by J. C. Fields
“A few. I told her I would have to discuss it with you before I committed.”
Kruger frowned, “Why?”
She punched his arm playfully. “Because we make decisions together, mister. Or did you forget?”
Kruger chuckled. “I didn’t forget. Do you want to do it?”
She nodded.
“Well, do it.”
“What about the kids?”
“What about them? Give them a peanut butter sandwich and wish them good luck for the day.”
Shaking her head, she glanced at her husband. “You’re impossible.”
He smiled. “Whatever you want to do is fine with me, Stef. It sounds like something you would enjoy.”
“I know, it does. But I’m worried about the kids.”
“The university has one of the best day-care centers in the city, they’ll be fine. Besides, it’ll be good for Kristin. She’s ready for kindergarten, why not start her there. Besides, being around other kids will help develop both of their social skills.”
“Spoken like a psychologist.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I know. I’ve grown used to being with them all the time.”
He smiled and drew her into a hug. “Did you ever think you would put your kids ahead of your own ambitions?”
“No.” She shook her head against his chest. “I also never imaged being in love with someone as much as I am with you.”
Squeezing her tighter, he kissed the top of her head. “I know. Not sure how I got so lucky meeting you.”
Their embrace lasted a few more moments. While he put the sauté pan in the cabinet, she picked up the full coffee mugs and handed one to him. As Kruger watched her, a sense of contentment washed over him, a feeling he was unaccustomed to during the years before they met. Taking a sip, he followed her back into the room where their daughter and son were busy watching a movie about a frozen kingdom.
Before he could sit down next to his daughter, his cell phone vibrated. Sighing, he withdrew it from a jean pocket and glanced at the caller ID. The area code was California and the name under the number read Roy Griffin.
Chapter 18
Washington, D.C.
Roy Griffin’s office was located on the third floor of the Hart Senate Office Building. Despite his wife’s distaste for Washington, she was responsible for the office’s décor and appearance, utilizing natural wood, leather, and black steel as the main features of the senator’s work space. It was comfortable and inviting to visitors and his fellow senators. More than a few legislative proposals were negotiated on the two leather sofas facing each other in the center of the room.
In his late 40s, Roy stood a bit over six feet tall. He wore his blond hair slightly longer than current fashion and was male model handsome. Even by California standards, he was wealthy. Keenly aware his looks and money were the reason he now occupied a United States Senate seat, he strived to make a difference for the citizens of California. His rise to the Senate was meteoric.
Originally elected by his image-conscious Northern California district as a member of the House of Representatives, he was drafted by his party to unseat the previous second senator from California. The election was not a fair contest. After being caught taking numerous overseas trips, paid for by a huge California defense contractor, the previous senator lost in a landslide to Griffin. Now in his third year as a senator, he was Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. With that responsibility, he was privy to information most senators were not.
He stared at the cell phone laying on his desk. A number from his frequent call list was prominently displayed, ready to be called. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly and stood. A large floor-to-ceiling window was behind his desk, and he turned to look out at the United States Supreme Court Building. He stood staring out the window with his hands behind his back.
A light tapping on his office door brought him out of his thoughts. He turned to see his Chief of Staff, Sherry Carlson.
“Senator, I’m going to head out. Do you need me for anything else?”
“No, Sherry, thank you for coming in on a Sunday morning.”
“Not a problem.” She remained standing in his doorway. “Are you alright, Roy?”
One of his rules in the office was first names. Outside the office, more formality was needed, but here in the office, he preferred less pretense. His staff was getting used to it, but slipped at times.
“I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”
“You sure? I can stay longer if you need me to.”
He shook his head and smiled. “Enjoy the rest of the day. It looks beautiful out there. See you tomorrow.”
She returned the smile and left.
Griffin returned to his desk, picked up the phone and pressed the send icon.
***
Kruger smiled as he accepted the call. Roy Griffin was a friend, someone he had met almost four years ago during the investigation of a string of assassinations of prominent Jewish businessmen. While not Jewish, Griffin was also a target for assassination. Ryan Clark and he had prevented the congressman and his wife from being shot. Clark took the bullet intended for Griffin.
“Hello, Roy. How are you this morning?”
“Concerned.”
Frowning, Kruger’s tone turned cautious. “How so?”
“I had a strange call from the Majority Leader yesterday.”
“Not sure I know how to help with Washington, D.C., politics.”
“Uh…”
“Go on, spit it out.”
“Are you investigating a newly elected member of the Senate?”
Kruger hesitated, searching for an appropriate response.
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking, Roy.”
“Me either. He hinted that I needed to call you and put a squelch on your investigation.”
“Roy, you’re talking obstruction of justice.”
“I know. I didn’t like his implication and I told him so, but he insisted I call you.” He paused for a heartbeat. “Are you investigating a newly elected senator?”
“Just between you and me?”
“Yes.”
“It can’t go any farther because all we have is speculation and circumstantial evidence.”
“I understand. That’s the reason for my call. I need to understand why the Majority Leader would risk being charged with obstruction.”
“Do you want to know what we have?”
“Not sure, maybe. Give me the fifty-thousand-foot view.”
“It’s a cold case from my early days at the Bureau.” He gave Griffin a quick summary of the case. After finishing he remarked. “We knew all the incidents were related.”
“How?”
“All the victims except two were star women basketball players, and those two disappeared with a player.”
“I kind of remember hearing about this, but it’s been a long time ago. The bodies were never found?”
“No.”
Griffin was quiet. Kruger let him think. His silence lasted almost two minutes.
“Okay, Sean, I understand why the Majority Leader is trying to intervene.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“I’m shocked.”
Griffin chuckled, “No, you’re not.”
“You obviously see a connection I don’t. Care to elaborate?”
“I’m sure you know who the father of the new senator in question is?”
“Yes.”
“You know how rich he is?”
“I’ve heard he has a few dollars.”
“More than a few. Did you realize how much influence he still has in Washington?”
“I can only guess. But I know he took the fall for something his son did, which ended his career as a senator.”
Now it was Griffin’s turn to remain quiet. “I’m not following you.”
“Officially, Robert Burns Sr. took the blame for inappropriate contact with a young Senate inte
rn in 2012. There was more than inappropriate contact. The son raped her. To keep the incident quiet, he made a deal with then-Senate leadership to bow out of his re-election quest. The intern was paid off, and the whole affair swept under the rug before the news media could catch wind of anything.”
“How do you know this, Sean?”
“I can’t reveal sources at this time, Roy.”
“Oh, boy. What else has the son done?”
“We think he’s responsible for the six missing women.”
A long stretch of silence from Griffin ensued. Finally, Kruger heard, “How?”
“I would prefer not to discuss it over the phone. Ryan Clark is on my investigative team, he’s in Washington, and he can stop by to brief you. That is, if you want him to.”
Griffin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Have Ryan stop by.”
“I’ll call him.”
“I never told you why the majority leader is involved.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Robert Burns Sr. owns factories and businesses all over the United States.”
“I’m aware of the size of his company.”
“What you probably don’t know is the majority leader is from a state whose largest employer is owned by Haylex Holdings.”
“You’re right, I didn’t know that.”
“I can only guess what the elder Burns said to make him take a chance on stopping your investigation.”
Kruger did not comment immediately. “Which means it won’t be the only step he takes.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Neither did I until you brought it up. I need to mention this to my team.” He paused for a few moments. “Do you want Ryan to call you on this number?”
“Please.”
***
“That’s an interesting development.”
“I agree, Sandy.” The call to Sandy Knoll was made immediately after ending the conversation with Griffin. “And potentially troublesome for our investigation.”
“How so?”
“With Robert Burns Sr.’s political connections and wealth, there is no telling what he will do to try to stop our efforts.”
“So far Junior’s been a boring individual to follow. He’s making the rounds introducing himself to various senators and from what we’ve heard, receiving a warm welcome.”
“People like Burns can be charming when they want to be. Keep an eye on him.” He paused for a moment. “I’m more concerned about his nightlife than his meetings with senators.”
“Got it. Clark just left to brief Senator Griffin.”
“That was fast.”
“Yeah, he told Ryan to meet him at his office in the Hart Building.”
“Keep me posted.”
***
Roy Griffin smiled as he shook the hand of Ryan Clark. “I haven’t seen you since you joined the FBI, Agent. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Senator.”
“Please call me, Roy.”
Clark nodded.
“I never had an opportunity to thank you for protecting my wife and me in San Francisco. Sean tells me you made a complete recovery.”
“Except for an ugly scar, yes, I did.”
“I... Uh, I’m still embarrassed I didn’t believe you and Sean when you tried to warn me about the dangers.”
“Glad we were able to help.”
Griffin nodded. “What can you tell me about your investigation so far?”
“Most of the information we have points with a broken line to Robert Burns Jr. We know he was at each of the campuses when the women disappeared. His father owns the company that was installing part of a computer upgrade at each college, and we found information suggesting Junior was at each campus during the installations. Those locations were the only time he assisted. According to a source, he wasn’t involved at any others.”
“Could be a coincidence.”
Clark smiled, “One witness told Sean the man one of the women was seeing was named Bobby. Three witnesses told us the man had black hair.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Yeah, Robert Burns Jr. went by Bobby up until the time he started working for his father in the Senate. That was 2003, the same year the disappearances stopped.”
“I haven’t met the man, yet. I’m guessing he has black hair.”
“Yes, plus his age is right. He’s in his forties now, which would put him in his late twenties when the kidnappings occurred. Which is the age witnesses gave for the person identified as Bobby.”
“Why can’t you use this and company information about him being at the campuses and arrest him?”
Shaking his head, Clark pursed his lips. “Wish we could. The information is no longer available in the company computer. It’s been deleted.”
Griffin knew about JR but did not say anything. “I see. You’re right, lots of information but nothing a good lawyer couldn’t shoot holes through.”
“Did Sean mention the assault on a Senate intern in 2012?”
Griffin nodded and frowned. “Why wasn’t this brought out in the election?”
“Lots of money and a non-disclosure agreement. Not even the Senate leadership, at the time, knew it was the son.”
Standing, Griffin turned to stare out his window. “So you’re telling me a vicious sexual predator has been elected to the United States Senate, is that correct, Ryan?”
“Sean has a stronger word for it, Roy.”
Looking over his shoulder, Griffin responded, “What’s that?”
“A psychopath has been elected to the United States Senate.”
Griffin chuckled humorlessly. “Some would say it’s happened before.”
“Yeah, but none this dangerous.”
Chapter 19
Washington, D.C.
The black Cadillac Escalade pulled into the narrow undercover entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. It stopped long enough to allow Robert Burns Jr. to exit. After he was inside the lobby, the driver continued on around the u-shaped drive and exited back onto Pennsylvania Avenue.
Burns stopped at the concierge’s and made reservations at Bourbon Steak for two at eight. Continuing on to the elevators, he got off on the fourth floor, turned left and proceeded to his room. Dinner would be with a highly recommended individual whom he was planning to hire as his Chief of Staff. Once she was on board, he could leave this dreadful town and return to Seattle.
His day of interviews with Senate leadership left him mentally exhausted. Charming these individuals was easy, but remembering the lies he told them was exhausting. Glancing at his watch, he noted he had time for a shower before heading down for his dinner reservation.
***
“Where is he?”
Jimmie Gibbs sat at the Bourbon Steak bar and nursed his ten-dollar beer. Sandy Knoll’s voice was crystal clear in his earpiece, and he answered as he sipped his beer with the small mic attached to the sleeve of his sport coat.
“Sitting at a table, by himself. Looks like he’s waiting for someone. He keeps looking at his watch and then around the room.”
Knoll chuckled. “He may be waiting a long time.”
“Why?”
“Apparently Griffin found out a friend of his was being interviewed for the position of Chief of Staff with Burns tonight. He convinced her not to show up.”
“Good. How’d he do that?”
“Don’t know.”
“Hey, hold on. Burns is taking a call on his cell phone.”
As he watched, the newly elected member of the Senate listened, frowned, said something loud, and ended the call. The din of the restaurant kept Gibbs from hearing the response, but everyone around Burn’s table turned and stared at the man. As soon as the call ended, he stood and left the restaurant.
“Oops, she must have called.” Gibbs was taking another small sip of beer as he spoke. “He stormed out of the restaurant looking extremely pissed.”
Gibbs heard laughter through his ear
piece. “What floor is he staying on?”
“Fourth.”
“Did you get in today?”
“Yeah. We have a room across the hall. I’ve got six bugs stashed throughout his suite and a camera in the bedroom area. We should be able to hear everything he says.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
***
“You’re the one who recommended her to me.”
Burns’ cell phone was pressed to his ear. Knoll and Gibbs could only hear one side of the conversation. The video feed from the small camera was displayed on a laptop sitting on a desk in the hotel suite. Words spoken by Burns emitted through the laptop’s speaker.
Knoll looked at his team member. “Who’s he talking to?”
Gibbs shrugged. “Haven’t got a clue. He hasn’t mentioned their name yet.”
“What happened before I got here?”
“I got to the room several minutes after he returned. By the time everything was up and running, he had his ear on the phone.”
Knoll nodded.
They could see Burns pacing the room. He was out of view for a few seconds, then would walk back toward the windows and repeat the process.
“Now what am I going to do, Father?”
More silence.
“Well, now we know who he’s talking to,” Gibbs whispered.
Nodding again, Knoll remained quiet, staring at the laptop screen.
Burns stopped pacing by the window and stared out, his cell phone pressed firmly to his left ear. “I am calm. But I’ve just spent the last twelve hours talking to a group of gray-haired, seventy year-old men who are collectively the dumbest humans on the planet. So I am in no mood to listen to your excuses. I need to get someone hired so they can get a staff up and running.”
Silence as he listened.
“I am not going to do that, Father.”
He continued to study the view out the hotel room window.
“From what I was told today, the staff does everything. The senator just shows up, votes, then talks to the media.”
More silence. Burns covered his eyes with one hand as he continued to hold the cell phone to his ear with the other. His head slowly moving from side to side.