“I’ll try to remember that when she’s bouncing all over the pew in twenty minutes.
Come on, turn off that TV. I don’t want to be late.”
“Hold on, I want to watch this for a minute.”
“Brian, I don’t want to be late again this week.”
“Honey, take Katie and get in the car. Tell the guys to get saddled up, and I’ll be out in a minute.”
The “guys” Roach was referring to were his personal protection detail, more commonly known as his bodyguards. Patty left the room and Roach turned his attention back to the TV. The panel on the show consisted of three reporters, one of whom acted as the host. This morning’s special guest, House Speaker Thomas Basset, and the three reporters sat in a semicircle, around a horseshoe news desk. Roach stepped across the room and turned up the volume. “Speaker Basset, this week was an extremely difficult one for many of us here in the nation’s capital, probably more so for you than most. You were very close to these three men. You have worked with them for most of your adult life not always agreeing, but more often than not finding a common ground. How have the events of the last several days affected you?” Basset shifted in his chair. “They have been, to put it lightly, very difficult …. What most people don’t understand is just how tight of a community we are here in Washington. Our wives all know each other, many of
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our children went to school together, we see each other at the local churches on Sunday, we’re a very tight group. The last three days have been extremely painful.” Basset shook his head and looked away from the camera. “How have you, personally, taken the deaths of your colleagues?”
“I’m grieving right now … there’s a lot of pain. You go to bed one night and wake up the next morning only to find out that three men who you have worked with for over thirty years have all been brutally murdered.
It’s shocking. It’s very painful.”
“I know this week is going to be hard for you, but what are your plans for bringing the House back into legislative session?”
“I will take my time to grieve and remember these great statesmen appropriately, and then we will turn to the President for guidance.
President Stevens is a very strong leader, and with his help we will move forward and get back to the business of governing this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, everyone is very aware of the letter that was sent to the media by the group claiming responsibility for the murders.
There have been some rumors circulating around town regarding the authenticity of this letter. The President even hinted at it in his speech the other night. Can you shed some light on any of these rumors?”
“To the best of our knowledge, the letter was sent by the group that committed the murders. The letter was postmarked the day before the killings and names all three of the deceased. What is in question right now is the actual reason why these murders were committed.” The host leaned forward. “Do you mean to imply that the murders were not committed for the reasons stated in the letter?”
“That is what we are exploring.”
“What leads you to believe the letter is not what it appears to be?”
“Well, the FBI is very suspicious of the timing of these murders.”
“Why?” Basset hesitated for a moment. “They are uncertain that the murders were committed solely for the reasons stated in the letter.”
The host became visibly excited as he asked his next question. “What facts have they discovered to back this up?”
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“The FBI is being very tight-lipped about this, as I’m sure you can understand. All I
know right now is that they have received some information that has led them to believe the murders were committed for reasons other than those stated in the letter.”
Roach looked at the TV and shook his head. “What in the hell are these guys up to?”
The host continued, “What type of information?” Basset frowned. “I can’t go into it right now.” One of the other reporters jumped in. “If you can’t tell us what the FBI has learned, can you tell us what they are speculating the real motive to be?” Basset shifted uneasily in his seat. Garret and the President had briefed him on the plan. He found the possibility of the murders being committed for the purpose of toppling the Stevens administration and the party to be plausible. At this point, in this town, anything could be possible. What he felt uncomfortable doing was intentionally lying about what the FBI
believed to be the reason for the murders. But Basset had learned long ago not to probe too deep. It was easier on his conscience to ponder his actions lightly. With no visible guilt or awkwardness Basset uttered his preplanned response. “The FBI thinks the murders were committed to try and stop the President’s budget from being passed.”
Roach tried to stay calm as he pinched the bridge of his nose tighter and tighter. The program broke away for a commercial and he turned off the TV. As he walked to the door, he asked himself once again, “What in the hell are they up to?”
Eleven miles away, Michael O’Rourke sat in his living room with Liz and Seamus.
Seamus had arrived earlier that morning. Michael and Seamus watched the broadcast with irritation while Liz was busy pecking notes into her laptop. She had a column that was supposed to be on her editor’s desk by 5 P.M. The program came back on the air, and the one woman on the panel started to ask questions. “Mr. Speaker, I know this must be a very difficult time for you and your colleagues, and I would not for a moment want you to think that I am condoning these murders, but the assassinations have thrust into the spotlight some reforms that the American people have endorsed for quite some time. The idea of term limits has an approval rating of almost ninety percent, and a balanced-budget amendment has an approval rating of close to eighty percent. Everyone agrees the national
