For every minute that expired, their chances of getting him back decreased. Stansfield also had procedure to follow. He picked up a secure line and dialed the number for the
National Security Desk at the White House. “National Security Desk, Major Maxwell speaking. Please identify yourself.”
“This is Director Stansfield of the CIA. Is the President on premise?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Alert the National Security Council and bring them in. We have a potential crisis in the making. Tell the President I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” Stansfield hung up the phone and told his bodyguard to get the chopper warmed up. The director then turned to Dobbs. “Charlie, hopefully we’ll get him back, but we have to start preparing for the worst. Get everyone in here. I want damage assessment reports as quickly as possible. We need to know what current operations might be in jeopardy, and how many of our agents’ covers could be blown if Arthur is interrogated.”
“Do you want me to alert our friends overseas?”
“Don’t tell the embassies yet. We’ll wait another hour or so.”
“What about the Brits? Arthur did a lot of work with them.”
Stansfield hadn’t even thought of that yet. Their allies would be extremely upset.
“Hold off on that for another hour or so. I’ll have to make those calls personally. If any further developments arise, call me immediately.” Arthur answered the last question of his life.
Michael looked at Coleman in complete disbelief and hit the stop button on the tape recorder. As Michael rose, he pointed toward the door and Coleman followed. When they got into the hallway, they took off their masks and stared at each other. They could not believe what they had just heard.
259
Michael spoke first, through clenched teeth. “This is unbelievable!” “It’s more than unbelievable, it’s enough to bring the whole government down. Do you know what would happen if we released this tape to the press?”
“We’ll be the bastards of the international community,” said O’Rourke.
“It’ll rip the country apart. If Watergate tarnished the presidency, this will destroy it forever.” Coleman pointed toward the room. “Do you want to ask any more questions?”
O’Rourke thought about it for a second and said, “No. We found out what we wanted.”
Michael looked at his watch. “The sooner we get rid of him the better.”
“I agree. Make a copy of the tape, and I’ll take care of Arthur.”
They both went back into the room. Michael grabbed the tape and went upstairs.
Coleman grabbed the empty syringe from atop the dryer and pulled the plunger back, filling it with air. Bending down, he looked into Arthur’s glassy eyes for a second, and then, with utter disdain, he stuck the needle into Arthur’s arm. Coleman depressed the plunger, sending thousands of lethal air bubbles into Arthur’s bloodstream.
Coleman had no desire to watch him die and went to the garage to find something to wrap the body in. Michael came back downstairs several minutes later and helped
Coleman wrap Arthur in green trash bags. They placed the corpse in the trunk of the
BMW and covered it with some blankets. Coleman looked at O’Rourke and asked, “What are you going to do with the tapes?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Are you thinking about releasing them to the media?”
“I’m not so sure it would be a good idea.” Coleman nodded. “I think it would set us back a hundred years.”
“I agree.”
“Well, whatever you decide to do, you’re going to have to do it without me. I don’t think you and I will be able to see each other for a while.
If you’re right about the FBI, I’m going to have to lay low.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. This tape might come in handy.”
“How?” asked Coleman. Michael shook the tape in front of Coleman’s face.
“This little confession would topple the entire government if it was released. Whether
Stevens was involved or not, he would be implicated.
260
He would be willing to do almost anything to keep this from being released, and the
CIA… they stand to lose the most. If this thing went public, the entire Agency would be shut down within a week. They would do almost anything to keep it quiet.”
“Yeah, like putting a bullet in the back of our heads.”
“Not if we do it right.
Let’s talk about it in the car.”
