“Hi Walt, Ox,” he said, taking my hand. “Good to see you both again.”
“You too, Mark. I hope you’re not back because we have more terrorists lurking around our fair city.”
“I hope not, too,” he said with a smile. “At least not for the next week. The president is coming to town. As you now well know, the Secret Service is part of Homeland Security. I’m here with the advance team to get everything ready for his arrival.”
In one of my previous assignments, I learned what an organizational nightmare it was to prepare a city for a presidential visit. The route from the airport had to be mapped, all cross streets had to be blocked, man hole covers had to be welded shut and all standing mail boxes had to be removed. If it was to be an outside event, every building in the area had to be checked thoroughly.
“Wow! Where have I been? I didn’t even know he was coming.”
“Supposed to be a really big deal. Part of the president’s plan is to make preschool available to every kid in the country. He’s coming to cut the ribbon on one of the first new facilities. Our problem is that the school is in the inner city. Security is going to be a nightmare. We’re going to need every man your chief can spare to cover the area.”
So that’s what the Captain meant when he said that Emma’s abduction couldn’t have come at a worse time. In terms of allocating manpower, the president would definitely trump the needs of an old woman.
“I’m sorry, Walt. I’ll talk to Franco Harriman and we’ll do everything possible to find Emma, but, as you can see, we’re in kind of a bind here. In fact, since you’ve had experience working with Homeland Security, I will want you and Ox to help co-ordinate with Mark and his team.”
Wonderful! At just the moment when my friend needed me the most, I was being dragged away to help protect a president that I didn’t even vote for.
That evening, I met with Willie to let him know what had developed.
“Have you heard anything from Rashon?” I asked.
“Louie did. Got a call on his cell from de creep. He tole Louie dat if Darius didn’ man up, he’d be finding’ his granny in pieces.”
“We have to try to stall him until we get this president thing out of the way. Have Louie give him a call. Have him tell Rashon that it would be wise to lay low. The place is going to be crawling with the Secret Service, Homeland Security and every cop in the city. Tell him that Darius will cooperate, but not until the heat is off.”
“Might work,” he replied. “But another part o’ that message is dat he better not hurt a hair on my lady’s head. Not if he wants to live.”
I hoped that Rashon would co-operate, because I knew that Willie meant every word.
After he returned from the Roscoe Encampment, Henry Martin had told Marsha that his company was giving him a few days off after his grueling week of corporate training.
Each day, he spent every waking moment with his wife and son. It was a bittersweet time. Each time they did something, his first thought was that this would be the last time they would be together in this special way.
Marsha and Billy were thrilled that they had him all to themselves without the constant financial worries that had plagued him for the past months.
On more than one occasion, he considered the possibility of trying to extricate himself from his obligation so that he could stay with his family, but each time he remembered two things.
The first thing was that lonely night when he sat alone in the dark house after the lights had been shut off. His family was gone and what was left of his home was crumbling around him. That was his darkest moment and he never wanted to experience it again. One way or the other, he would lose his family. Better to lose them, leaving them financially secure, rather than leaving them destitute.
His second thought was always Jaeger’s not-so-veiled threat that if Henry crossed them in any way, not only Billy and Marsha, but her parents too, would be in danger. After seeing the Skinheads and the militia first hand, he had no doubts that they would make good on their threats.
As his last hours of freedom ticked away, he thought that this must be what it was like for a man on death row, knowing the day and hour of his execution. At least the convict had the hope of a last minute reprieve right up to the minute that the chemicals coursed through his veins.
He knew that no such reprieve was possible for him.
Finally the call came that he had been dreading.
“Henry this is Jaeger. We have the president’s itinerary. Are you ready to proceed?”
Henry heaved a big sigh. “Ready as I’ll ever be. What do you want me to do?”
“Air Force One will be landing at KCI at noon the day after tomorrow. They will take I-29 into downtown Kansas City, get off on Independence Avenue, head east to Benton Boulevard and south two blocks to the new preschool. You’ll want to get there plenty early. The streets all along the route will be packed. They have set up a stage in front of the new school. That’s where the president will cut the ribbon and make a short speech. If you get there early enough, you should be able to get about seventy-five feet from the stage. The shot should be well within your range. Any questions?”
“No.”
“One more thing,” Jaeger said. “We haven’t really talked about this before, but now is a good time. After the shot, when they take you, they’ll want to know who you are working for. Tell them you were hired by the Freedom Fighters and that’s all you know.”
“Who are the Freedom Fighters? Is that what your coalition of groups is called?”
Jaeger laughed. “No, there is no such group. Our Brotherhood and the Militia are already under the microscope. The last thing we need is for the Feds to come storming after us. Freedom Fighters! Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good, because if we discover that you’ve ratted us out --- well, just remember Marsha, Billy, Jim and Ellen. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to them, now would we? So are we good to go?”
“One last thing,” Henry said. “Before I fire that shot, I have to know that the additional two hundred thousand has been deposited in my account. I’ll be checking throughout the morning. When I see the money in the bank, then I’ll be good to go.”
“All business! That’s what I like to hear. A deal’s a deal. The money will be there.”
After Jaeger hung up, Henry began the difficult task of writing the letter that he would leave for Marsha, giving her the information on the offshore account and the reasons behind his life-changing decision.
His final words were, “Please try not to hate me for what I’ve done. I love you both so much and I always will.”
Fortunately, due to the fact that the president’s ribbon-cutting was to take place right in the heart of Viper territory, Rashon saw the wisdom in laying low until all of the Secret Service and Homeland Security guys were off to another city and the K.C. cops were back to their regular beats.
As promised, Ox and I were assigned to work with Mark and his men, setting up the area surrounding the ribbon-cutting site.
City maintenance workers had erected barriers along the edge of the street from where the president’s motorcade would leave the freeway, all the way to the new school.
The president wasn’t due to arrive at the site until just before two in the afternoon, but all of us involved with security were on the job at daybreak. Even at that early hour, people were lining up behind the barrier to get a close look at the Commander-in-Chief.
I didn’t envy Mark and his men. The neighborhood was indeed a security nightmare.
Older two-story buildings surrounded the new school. Each one had to be thoroughly checked out. As the morning progressed, I saw Secret Service snipers taking their places on the rooftops of the old buildings.
As before, when we worked with Homeland Security at the All Star Game, we were each fitted with microphones and ear buds so that we could communicate with Mark and his team in the command center.
; By noon, every inch of space behind the barriers was taken. Most of the on-lookers were supporters of the president, but there were detractors as well.
Signs sprouted up with slogans like, ‘Send the illegals back to their own country!’ and ‘Don’t you dare touch my guns! I support the Second Amendment’.
Naturally, with time to kill before the arrival of the president, there were clashes between these two groups. Each time that the verbal jousting led to fists being thrown, cops in riot gear were johnny-on-the-spot to haul the combatants away in paddy wagons.
Mark was determined that nothing was going to mar the president’s historic visit to Kansas City.
At one thirty, my ear bud crackled, “The president’s motorcade has just turned off of I-29 onto Independence Avenue. They will be at the site in fifteen minutes.”
The motorcade consisted of two SUV’s leading the president’s limo followed by two more SUV’s. The five vehicles were surrounded by eight motorcycle cops.
The procession advanced along the route at a snail’s pace, giving the president ample time to wave congenially to his constituents lining the street.
When the motorcade came to a stop, Secret Service agents poured out of the four SUV’s, dressed in their black suits and dark glasses.
They surveyed the crowd for a full five minutes before the door was opened and the president stepped into the street.
He waved enthusiastically and raised his arms in victory as the crowd cheered.
He climbed onto the stage and took his place behind the podium. A contingent of U.S. Marines, followed by a school band, presented the colors and the Mayor led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The band played the Star Spangled Banner followed by Hail To The Chief.
After their performance, members of the band dispersed, some of them racing to the concrete barriers where they met proud parents that had come to cheer them on.
The Mayor took the podium and talked for a good five minutes about how proud the city was to be honored with the president’s visit.
Finally, the big moment came. The Mayor introduced the president and the crowd erupted in cheers once again.
When order had been restored, he spoke at length about his program to provide preschool to every child in America and how proud he was to be able to cut the ribbon for one of the first schools in his new program.
So far, the event had proceeded without a hitch. In just a few more minutes, the big guy would cut the ribbon, climb in the limo and be off to his next gig.
I was anxious for it to all be over so that we could get back to our normal routine. I had to figure a way to help Willie save his sweetie without any of us getting shot.
As Jaeger had suggested, Henry had arrived at the school early. It was a good thing, because he squeezed his way into the last opening at the edge of the barrier.
As he suspected, cops and Secret Service agents were everywhere, methodically surveying the crowd, looking for anything or anyone that might pose a threat to the president.
The cold steel of the Glock 17, pressed against his back and hidden under his light jacket, served as a constant reminder of the terrible act he was about to commit.
After what seemed an eternity, he saw the motorcade approaching. He pulled out his cell phone and accessed his offshore account. As promised, the money had been deposited. Jaeger had done his part and now it was his turn. It would all be over soon.
The president stepped out of the limo and after acknowledging the crowd’s applause, climbed the stairs to the podium.
Henry hadn’t really decided on the right time to fire the fatal shot. He figured that he would just play it by ear, depending on the circumstances.
Once the president took his place on the stage, he realized that he had made a tactical error. The president was seated directly behind the podium which blocked his view. When the president was to speak, only his head would be visible. Henry wasn’t confident enough in his marksmanship to attempt a head shot. His best opportunity would be when the president stepped from behind the podium to cut the ribbon.
To his surprise, tears welled up in his eyes as the Marines presented the Stars and Stripes and the band played the Star Spangled Banner. He had tried to convince himself that what he was about to do was for the good of the country. Jaeger and Cobb had certainly made convincing arguments to that effect. But as he watched the flag rippling in the breeze and heard the stirring words of the National Anthem, he knew without a doubt that what he was about to do was wrong.
Unfortunately, at that point there was no turning back. The money was in his account and if he didn’t follow through, his family could well be dead before the day was over. He had made a pact with the devil and now it was time to give the devil his due.
After the last notes of Hail To The Chief had faded away, the band dispersed and kids were running in every direction.
His thoughts were focused on the president, when he heard, “Dad! Dad! Is that you?”
To his surprise, Billy came charging toward him.
“Billy! What are you doing here?”
“That was our band that was playing for the president.”
“How could that be? You didn’t tell me.”
“We didn’t know until early this morning. Another band was supposed to be here, but something happened and they couldn’t make it. We played for the president, Dad! Isn’t that cool?”
Henry could see the pride and enthusiasm in his son’s eyes.
Now his son was going to have to witness his own father committing the most heinous of sins.
This was something he certainly hadn’t counted on. It would have been one thing for his son to see the reports on the news as his father was being led away in handcuffs, but to actually see it in person, with the president bleeding and dying was unthinkable.
This development had changed everything.
“Billy, is your mother here?”
“Yes, she’s back with the rest of the band.”
“Then go to her right now. Do you understand?”
“But Dad, why can’t I stay here with you?”
“Please, Billy. Just do as I say. I can’t keep you here with me. Now go!”
“Ohhh, all right,” Billy said, giving his Dad a hug.
After Billy had disappeared into the crowd, Henry looked around.
An older gray-haired cop was standing by a light pole on the other side of the barrier about ten feet away.
Henry muscled his way through the crowd and tapped the old cop on the shoulder.
“My name is Henry Martin. I have a Glock 17 in my pants and I was supposed to kill the president!”
CHAPTER 16
Just when I thought the ordeal was about to be over, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
A very common looking, thirty-something guy was standing behind me on the other side of the barrier.
I instantly saw the terror in his eyes, but it was his words that sent cold chills down my spine.
“My name is Henry Martin. I have a Glock 17 in my pants and I’m supposed to kill the president.”
I didn’t think, I just reacted. I pressed the button on my mike. “Mark, it’s Walt. We’ve got a gun!”
I don’t know what Mark said, but before the words were out of my mouth, the president was on the ground surrounded by the Secret Service.
A moment later, I heard the crack of a high-powered rifle and the slug hit the lamppost about a foot over my head.
At the sound of the shot, all hell broke loose. The crowd that had been pressed wall-to-wall against the barrier panicked. Screaming citizens scattered in every direction, some climbing over the barrier. There was no way that my fellow officers could contain the mad rush. The president’s route that had been so carefully laid out was now filled with terror-stricken people running for their lives.
I heard a second shot and the slug slammed into the concrete barrier a few inches to the left of Henry Martin.
I grabbed Martin by the collar and drug him over a
nd behind the barrier.
“Looks like someone out there isn’t too happy with you.”
“They said they’d kill me if I crossed them,” he said, his face white as a ghost. “They must have planted a back-up in case I missed --- or for this.”
“Let’s take care of first things first,” I said. “Why don’t you give me the gun?”
“Sure,” he said, pulling the Glock out of the back of his pants.
He had raised up just a bit to retrieve the gun and when he did another shot rang out, whizzing by his head.
I keyed my mike. “Mark! I thought you guys had the rooftops covered!”
“We did --- all around the perimeter. Those shots are coming from at least two hundred yards away. Must be some kind of sharpshooter. My guys are after him. Just keep your heads down. What’s your situation?”
“No problems here. The guy has given me his gun.”
“Copy that.”
I turned to Henry Martin. “Who is behind all of this? Who is shooting at you?”
“Two groups that I know of, the Aryan Brotherhood and the Ozark Militia.”
“Militia,” I said. “That explains the sharpshooter.”
“Look,” Henry said, grabbing my sleeve. “I don’t care what happens to me at this point. They also said that if I screwed up they’d kill my family. My wife and son are here. They threatened my in-laws too. Is there anything you can do to protect them?”
“Of course we can,” I replied, not actually knowing for sure. “You said Aryan Brotherhood. Are you talking Skinheads? Neo-Nazis?”
“Exactly! I’ve never seen so much hate bottled up inside someone.”
An idea was beginning to form in my mind.
“Are these guys well financed? Do they have sophisticated equipment?”
“Well, they paid me two hundred and fifty grand to knock off the president and I’ve seen everything from automatic assault rifles to grenade launchers.”
[Lady Justice 13] - Lady Justice and the Assassin Page 10