find anything out, otherwise let’s plan on talking later.”
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“Will do.” During Lortch’s short flight to Camp David, he’d prepared himself for what he knew was an assured confrontation with Garret. He thought about the way the chief of staff had treated Dorrell after the Basset assassination and knew he was in for the same treatment. What McMahon said was right, he’d put up with Garret’s reckless and unprofessional abuse for almost three years, and now was the time to put an end to it. He knew exactly how to handle it.
It would be kept between him and Garret, no one else needed to know.
Special Agent Terry Andrews was waiting for Lortch on the porch of the main cabin when the Suburban pulled up. Lortch walked up the steps, and Andrews led him over to a more secluded area of the porch. Andrews spoke in a low voice. “What have you found out?” Lortch relayed the discussion he’d had with McMahon and then asked, “How’s the
President?”
“He’s trying to get some rest.”
“Where is Garret?”
“He’s in the conference room with Hopkinson trying to figure out how they’re going to spin this story to the media. I was in there just when you landed, and they were debating whether or not they should hold a big ceremony and pin some medals on those
Marine pilots. I tell ya, Jack, it takes all the strength I have to not crack that damn idiot across the head. He’s been screaming his head off for the last hour demanding to know what’s going on. He told me the Secret Service is going to pay for this fuckup.”
“We’ll see.” The two men walked into the cabin and down the hall to the conference room. Lortch opened the door and entered first. Garret was standing over Hopkinson’s shoulder telling him what to write. He looked up at Lortch and pronounced, “It’s about time you got here.
You’d better have some answers for me.” Lortch ignored Garret and looked at
Hopkinson.
“Ted, would you please excuse us?” Hopkinson did nothing for a moment and then started to stand. Garret put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back into his seat.
“Anything you have to say to me, Ted can hear.”
Lortch glared unwaveringly into Garret’s eyes and said, “Not this, this is for your ears only.” The lean Lortch took off his jacket, laid it over the back of a chair, and pointed at the door with his thumb.
“Ted, please excuse us, this will only take a minute. Terry, you, too.”
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Hopkinson got out of his chair, and he and Andrews headed for the door.
As they were doing so, Garret snapped, “This had better be good.”
Lortch continued to stare at Garret and said, “Terry, please close the door.”
Andrews closed the heavy wood door behind him, leaving Lortch and Garret alone.
Garret stayed on his side of the table and started in. “You’d better have some answers for me. First you guys screw up and get Basset killed, and then you almost get my ass and the President’s blown out of the sky.” Garret continued to bark while Lortch walked around the table.
Lortch was just a little shorter than Garret and weighed slightly less.
Because of his slight size advantage and position of authority, Garret incorrectly thought there was no reason to physically fear Lortch instead of backing away, Garret took a step forward and pointed his finger at Lortch. “Heads are going to roll over this one, Lortch, and yours is at the top of the-” Before Garret could finish his sentence, Lortch grabbed his Adam’s apple and slammed him backward into the wall.
Garret stood pinned against the wall, his eyes wide open, and both hands wrapped around Lortch’s wrist. Lortch brought his face to within inches of Garret’s and in a tense, quiet voice said, “Stu, I think it’s about time you and I had a man-to-man talk. I’m finished taking your shit, and my people are done taking your shit! We’re sick and tired of your emotional outbursts! Today’s little ride up to Camp David was your idea! I told you it was an unnecessary risk, but you went ahead and for your own stupid reasons convinced the President that he should have the meeting up here. It was your idea, Stu, so
I don’t want to hear you say another word about it, or I’m going to start airing some of your dirty laundry in the press. “No heads are going to roll. You are not going to ruin my career or any of my people’s. In fact, you’re gonna start treating them with respect, because if you don’t, I’m gonna leak the story of how you and Mike Nance blackmailed
Congressman Moore.” Garret’s eyes opened wide, and Lortch smiled. “That’s right, Stu, I
know all about the little arrangement you and Nance had with Arthur Higgins.” Lortch paused to let Garret sweat a little more.
“I’ll make a deal with you, Stu. From now on you start listening to me when it comes to security issues. What I say goes, and I don’t want to see any more juvenile tirades. You start treating me and my people with the respect they deserve, and we’ll get along fine.
But I’m warning you, Stu, don’t piss me off again, or I’ll turn everything I have over to the
FBI. And believe me, there are plenty of people at the Bureau who would love to take a bite out of your ass!”
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MICHAEL WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF A BRICK APARTMENT BUILDING
