Capital Offense

The Washington Post

May 12,2001

President Warner Hamilton Lane Near

Death!

SAN JOSE – President Lane was critically injured Tuesday morning while touring the Sycon Chemical Repackaging plant. During the visit, toxic vapors were released, causing an exothermic reaction.

Ten others were killed during the accident, including Senior White House Adviser Mark Dailey.

Unofficial sources state that the president has not regained consciousness. Hospital doctors have refused to comment.

Sources have confirmed that the emergency exhaust ventilation system at Sycon responded but that it started seconds too late. Sycon’s emergency response team entered the facility to find an unconscious president and Mr. Dailey wedged in a doorway between the chemical storage room and the reprocessing facility. Rescuers report that it appears that Mr. Dailey pulled the president out of the contaminated area shortly before succumbing to the chemicals himself.

Four Secret Service agents, three corporate executives, and two members of the media collapsed on a catwalk, where they died.

The area where the release occurred is under investigation by Fed OSHA. The cause of the accident is still unknown, but investigators have focused on the valve seals for the process piping. The facility has been closed until the exact cause can be determined. FBI sources said that this investigation will probably take weeks, if not months.

In accordance with the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Congress will hear testimony regarding the prognosis of the president. If it is determined that he is unable to execute the duties of his office, then Vice President Richard Young will be sworn in as the 45th President.

While President Lane is comatose, Richard Young is the Acting President in accordance with the constitutional line of succession.

EIGHTY-THREE

Carolyn closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat of the Secret Service Suburban. The smells of fresh leather and plastic told her that the truck was new.

Lightning lit up the night sky. Thunder cracked.

She shivered.

While watching the testimony to Congress regarding Warner’s condition, she’d suddenly become certain of what she must do. But she had no idea of how it would all come out in the end. She was ready to place her own life on the line, but what concerned her were the other lives she knew she must involve.

As the vehicle turned onto Swann Sheet the LCD display on the dashboard glowed the time: 1:17 A.M. Only street lamps and the Suburban’s headlights lit up the dark neighborhood at this early hour. The driver pulled to the curb in front of a townhouse. Carolyn had called thirty minutes earlier. She hoped they both were there, and that they would help her, for tonight was her only chance to correct the course of history.

***

Jack arrived at Katherine’s home within minutes of Carolyn’s call. They hadn’t spoken since she’d told him about her run-in with the Secret Service.

Her eyes met his when she opened the door.

He could see the hurt etched in her features. although he knew she’d never admit to it.

They sat in the living room. Even the cozy, overstuffed blue and white couch and chairs couldn’t dispel the combative mood in the room.

Katherine sat across from Jack, her posture straight and unyielding.

“I can’t believe you told Carolyn everything,” Jack began in a low voice. “Do you know that the Secret Service ransacked my hotel room, took all of my files, and my tapes?”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t think I had a choice.” Katherine cocked her head to the side. “Face it, Jack. You got what you wanted.”

“And what was that?”

“You wanted me to believe you. Well. I did. And I think we’re about to find out exactly how right you were.”

EIGHTY-FOUR

A Secret Service agent opened the car door and stepped aside. Carolyn hurried from the truck to the front door, praying the moonless night would cloak her arrival. She rapped twice, and the door swung open.

Jack pulled her inside and quickly shut the door.

Katherine stood beside him. “Take off your coat. I’ve got tea on.”

Carolyn handed Katherine her wrap and moved to a chair in the living room. The curtains were drawn against prying eyes.

Jack sat across from Carolyn. Katherine set the tea service and cups on the coffee table, then joined Jack on the couch.

“I need your help.” Carolyn looked at both of them. “And after you hear what I’m asking, I want you to feel free to say no. This is my fight. I realize it’s not fair that I even ask for your help, but quite frankly, I don’t know whom else I can trust or turn to.”

Katherine folded her hands in her lap.

“What’s going on?” Jack asked.

“It’s more of a question of what has already gone on.” Carolyn said. She explained that she’d discovered that Richard Young had orchestrated the accident causing Warner’s critical condition and Mark Dailey’s death. That he, too, was a member of the infamous Council.

Katherine paled.

Jack’s brow furrowed in concentration.

They both remained silent.

Carolyn explained how she had been set up and revealed her own mistakes along the way, including her affair with Richard Young, her use of Winston Cain to investigate various candidates, and her partnership with Mort Fields.

Finally, she revealed her suspicions and how she had come to know of Young’s involvement. She ended by telling them how guilty she felt for not recognizing Richard’s meaning when he’d told her that he was going to “take care of the problem.”

It seemed pointless to mention that Young had offered her the vice presidency, a place in history like no other – the first woman to hold the second highest office in the land. They would hear about it in the press tomorrow, she thought, but by then she would have destroyed that opportunity. So, she left it out.

“I could have prevented these deaths had I understood. Now, I feel I must do something to make this right.” Carolyn paused. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, horrible lapses in judgment.” She fixed her gaze on Jack. “Katherine told me that you suspected I was involved with these crimes.”

He stared back. “That’s true.”

“That’s why I asked you here, Jack. I believe I can prove my innocence, and show who’s guilty. But I need your