Removal

by Murphy, Peter

  Ellen reached across the desk and took Martha’s hand.

  ‘I’d really like to see you hang in there, Martha. If I have to take over, it would mean a lot to me to have you there beside me. The continuity is important. And you’re so good at what you do. I have no idea who else I would ask. Are you taking anything?’

  Martha nodded. ‘Everything I can lay my hands on. My doctor’s using up whole prescription pads on me.’

  For the first time, Martha smiled thinly. Ellen returned the smile.

  ‘What can I do to help?’

  Martha swallowed hard. ‘You really want to know?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Get out of here. Don’t press for a meeting right now. Go back to your official residence and wait it out.’

  Something in Martha’s eyes disturbed Ellen. She gently withdrew her hand.

  ‘For God’s sake, Martha… why? I don’t understand.’

  Martha leaned forward across the desk.

  ‘Haven’t you been watching the news on TV? Have you been seeing what’s going on across the country?’

  Ellen laughed. ‘You mean the thing in Portland, those people protesting? Yes, I’ve seen it. It’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘You don’t think so?’

  ‘No, I don’t.’

  ‘It’s not just Portland though, is it, Ellen? It’s Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas. It’s a new city every night, Ellen, haven’t you noticed that? There are people in the streets, and these are very angry people.’

  Ellen sniffed dismissively. ‘It’s just a few people jumping on the bandwagon. If the media would quit paying so much attention to it, it would die out in a day or two.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘Well, so what, anyway? It’s not exactly a surprise that people are reacting. Steve’s a popular guy. The fact that he’s being impeached hasn’t changed that. It didn’t in Clinton’s case. Besides, they’re on our side, Martha. Have you considered that it might be good news, that it might just tip one or two senators over the edge into supporting us? These people are on our side.’

  Martha bit her lip.

  ‘No, they’re not, Ellen,’ she replied softly. ‘They’re on Steve’s side.’

  Abruptly, the knots returned to Ellen’s stomach.

  ‘What are you saying…? I…’

  Martha took Ellen’s hand again.

  ‘I can’t say any more. Please believe me. I wish I could. But I can’t. Now, in the name of God, Ellen, take my advice. Go home and wait this out.’

  Slowly, Ellen stood and walked to the door. As desperately as she wanted to ask more questions, to shed light on a situation that was making less and less sense every minute, she knew now that Martha Graylor was not going to help her. Somehow, she had to figure it out for herself.

  ‘Take care of yourself, Martha,’ she said, on her way out.

  ‘You too,’ Martha replied.

  After Ellen had gone, Martha remained seated at her desk for some time, until she reminded herself that she would be missed in the President’s office. Slowly, she stood and walked back along the corridor and into the anteroom, where she ignored Steffie Walinsky’s inquiring look. She opened the door of the office without knocking and entered. The meeting had broken up. Only the President and the Attorney-General remained. Steve Wade looked up as she resumed her seat.

  ‘How did it go?’ he asked tersely.

  ‘She left,’ Martha replied. ‘But, Mr. President, with all respect, you can’t go on ignoring her. It’s only a matter of time before…’

  ‘I know, I know,’ Wade said. ‘I’ll get to her. But it’s a matter of putting first things first. While you were gone, we decided that I should speak to the American people the day after tomorrow. I need you to arrange coverage. I want all the networks. I’m going to do it from the Oval Office.’

  ‘Mr. President, I don’t know what you’re going to say. If I’m asked…’

  ‘If you’re asked, you tell them that, given the state of the proceedings in the Senate, my advisers believe I should reserve that information for the speech itself. They’ll get copies from your office just before I go on the air. They should be able to live with that. It’s happened before.’

  ‘In times of crisis, yes, but…’

  ‘This is a crisis, Martha, or hadn’t you noticed that? The Senate may be about to impeach me, based on no evidence at all. We’re involved in all manner of important foreign policy negotiations, some of them very sensitive. This charade, this political game, is not in the best interests of the country. I need to stay in office to make sure these important matters are handled correctly. The country needs to come together on this.’

  ‘Come together? … I’m not sure I understand.’

  ‘You will.’

  ‘Mr. President, I’m your Press Secretary. If you can’t take me into your confidence, I don’t know what I can do to help. If you’d prefer to get someone else… if you’d like me to resign, I…’

  Steve Wade stood, walked around his desk, and perched on the edge of it near Martha’s chair. He smiled.

  ‘Resign? For God’s sake, Martha, how long have we worked together?’

  ‘A long time, Sir.’

  ‘A very long time. And during that very long time, how many crises have we gone through together?’

  Despite herself, Martha smiled. ‘More than I can count.’

  ‘Exactly. And that’s all that’s happening here, Martha, another crisis. One that we’ll live through, just like we have all the others.’

  ‘But Mr. President…’

  ‘Don’t worry about it. All will become clear. I fully expect that it may not be necessary to give the speech at all. We’re still working on people on the Hill. Some of them are regretting having come out against me, now that such large numbers of their constituents are out on the streets, telling them they want me to serve out my term. I’m a very popular President, Martha. The people aren’t going to let me go. They want to keep me, and they’ll find a way to do it. I’m betting we will have nothing to worry about.’

  ‘But, Sir, what if you’re wrong?’

  ‘I’m not wrong. Even if the Senate does something stupid, the American people will know the right thing to do. So I will speak to the American people, and we’ll go from there.’

  Martha swallowed hard. ‘But you won’t tell me what you’re going to say?’

  ‘My advisers think it would be better if I kept that under wraps for a short time. Even from you. Isn’t that right, Dick?’

  Martha glanced at the Attorney-General. He looked almost as tense as she was herself.

  ‘Yes, Mr. President.’

  Martha stood. ‘I’ll go make the arrangements.’

  ‘Thank you. Oh, and Martha, just so you know, I have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs tomorrow afternoon. We’re not notifying anyone, so it’s unlikely you’ll get any questions, but if you do, you know nothing about it.’

  Martha looked up abruptly. ‘The Joint Chiefs? I don’t have that on my calendar. Have I missed something? Do we have a situation going on abroad some place? What about a briefing?’

  Wade stood.

  ‘You know nothing about it,’ he repeated firmly. ‘But if it will put your mind at rest, no, we do not have a situation going on. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, Martha. Dick and I still have one or two things to discuss. Let me know when everything’s arranged for my broadcast.’

  40

  TED LAZENBY WALKED briskly into the large situation room which had been set up several days before at FBI Headquarters to monitor the rising tide of demonstrations across the country protesting against the impeachment of President Steve Wade. Initially, he had regarded the demonstrations as a matter of concern only to local police departments, but phone calls from a number of police chiefs had convinced him that there was more to it. The demonstrations were not massive, but there was evidence that they were being coordinated across state lines, and the chiefs thought it was something the Bure
au should be keeping an eye on. Lazenby instructed every FBI field office across the country to work with the local police, and to send as much information as possible to Headquarters as soon as it came in. He placed Kelly Smith in charge of receiving and evaluating the information, and assigned Jeff Morris to assist her. Technically, Jeff should have returned to his duties with the District of Columbia Police Department, but Lazenby had been impressed by his cool, clear head. He also realized that Jeff’s presence was keeping his personal assistant in a positive frame of mind, and given the workload Kelly was carrying, that was another strong reason for not letting him go. He talked Chief Bryson into letting him stay until the crisis had passed.

  Kelly and Jeff were seated near the door at the large table which occupied most of the situation room. The table was packed with computers, telephones and masses of paper, and some twenty agents were working on the task of coordinating and analyzing the rapidly increasing volume of information about the protests. Large flat screen televisions on the walls were tuned to all the major news channels.

  ‘Anything new?’ Lazenby asked.

  Kelly looked up as if to reply, but the red telephone by her side rang before she could speak. She held up one hand and picked up the phone with the other.

  ‘Not a lot, Director,’ Jeff replied. ‘But it’s not going away. Everyone seems to be expecting more demonstrations this evening. It’s reaching as far as Minneapolis, St. Paul, in the north, and there’s word that Miami may be involved by tomorrow.’

  Lazenby frowned. ‘It’s spreading right across the country, isn’t it?’

  ‘Looks that way.’

  ‘Jesus Christ, how did we miss this?’

  ‘I’m not sure we did,’ Jeff replied. ‘We just don’t know why it’s got so far so fast. There’s no pattern to it yet. Once we find out who’s behind it, we should have a better idea of what’s going on.’

  ‘I hope so,’ Lazenby said.

  Kelly placed a hand over the mouthpiece of her telephone and turned to Lazenby. She seemed hesitant.

  ‘Director, there’s someone down at reception to see you. You’re not going to like it, but I’m going to advise you to see her anyway.’

  Lazenby raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Mary Sullivan, from the Post.’

  Lazenby turned his head away in disgust. ‘Forget it. The woman costs us one of our best agents, and now she has the balls to ask for an interview. Tell her to go screw herself.’

  Kelly bit her lip. ‘I understand how you feel. But she’s not asking for an interview. She says she has information. She’s here in person, and off the record. That’s highly unusual, to say the least. I think you ought to listen to what she has to say.’

  Lazenby raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘God in heaven. Why did I ever take this job?… All right, have them bring her to my office. You come with me. Jeff, you too.’

  Kelly looked at Lazenby in surprise. ‘You think you might need witnesses?’

  Lazenby was striding through the door. ‘No. I might need a couple of strong people to pull me off her if I decide I have to kill her.’

  Mary Sullivan was subdued as she shook hands formally with Lazenby and his two assistants. She declined coffee and sat down in front of the Director’s desk.

  ‘Thank you for seeing me, Director Lazenby,’ she began hesitantly. ‘I know this is irregular. And I guess the first thing I want to say is how sorry I am about your agent in Oregon. I’m probably not supposed to know about it even now…’

  ‘That’s correct,’ Lazenby said.

  ‘I heard about your operation through the grapevine, obviously, after the event. I knew nothing at the time. I checked with all my sources. None of them knew anything. I know there’s nothing I can say that will make it better. But I want you to know that I would never knowingly have placed him in danger. I haven’t been able to sleep since it happened. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I don’t know what to say, Director. But I want you to know I’m truly sorry.’

  Lazenby bowed his head. Kelly watched him closely. It was some time before he replied.

  ‘I appreciate what you’ve said, Miss Sullivan.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Mary said.

  ‘As a matter of fact, we don’t officially know whether we have lost him or not. We just haven’t heard from him for a long time. He’s officially listed as missing. But, if he were still alive and in good health, we would probably have heard something from him by now. Anyway, Miss Sullivan, I’m assuming you didn’t come here just to talk about that.’

  ‘No, I didn’t. I’m here because of something else I picked up from a source out of town. It may be that you have similar information, but just to be on the safe side, I thought I should pass it on to you. It may have something to do with the demonstrations, but it has a different angle.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘I have a local source in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who is convinced that a number of white supremacist groups from out west, including the Sons of the Flag, are beginning a quiet but organized movement of personnel towards Washington.’

  Lazenby glanced across at Kelly, his eyebrows raised. ‘Personnel?’

  ‘That was the word my source used. He says they’re moving in groups which should be too small to invite suspicion, but there may be a lot of them. And they may be armed.’

  Lazenby opened his eyes wide. He turned towards Kelly and Jeff, who were staring at Mary Sullivan in amazement.

  ‘What evidence does your source have of this?’

  ‘My source was approached by a woman who supplies him with information from time to time. Local stuff. Nothing to interest me, or even him, most of the time. This woman is… well, she’s a member of a profession which doesn’t usually command the highest credibility…’

  Kelly bit her lip to suppress a grin. ‘She’s a call girl?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Lazenby said.

  ‘No, Director, hear me out,’ Mary said. ‘Please. It may be important.’

  Lazenby raised his hands. ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘Thank you. Evidently, this lady had been requested to attend at a certain motel to provide personal services for two gentlemen who were passing through on their way east. She said they had been drinking heavily, and they were rather careless about what they were saying. They told her they were part of some kind of plan to take over power in Washington, and that there were a lot of other people headed the same way for the same purpose.’

  ‘And the woman took this couple of drunks seriously?’ Kelly asked.

  ‘Not at first. But they had so much to drink that they fell asleep after she had serviced them. She says that when she arrived, she noticed a big metal chest against the wall by the television. As she was getting dressed to leave, it occurred to her to take a closer look. Maybe she thought there might be some additional compensation in it, who knows? So she lifts the lid of the chest, and what does she find but an assortment of weapons; handguns, rifles, semi-automatics, you name it, even a couple of things she thought were hand-grenades.’

  Jeff Morris whistled quietly.

  ‘And she reported this to your source?’

  ‘Yes. My source would have paid her something. And the option of going to the police wouldn’t have seemed very attractive, given the circumstances.’

  Lazenby drummed his fingers on his desk.

  ‘How reliable is your source?’

  ‘Very. He freelances for several local newspapers, does some television reporting. He’s honest, and he has his ear to the ground.’

  Lazenby nodded.

  ‘All right. It may be nothing, or it may be something, but we’ll look into it.’

  He stood and extended his hand.

  ‘Thank you for coming, Miss Sullivan. I appreciate it.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  Mary paused uneasily.

  ‘I don’t quite know how to put this,’ she said quietly. ‘But Harold P
hilby told me to tell you that he spoke with the owners of the Post. If there’s anything the agent’s family needs, you know, we would like to…’

  Her voice trailed away. Lazenby nodded.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I’ll make sure that gets passed on to the appropriate people.’

  Mary Sullivan stood and shook hands with Lazenby, Kelly and Jeff. She made her way to the door.

  ‘Miss Sullivan,’ Lazenby asked, ‘why exactly did you come to me with this? You could have added yet another scoop to your tally, and let us find out about it by reading it in the Post. That seems to be the way we get most of our information these days.’

  Mary smiled. ‘The information indicated a possible violation of federal law, transporting arms across state lines. As a citizen, I have a duty to report it to the appropriate authorities.’

  ‘I was asking for the real reason.’

  Mary paused with her hand on the door handle.

  ‘I hoped it might make me sleep better,’ she said. ‘Besides, I’ll still have my scoop. But I’m going to hold off on it for a couple of days, so you can do some investigation without having the suspects tipped off in advance. I guess it’s just another way to say I’m sorry.’

  ‘Classy,’ Kelly smiled at Lazenby after Mary Sullivan had left.

  ‘I hate to have to agree,’ Lazenby replied, ‘but you’re right. And it may explain the information we got from the Portland field office a few days ago.’

  ‘That small convoy of trucks heading out of the Sons of the Flag compound,’ Kelly said.

  ‘Right. What’s the story on that?’

  ‘They started out heading east. Seemed like they were in no particular hurry. We’ve been keeping track of them as a routine matter. But until now it was just a small part of the overall picture. We haven’t given it priority.’

  ‘Well, that just changed,’ Lazenby said. ‘As of now, it has top priority, at least until we know more about what’s going on.’

  ‘So what do we do?’ Jeff asked. ‘Have our agents find them and pull them over?’