope.
I had thought I had dressed appropriately for the evening. I wore jeans, boots, rodeo belt buckle, along with my white cowboy hat. I was just about the only cowpoke there. There were many young men with their dates, all in their suits and ties.
The evening was cool enough I wore a light denim jacket. This allowed me to wear my shoulder holster. I had my US Marshals Badge and ID with me. Since I was in Texas I also wore my Honorary Texas Ranger badge on the outside of my jacket.
From the looks and whispered comments I must have been over the top. Oh well. I wondered how many of them had been caught in a cattle stampede or tangled with rustlers.
I had even been in a showdown on Main Street. Oh right, that was in a movie. Let’s not get carried away Rick.
Even though I stood out no one made an issue of it. I was recognized by several people but they didn’t make a big deal of it. I had pictures along and autographed them, handing them out with free tickets for tomorrow. I was afraid I might get swamped but it was all done quietly and quickly on three separate incidents.
The most exciting thing I saw were four frats boys, at least they had fraternity tee-shirts on, running, or more like staggering down the center of the River. The water was only three or four feet deep. They would stumble and come back up and keep moving. There were two Policemen on each side of the path waiting for them to come ashore.
It looked like a night in the drunk tank for them.
That is until one of them pulled a gun out and pointed it at an Officer across the river. The two Policemen on my side were out of position to do