A brief argument ensued and finally the cop handed the cell phone back to the guard and announced, “Special Agent Matthews is on his way here now. We are all to wait inside the hotel room until he arrives. I have to call my commander right away and get his instructions.”
They all entered my room and found seats in various spots. The cameraman began taking copious pictures.
Mandy sat on the sofa next to me.
“Thank you so much for delivering the letter, Mandy. You’ve done the right thing.”
The reporter and his editor approached me and began asking questions.
After confirming the contents of my letter, Douglas Grant whispered, “I started banging out the story while we were in the van. If this Special Agent Matthews is really from Homeland Security, he may seize the letter along with my computer and Billy’s camera once he gets here. If he does that then we’ll have nothing concrete on which to base the piece. What should we do, Phil?”
“Can you complete the initial story and transmit it before Matthews gets here? If you’re quick, we can just squeeze it in under the deadline for tomorrow morning’s edition. I can sign off on it electronically from here.”
“I’ll do my best, Phil.”
Grant went to a table in the far corner of the room and began tapping away feverishly on his laptop.
Ten minutes later he motioned for Peden and Billy to join him.
Grant had Billy transfer the photos he had taken to the laptop while Peden read the first draft of the news story.
Peden suggested a few changes in wording and then Grant selected which pictures to include with the article.
When both Grant and his editor were satisfied, they both signed off on the story and sent it to the main office to be included in the edition just about to be sent to the printer.
“To be on the safe side,” Peden instructed, “delete that last transmission from your computer as well as the confirmation that the article with photos was received from the main computer. Just in case Homeland Security gets aggressive, they won’t realize that the story is already in the process of being published until it’s too late for them to do anything about it.”
Grant complied.
The room had fallen into complete silence. The two cops had received instructions from high up to wait for Special Agent Matthews before continuing their investigation, and they had ordered Thomas Kennedy to stand beside them and not converse with anyone. Fortunately the police officers had received no orders relating to the reporters so the cops ignored whatever was going on with the press in the far corner of the room.
The first person to show up was the captain of the police precinct who was let inside the room by the two government guards who had remained outside.
The captain spoke softly with his officers and paused twice to receive calls on his cell phone.
After an additional ten minutes the door opened yet again and Special Agent Matthews stormed in accompanied by the two guards who had been waiting outside the room.
CHAPTER 19 (The Failed Burial)
Matthews took immediate charge of the hotel room.
He waved a document in the air, identified himself and barked, “This is an order fresh from the Federal Court prohibiting anyone in this room from disseminating any information relating to Thomas Kennedy or Bander Haddad. I require every person present to state your name and explain why you are here today.
The two cops went first, followed by the police chief, the two guards and then Mandy.
“My name is Mandy Franklin and I was hired to have sex with Mr. Kennedy, the man who was occupying this room. He gave me a letter to deliver to a newspaper reporter.”
“WHAT?” Matthews yelled incredulously. Apparently his state of the art surveillance system wasn’t omniscient.
When it was my turn, I said, “My name is Thomas Kennedy; I’m a retired lawyer from Canada. Special Agent Matthews had me kidnapped from Washington Dulles Airport on Tuesday afternoon and has been holding me in this hotel room against my will ever since.”
When Douglas Grant, Phillip Peden and Billy Miller stated their identities, Matthews went ballistic.
“Agent Bronson, seize that camera and laptop immediately.”
“On what legal basis can you authorize this?” Peden demanded.
“You have no right to that information,” Matthews responded belligerently. “It’s a matter of national security.”
“I SMELL HORSESHIT,” I blurted out.
Matthews ignored me.
“Have you shared the information on this computer or in this camera with anyone?” he demanded of the media team.
Peden cleverly avoided answering the question directly by asking his own question, the sign of a veteran newsman.
“The final news story isn’t ready yet, but will you confirm or deny Mr. Kennedy’s allegation that you kidnapped him and Bander Haddad when their flight from Syracuse landed at Dulles yesterday?”
“This whole matter is one of national security,” Matthews answered.
“Where is Mr. Haddad now?” Peden persisted.
Matthews completely ignored the editor.
Douglas Grant chimed in.
“Did you secure and pay for the services of a prostitute for Mr. Kennedy with government funds?”
That question appeared to unnerve Matthews.
While the special agent was flustered, Grant hit him with another embarrassing question.
“Is your agency monitoring private conversations of both Americans and foreigners now even when those conversations are taking place in person and not by telephone or e-mail? Mr. Kennedy alleges that you possess tapes of his private conversations with another attorney which took place in Canada in the lawyer’s home living-room.”
“What part of ‘NATIONAL SECURITY’ don’t you comprehend?” Matthews almost screamed. “That’s it; I’m seizing everyone’s cellphones, computers, cameras and hand-held devices. They will be returned to you once we have determined that no sensitive information is contained on them. Any such data found will be deleted before the items are given back to you.”
That directive prompted a heated argument between the police chief and Matthews. Eventually Matthews relented and permitted the three police officers to retain their equipment.
“Mr. Haddad’s life may be in danger,” I shouted. “The American government has purposely disseminated false statements to the media purportedly made by Mr. Haddad and myself, which statements show both of us to be terrorists. Special Agent Matthews can’t be trusted. It’s up to the police to ensure that Mr. Haddad is safe. I want to lay a charge against Matthews for kidnapping.”
The turf war was on. Both Matthews and the police chief got on their cellphones to obtain further instructions.
We all waited in the room for almost an hour before the verdict was received.
The Washington Police Commissioner himself had spoken with the Deputy Director of Homeland Security and they had hashed out a compromise.
No charges were to be laid against anyone at this time, but I was to be taken in the presence of the police chief and one of his officers to see Bander Haddad in order to confirm that he was my seat-mate on the flight and to ensure that he was safe.
Any further action by the Washington police would depend on the results of that meeting. Apparently Mr. Haddad was currently being held in the city of Washington even though the actual abduction had taken place in Virginia. The issue of police jurisdiction was a bit murky.
I wasn’t allowed to bring any of my belongings with me. Still, I was very pleased to be out of that hotel room.
I sat in the back seat of an unmarked police car with the police chief while another officer drove.
During the short drive, he asked me to summarize exactly what had happened to me.
The chief listened intently but made no comments when I had finished.
We stopped at an unremarkable government office building with a security gate and were passed through immediately.
>
A woman met us at the door and led us down a hall where we entered one end elevator in a bank of four. At that point the lady used a security key and the elevator went downward even though the elevator buttons had indicated that the cab only went upward from the main floor.
A gentleman in uniform met us and the woman went back up in the elevator cab.
He led us to the end of a hallway where he opened a door bearing the number 0021.
Inside waiting for us was the fellow I had nicknamed the General who had accompanied Matthews when I first was brought into the hotel room. He didn’t seem one bit pleased to see me.
“I’m General Piorkowski,” he announced, “currently serving my country under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security.”
“My name is Harvey McGill, and I’m the Chief of Police at the downtown precinct in Washington.”
“You already know who I am, General,” I stated. “It’s beginning to look as if you picked the wrong lawyer to screw with.”
“That remains to be seen,” he replied brusquely. “Please follow me.”
We continued into an inner office where two armed guards were stationed.
With a nod from the General, one of the men unlocked a solid metal door and we followed Piorkowski inside.
This was no plush hotel room but it was no prison cell either.
Bander Haddad was seated in a comfortable armchair reading.
He seemed startled when he recognized me but then smiled sadly.
“I’m surprised to see that you’re part of this most messy affair. I had assumed that you were merely an innocent bystander like me.”
“In fact that’s exactly what I am. My temporary prison was a luxury hotel room in downtown Washington. Apparently I was going to be released on Saturday morning and permitted to fly back to Syracuse. Have you been permitted to listen to any news?”
“No.”
“The Department of Homeland Security recorded our conversations from the flight and the Syracuse airport and doctored them up a bit to make it appear that we were both terrorists. I managed to contact the media secretly from my lavish cell and they called the police. I was really concerned for your safety. We’re here now to ensure that you’re alive and to have you confirm whether you were kidnapped like I was.”
“Yes, I was kidnapped against my will and I have been imprisoned here ever since and have been given no opportunity to contact my country’s embassy or an attorney.”
“That seems to clarify whether a crime has been committed,” Chief McGill interrupted. “Has Mr. Haddad been charged with any crime, General?”
“No.”
“In that case will Mr. Haddad be released into my custody at this time?”
“I’m afraid not, Chief. We have the legal authority to retain Mr. Haddad for an additional seven days on top of the period he has already been in detention. He has been duly certified as a terrorist threat.”
“That’s preposterous,” Haddad blurted out. “I’m in America on legitimate commercial business unrelated to my normal official position with my government. I have no connections whatsoever with any terrorist group or individual and I suspect that the American government already knows that.”
“I more than suspect that Special Agent Matthews used the doctored tapes of our flight conversation to obtain the terrorist certification order,” I added. “How legitimate is it to leak false evidence in order to obtain a terrorist certification? Who is really being the terrorist here?”
The General spoke again.
“For your assurance and information, Chief McGill, I can confirm that Mr. Haddad is being well looked after and that he will also be permitted to return to Saudi Arabia on Saturday.”
The Chief looked over at me.
“I’m satisfied with the General’s statements, and it appears that there is nothing that the Washington Police Department can do to effect Mr. Haddad’s release any earlier. Do you have any further questions for him?”
“Mr. Haddad, do you have any idea why your incarceration until Saturday would be so crucial to the American government that they would release false information in order to arrest you?”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot fathom any such reason.”
“At least I’m relieved that you’re alive. It really angers me that the government would use our innocent conversations to arrest us and then keep us hidden away.”
“How did you manage to get your message out to the media? I’ve had no opportunity whatsoever to contact anyone.”
“I outsmarted them, that was all. They were no match for an experienced and resourceful lawyer.”
I glared at the General.
“Matthews is a pompous idiot. Your bosses made a huge mistake in trusting him to handle the kidnappings. Now that I’m free, you’re all going to have a devil of a time explaining your illegal actions to the public.”
“All we’re doing is our jobs,” the General answered angrily. “By the way, Mr. Kennedy, you are in fact still in our legal custody, and you will be returned to the hotel room and kept there until the full forty-eight hours has expired. Please follow me back to the elevator.”
That wiped the smile off my face. Chief McGill explained that the matter was out of his hands and the General sent an escort vehicle behind the police car to ensure that I was returned to the Royal Quinte Arms.
The two guards were back on duty outside the room but no one was inside.
I was alone again to serve out the remainder of my forty-eight hour sentence.
Frustrated and angry, I ordered the most expensive meal on the room service menu to spite them, and I polished off the steak and lobster dinner with three liqueurs from the bar fridge.
I was still upset and disgusted with Homeland Security by the time I fell asleep. The evening news had carried no mention whatsoever of Bander Haddad or me.
Thursday morning was most rewarding.
When I began perusing the morning newspapers, there on Page 3 of The Capitol Independent was the full story as written by Douglas Grant together with large pictures of Mandy and me.
Special Agent Matthews was deliciously ridiculed as having permitted the clandestine message to be ferreted out under Mandy’s bra.
Matthews had failed again in his desperate attempt to prevent the story from hitting the media.
It was a failed burial and I felt vindicated.
CHAPTER 20 (Explanation and Release)
I ordered a full breakfast on the government’s tab and savored it while rereading Douglas Grant’s fine article.
During the remainder of the morning I flipped from station to station but located no mention of the story elsewhere.
At one o’clock my door opened and the General entered accompanied by two other very distinguished gentlemen.
“Mr. Kennedy,” the General began, “this is Saul Zimmerlan, a senior lawyer with the Department of Justice, and Peter Rancone, the senior attorney with the Department of Homeland Security. They wish to speak with you in private. I’ll wait outside in the hallway until you are done. At that time it will be my pleasure to release you from our temporary custody.”
Rancone spoke first as soon as the General had departed.
“The government wishes to apologize for dragging you into this situation, Mr. Kennedy. The kidnapping of both you and Mr. Haddad was neither properly authorized nor adequately monitored. It was an unfortunate case of overzealous lower-level employees deciding to take matters into their own hands in an attempt to impress their superiors while at the same time putting the government of Saudi Arabia under intense pressure to make serious concessions to allow our military to better manage our offensive against the growing terrorist threat of ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. Be assured that publicity regarding the kidnappings has rendered these ill-conceived plans ineffective. Mr. Haddad is being unconditionally released as we speak and will fly home later today. You also will be released shortly.”
“I’m pleased to hear that, sir. Will Speci
al Agent Matthews be appropriately punished for his role?”
“He has been persuaded to take an early retirement package at the end of this month in order to avoid sanctions. Since the government seeks to avoid additional publicity surrounding this fiasco, it is most unlikely that any additional punishment will be meted out to him.”
“What about the General?” I asked. “Will he be punished in any way?”
“It doesn’t appear likely. He honestly believed that Special Agent Matthews had the authorization from his superiors to hold you and Mr. Haddad. Since Matthews was his immediate superior, at this moment no fault can be found with the General’s conduct. That brings us to your situation, Mr. Kennedy.”
“I’m listening,” I replied tentatively.
“Our apologies alone are grossly inadequate, but let me extend to you the sincere regrets of the American government and its agencies regarding your egregious treatment. Do you intend to seek any redress against our government?”
“No, I won’t be suing you. I’m as rich as I need to be already, and I’m pleased that Matthews’ plans have failed and that Mr. Haddad is being permitted to fly home. There are some things that I’d like to see done, however.”
“What sort of things?” Rancone queried.
“For one thing, I don’t want Mandy Franklin to be charged with anything. She was very brave in getting my letter into the hands of The Capitol Independent.”
“I can assure you that no charges will be laid against the young lady,” the lawyer answered.
“It breaks my heart to think that Mandy might continue life as a hooker. Do you think it might be possible to find her a decent job?”
“We can certainly speak with her and determine whether she wants one,” Rancone replied.
“I can live with that. As regards my situation, I’d like to be placed back to my original unimportant civilian status, meaning that I don’t want this affair to affect my ability to travel in the future. I love taking vacations in the USA.”
“That is being done as we speak, Mr. Kennedy.”
“On that note, I want to head from here to Las Vegas in order to complete the holiday I had planned. If you can swing it, I’d like to change my return flight from Saturday to Monday in order to have adequate time to lose my money there.”
The Wrong Lawyer Page 9