Hawk leaned forward. “Now, wait a minute. You said earlier that you weren’t doing this for political reasons or that Young couldn’t get in trouble for this. But what you just said sounds like your motivation is completely political. So, which is it?”
“Perhaps my motives are multi-pronged. I want people to know the truth, and I want voters to know who they’re electing when it comes to Young.”
“I’ll be the first one to answer that for you—they’d be electing a damn fine man,” Hawk said. “In fact, I don’t know that there’s a better man in Washington. But if you move forward with your threats to make this public before the election, before he’s had a legitimate chance to address this issue in the totality that it deserves, you’ll be ruining our country’s chances at getting one of the best men who’s ever darkened the doors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
Fowler sighed and shook his head. “I wish I could believe you.”
“Your belief in what I’m saying is irrelevant when it comes to the truth.”
“But that’s all I want: the truth. And for some reason, neither you nor Vice Presi—President Young want to give it to me or the public. I happen to find that extremely disconcerting on so many levels.”
Hawk sighed. “I’ll tell you the truth about President Michaels. He was once a good man, but he became a victim of his own lust for power and control. At some point, he lost sight of who he was and why he wanted to serve this great country. As a result, he ventured down some ill-advised paths, made some bad decisions, and then made even worse decisions trying to atone for or cover up his previous bad decisions. When you combined each move that he made, it added up to a potentially disastrous result if someone didn’t confront him and stop him. Yet he couldn’t see that in the end and chose to go on the attack rather than face the consequences for his actions. And that is the truth.”
Fowler cocked his head to one side. “Wait a minute. You were there, weren’t you, Max?”
Hawk furrowed his brow and stared at Fowler. “I was where?”
“You were there with Young and Michaels when he died. I knew you looked familiar. The glasses and fedora made it difficult, but I recognize you now.”
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken.”
“No, I know I’m right. You were right there with him.”
“I wasn’t, but even if I was, it doesn’t make any difference.”
Fowler chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, no, I bet it makes a hell of a difference whether you were there or not. When this story comes out, those people who witnessed it but kept their mouths shut are all going to be crucified in the press—and rightfully so. You’ll probably never work again in Washington, if you don’t end up in prison somehow for helping perpetrate this lie.”
“Never getting hired again in Washington wouldn’t be the worst thing that could ever happen to me.”
“I hope you didn’t come by to quibble with me or convince me that keeping my mouth shut is for the good of the country because it won’t work. I don’t care why everything happened the way it did. I hate to keep beating this dead horse, but I just want the truth to come out.”
“You don’t care why everything happened the way that it did perhaps because you don’t understand what I’m trying to tell you. Noah Young was the sole person who kept Conrad Michaels from turning the Oval Office into a throne room. If it wasn’t for him—”
Fowler stood hastily. “I think it’s you who doesn’t understand. I’ve been more than patient with Vice Presi—President Young. Tell him if the truth surrounding President Michaels’s death isn’t revealed within the next forty-eight hours, the footage will go public. And I think we both know that damage control will be far more difficult then. Now, if you’ll please show yourself out.”
Hawk shook his head as he stood. “You’re making a mistake, Mr. Fowler.”
Fowler narrowed his eyes. “Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a fact. And I pray you come to your senses before it’s too late. Quit being so unreasonable and accept the reality that sometimes the truth is complicated and messy.”
“I don’t care how messy or complicated it is,” Fowler said. “The truth is important simply because it’s the truth.”
“Sometimes good men go astray, and exposing the depravity of their souls isn’t always the best thing to do, even if it is the truth. Despite all his faults and flaws, President Michaels was still a person, a person who was loved and cared for by friends and family. Your quest to expose the truth about what happened surrounding Michaels’s death will also require that the entire truth about his life be told as well. And I can assure you that such disclosure right now will not be good for the American people.”
“And who made you the arbiter of what’s best for America?”
Hawk strode toward the door before he stopped and turned to answer. “We live in a gray world, Mr. Fowler. When you realize that, you’ll be much better off. The truth is still important, but it’s not always a hill to die on.”
Hawk touched the bill of his fedora and nodded at Fowler before exiting the house.
Fowler followed him outside but stopped at the doorstep. “Forty-eight hours, Mr. Summerton. Tell him he’s got forty-eight hours.”
CHAPTER 19
Andrews Air Force Base
Washington, D.C.
YOUSSEF NAWABI CRACKED his knuckles as he waited for the military police at the guard station to grant him access. He held up the security pass to Nawabi’s face and compared the two. With an exasperated exhale, the guard trudged back to his post and picked up the phone.
Sweat beaded up on Nawabi’s hands. As he eyed the guard’s movement, Nawabi reached down next to
