“Hello.” Kennedy sat in the back of O’Rourke’s truck and spoke rapidly into her phone. “Thomas, this is Irene. Where are you?”
“I’m in the Situation Room.”
“I have something that you are going to want to hear immediately.”
“What?”
“I can’t say, just trust me. Leave there immediately, and get back to Langley as quick as you can!”
Stansfield looked over his shoulder at the President, who was yelling at Nance and
Garret. “Irene, I’m in the middle of something really important.”
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“Thomas, I have a taped confession from Arthur, and you’re not going to believe what’s on it.” Stansfield hesitated for a second and replied, “I’ll get there as quickly as I
can.” After hanging up, Stansfield walked back to the table and looked at the President.
“I’m sorry, sir, but something very important has come up. I’m going to have to head back to Langley.” Stevens shook his head. “What could be more important than this?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll call you as soon as I find out. We’ll have to continue this later.”
Adjacent to Director Stansfield’s office was a soundproof conference room. Kennedy, McMahon, and Michael sat at the conference table and waited for Director Roach and
Director Stansfield to arrive. Michael kept wondering when the questions would start. He knew that eventually McMahon would ask why the assassins chose him to be their courier. Michael would play dumb and profess his hatred and open contempt for
Washington politics. The tape was his trump card.
As long as the FBI and the CIA thought that hundreds of copies could be mailed to the media at any moment, they would watch where they dug.
Even if they did find something, where could they go with the information? The door flew open and Stansfield and Roach entered, agitated and out of breath. Stansfield yanked off his overcoat and said to Kennedy, “Irene, this had better be for real. You just pulled me out of a huge meeting.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be a waste of your time.” Kennedy pointed at Michael.
“Thomas, this is Congressman Michael O’Rourke. He came to us with some information that you’re not going to believe.” Kennedy looked back at O’Rourke and said, “Congressman, this is Director Stansfield and Director Roach.” Michael rose and shook both of their hands. McMahon pointed at Michael. “When the Congressman awoke this morning, he found a package on his front step. It was from the assassins. Inside was a taped confession of Arthur Higgins.” McMahon held up the tape and shook it.
“It contains some disturbing information. Along with the tape is a list of conditions the assassins want met.” Stansfield gestured for Roach to take a seat and said, “Let’s hear it.” McMahon inserted the tape and pressed play. Some static began hissing from the small tape player, and then Michael’s computer-altered voice asked, “What is your name?”
“What?” asked Arthur’s drugged voice. “What is your name?”
“Arthur… Arthur Higgins.” Stansfield’s eyes closed. “When were you born?”
“February thirteenth, 1919.”
“Who were your parents?”
“Arthur and Mary Higgins.”
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“Who do you work for?”
“I don’t work for anyone. Why don’t you take those masks off and we’ll talk …. I’m a very wealthy man.”
“Who did you used to work for, Mr. Higgins?”
“The CIA.”
“What did you do for the CIA?”
“A lot of things …. Why don’t we talk about releasing me before you find out something that you don’t want to know.”
“When you were at the CIA, which directorate did you work in?”
“Operations.”
“Specifically, what part of the Operations Directorate?”
“Black Ops … I did a lot of stuff.”
“What did you do for the Black Ops?”
“I ran it.”
“Why did you leave the CIA?”
“I quit.”
“Did you quit or were you forced out?”
