“It was purely a domestic issue … political in nature.”
“All the more reason that the FBI should be involved,” responded Stansfield.
“Thomas, I’m telling the truth. What we were doing with Arthur had nothing to do with the Agency.
He was simply doing some freelance work for us that was political and nothing else.”
Stansfield looked at his watch and then Garret. “Do you want me to bring Director Roach back in?” The speechless Garret had beads of sweat forming on his forehead and upper lip. He was so flustered all he could do was shake his head from side to side. “What in the hell is going on here?” asked the President. “A former employee of the CIA shows up
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dead on your lawn, Stu, and you look like you’re about to have a nervous breakdown. I
want some answers!”
“Sir, as I said earlier,” responded Nance, “for your own protection, I think it would be best if you remained in the dark on this.”
“For my own protection, I want to know what in the hell is going on!”
Stevens’s complexion reddened. Nance took a deep breath and paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “We recruited Arthur to help aid in the passage of your budget through the
House.”
“How?” asked the President. “He did some … background checks on several
Congressman.” Stansfield shook his head sideways knowing full well what background checks really meant. The President asked, “What do you mean by ‘background checks’?”
“Arthur gathered some information for us that we used to convince some of the more reluctant Congressman to vote for your budget.”
“You did what?” asked an exasperated Stevens. “Stu, was this your idea?”
“No … well, kind of…” Stansfield watched the President grow irate and decided that he had likely been kept in the dark. Kennedy was too engrossed in Arthur’s taped confession to do anything but listen.
When it was over, it dawned on her that she needed to get ahold of Stansfield immediately.
Grabbing the digital phone from her pocket, she dialed the direct line to her boss’s office. After six rings it rolled over to his secretary.
“Director Stansfield’s office. How may I help you?”
“Pat, this is Irene.
Where is Thomas?”
“He’s at the White House.”
“Get ahold of him immediately!” said Kennedy tersely. “It’s very important.”
McMahon was in the front seat doing the same thing, but trying to get ahold of Roach.
Michael continued to drive and prepare himself for the inevitable landslide of questions.
Back in the Situation Room, Stansfield waited for the President to stop yelling and then asked, “Who did he blackmail?”
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“I think we have cooperated more than enough,” responded Nance. “You don’t need names.”
“Yes, I do. Because I am going to have to talk to them.”
“Thomas, I would prefer to let this thing die,” said Nance. “I’m sure you would, but
I’m not going to let it. Whoever killed Arthur also interrogated him. The pathologists told me he was loaded with sodium pentothal. If you two think you’re out of the woods by telling me you blackmailed several Congressman, you’re wrong. Whoever took Arthur got some information out of him, and it obviously had something to do with Mr. Garret.”
A look of sheer panic flashed across Garret’s face and he shouted, “They interrogated him?” Nance stayed calm and smiled.
“You’re bluffing, Thomas.”
“I’ll show you the toxicology reports if you’d like.”
“Don’t insult me.” Nance smiled with a wide grin and said, “You could doctor them to say anything you wanted.”
“Come now, Mike, who is insulting who? Look at your friend Mr. Garret.
He’s wound up so tight he’s about to snap. You’re not telling me everything there is to know about your dealings with Arthur, and that’s fine.” Stansfield held his hands up. “I’m sure Director Roach and his people will have more success in finding out what really happened.”
“Enough!” snapped the President. “Stu and Mike, I want to hear the whole story right now. No more games!” There was a knock on the door and a Secret Service agent entered. “Director Stansfield, your office is on the line. They say it’s an emergency. You can take the call right here.”
The agent pointed to a phone on a table by the door. Stansfield walked over to the phone and grabbed it.
