Bobby looked exasperated. He glowered at Faraday and Jane. “Listen to me now! You both need to be much more careful about what you say to people outside the four of us. Jane I didn’t mention it earlier because it got Garrison to act. But you can’t go around spewing out secrets. Just think a bit more carefully before you speak okay?”
They both nodded and Faraday started speaking again. “Derrick is a liar Bobby. It wasn’t just a drunken fight with Ruby. Apparently he tried kill that Gail woman you met.”
“Gail Raven?” Bobby had not stopped thinking about her since the night they met, she was beautiful. He kept picturing her black hair in that beehive and her beautiful eyes.
“That’s the one, then Ruby tried to stop him and that’s when they started fighting. But the other thing that he lied about is that he was never in jail for it. Ruby just battered him from what I can tell and that was that.”
“Then why was he in prison?” David asked.
“Well I don’t think he was, Jack said he was involved at the Bay of Pigs, he lied about being in prison and Nancy told me that he just pulled his car up to her on the street one day and offered her a ride home. She also said he had been asking about working with you for a while. I think he could be a spy.”
“A spy?” Jane interjected. “Come on Faraday it’s his grandfather.”
“Well what else could it be?” Faraday asked.
The only sound in the room came from Bobby taking a pull on his cigarette. “I think you could be right.” Bobby stated. “Just don’t say anything to him or Nancy. I’ll handle this when he gets back.”
“He said they were going to spend the night in Houston.”
“Okay well that gives me some time to think about what to say to him. Are you working at the club again tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Well tell Ruby I’ll be in tomorrow to see him. Jane there’s a phonebook in the hall cupboard I want you to track down that woman Jack mentioned. I think the name was Odio, if you can find her both of you go and pay them a visit tomorrow. Kennedy will be here at noon so we all need to be out of here by then.”
Chapter 41
David spent the morning pacing around the condo frantically. He had chosen to wear a black suit, white shirt and a black tie. He had been a child when Bobby Kennedy was killed. His mother had always spoken about what a good man he was and here he was about to meet him using blackmail. He gazed at the clock and saw that it was five to noon. There was a knock at the door.
David walked to the door as quickly as he could and took a deep breath. As he opened the door he was let down, Nancy and Derrick stared back at him. “Bobby wants you both to get to the office as quick as you can.”
Nancy sighed. “I’ve had enough of all this David. What is going on now?!”
“Nothing. Bobby just needs your help.”
“Fine!” She barked as she stormed off towards the elevator with Derrick following closely behind.
David went back in to the living room. She wasn’t the only one that had had enough of this. She and Derrick were doing his head in. Around ten minutes passed before there was another knock on the door. Again David rushed to the hall and answered the door and again it was not Bobby Kennedy that stood on the other side.
“Hello my name is Clint Hill, I am required to conduct a search of the apartment before Mr Kennedy will come in. Is there anyone in there with you?”
“No, it’s just me.”
“Do you have any weapons concealed in the apartment?”
David thought for a moment. No Bobby had taken his gun and Derrick must have his back. “No.”
“Do you have any concealed recording equipment?”
“No.”
“Could you please unbutton your shirt and remove your shoes.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Yes it is.”
David did as he was asked and then Clint began searching the condo. It took him around fifteen minutes. He was checking for bugs and weapons in every nook and cranny. Once he was finished he pulled a walkie talkie from his belt and said “We are clear.” Before turning to David and saying “Mr Kennedy is on his way.”
As Bobby Kennedy exited the elevator David was struck by how young he looked, almost like a teenager. He wore a navy suit, black shirt and a navy tie.
“David?”
“Yes Mr Kennedy that’s me please come in.”
Clint Hill took up a position just outside the front door. Bobby walked ahead of David and went into the living room before choosing to sit in the armchair. David took a seat on the couch. Bobby began the conversation.
“So just what the hell do you want?” As Kennedy spoke David noticed what large buck teeth Bobby had.
“I don’t want anything Mr Kennedy. I wanted to meet you because I want to help you and your family.”
“Ha, you want to help huh well just give me her diary then.”
“I can’t do that Mr Kennedy.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I don’t have it, I never did.”
Bobby’s face dropped he had seemed annoyed before but now he seemed ready to explode. “So you are here purely to waste my motherfucking time!”
“No I am here to ensure that you don’t let your brother come here on the 22nd of the month.”
“Why would I stop him?”
“Because if he comes here he will be assassinated I can guarantee that and I don’t want it to happen.”
“You don’t think I know what this is? I know you live with Bobby Stinson, the mobster. You and your buddies want me to be intimidated. You really think the mob can take on the Presidency. Well I assure you that you are mistaken. The Kennedy’s fear no one. So who you working for huh? Lansky? Giancana? Marcello? I’ll take them all down I can guarantee you that.”
“Mr Kennedy I assure you that I am not trying to intimidate you. I am trying to help you. Ask Hoover he knows all about it.”
“Ha that prick. I could almost believe that, so it was Hoover that sent you?”
“No Mr Kennedy I swear to God I want to help you. They already know the route of the motorcade. they are planning to kill him whilst it goes through Dealey Plaza.”
Kennedy froze. “How could they possibly know that? How do you know so much?”
“That doesn’t matter you just have to stop him coming to Dallas.”
“Prove it. Tell me what happened to Marilyn?”
“I don’t know what happened. I know she didn’t commit suicide. I think she was given an enema. I know both you and your brother had affairs with her and that’s why you want the diary. I don’t think you killed her, I think you are a good man. But I think you know who did and that you covered it up because you were there that day. You say the mob couldn’t take down the Presidency, I think that Marilyn Munroe could have brought down the Presidency. You should give the mob some credit. So tell me Bobby am I wrong?”
Bobby looked shocked for a moment before replying. “It was her doctor, Ralph Greenson he’s a psychiatrist, it turns out Marilyn was sleeping with him as well. We were there looking for her diary, she got hysterical we were just trying to calm her down. She kept saying we passed her round like a piece of meat, she just wouldn’t stop screaming. She was so naive it’s my fault I should never have gotten involved with her she was so fragile.” Bobby was crying now. “She just wouldn’t stop screaming, so I put a pillow over her head and Peter Lawford, my brother in law he gave her an enema that calmed her down. We kept looking for the diary but couldn’t find it. We told Greenson to get round there and make sure she was alright. He went round later in the evening and the paramedics were there, she was still alive and she would have been fine. But Greenson knew what we’d been doing and he was scared that if it got out he was going to lose his family, his career so he killed her. He injected something into her heart and she was gone.” Bobby coughed and wiped his eyes.
David felt unsure how to react. He had always thought the Kennedy’s were go
od men. Maybe there are no good and bad men. Perhaps everyone is just a bit of both. “Listen Bobby I’m not going to condone what you did, but I didn’t ask you here to talk about Marilyn. You did the wrong thing that day but today you can do the right thing. You have to stop your brother coming here they know the route he is taking and he will be shot five minutes’ walk from here. You can’t let that happen.”
Bobby looked up and his wet shining eyes met David’s. “How could they possibly know the route he is taking? I don’t even know what route he is taking?”
“Well who does Bobby?”
“Well Jack knows and a couple of Secret Service agents Roy Kellerman and Winston Lawson and other than that it would be Lyndon.... That bastard it must be Johnson! It has to be!”
David was stunned. “Are you serious?”
“He’s facing jail just like the mobsters he wants to hit us before we nail him, the prick! I always knew we couldn’t trust him!”
“I’m sorry I don’t follow how do you mean he is facing jail, he’s the Vice President?”
“Not for long he isn’t. As soon as I tell Jack I’m going for him.”
“Could you explain?”
“He’s the biggest crook in the country. Forget your Meyer Lansky’s and Carlos Marcello’s. You ever hear of a guy named Malcolm Wallace?” David shook his head. “He’s a hit man loyal only to Lyndon Johnson, he’s killed eight people in Texas alone but he’s never been successfully convicted. That could be because Lyndon Johnson is the most powerful man in Texas. How about Bobby Baker, you know him?” David again shook his head. “Another one of the Vice Presidents associates he works in the senate and has just recently been found to be accepting bribes on Johnson’s behalf. One last question you ever hear of Billie Sol Estes?” Again David shook his head. “Another one of his pals he’s a business man here in Texas, turns out that Billie has been receiving millions of pounds worth of federal contracts courtesy of his buddy Lyndon. Ha you know we might have just dropped him from the ticket in the next election, but he’s going to prison now.”
“Just so you know Bobby as far as I’m aware it was Carlos Marcello that ordered the hit. Maybe you should hang back on Johnson until you have some proof.”
“Hang back are you kidding? He’s done and by the end of the month Marcello will be back in Guatemala! I can’t thank you enough David if you ever need my help with anything just call me, here take my card.” David accepted the card gratefully. “I mean anything you ever need a job give me a call. I’ve got to get back and speak to Jack.”
Bobby seemed ecstatic as he ran from the room, David reasoned it must be mainly down to saving his brother’s life but it seemed to also be a fair bit about getting Johnson. David walked to the kitchen and opened the cupboard to the left of the sink and pulled out a Cuban cigar, he then grabbed a full bottle of Jack Daniels and a glass. It was time to celebrate he had just saved the life of John F Kennedy and stopped the biggest conspiracy in history from happening.
Chapter 42
As Bobby sat in his office listening to the receiver ringing and ringing he couldn’t help but worry. Where the hell was Jack Martin? He had been attempting to call Jack all morning but neither he nor Bannister were answering their calls. What the hell was going on down there?
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone unlocking the front door of the office. He ran from his private office to see Nancy and Derrick entering.
“Nancy, Derrick how are you both?”
“I’m getting sick of all this secrecy Bobby, David wouldn’t let us into the flat what is going on?”
“It’s a long story Nancy and I promise I will sit down with you soon but right now I need both of you to help me.”
“Sure. Anything.” Derrick replied.
“Nancy I need you to try and get hold of Jack Martin he works in Guy Bannister’s office in New Orleans, failing that try the New Orleans District Attorney’s office Jim Garrison. As soon as you manage to reach either of them transfer them through to me okay.”
“No problem.” Nancy replied.
“Derrick I need your help in my office, come with me.” As they entered Bobby’s office he gestured for Derrick to take a seat. “So how was the trip?”
“It was fine, I met that Chuck guy told him Ferrie is hoping to open a rink in New Orleans and he might have some work for Chuck and I told him he can expect to see Ferrie on the 22nd.”
“Great work Derrick you are proving to be a valuable asset.” Bobby was fighting the urge to swing his cane at the man.
“Tell me Derrick I never got a chance to ask you how you managed to find out so much about Oswald, I mean you only really had about a day and a half, provided that you didn’t sleep. So how did you do it?”
“Like you said Bobby I just used my initiative you know.” Bobby could have sworn he saw Derrick’s nerves giving him away.
“That’s great Derrick and tell me how did you find out that Michael Paine worked at Bell Helicopter?”
“I overheard him talking about it with Oswald.” Derrick replied coolly.
“Where were they talking about it?” Bobby asked.
“How do you mean?”
“Where were they whilst they were discussing Bell Helicopter?”
“The house.”
“You heard them from inside the house, where were you hiding?”
“I was in the car.”
The lying bastard Bobby thought. “You heard them from the car?”
“They had the window open, it was a hot day.”
“Lucky for us Derrick! Tell me how did you recognize Oswald?”
“I don’t understand what you mean?” Derrick replied looking confused.
“It’s just I didn’t even have a picture I could show you, so how did you recognize him?”
“Oh I eh just asked someone who worked in the depository which guy he was.”
“Did you explain why you had asked?”
“Um no.”
“So the guy just told you who he was and you walked out of there?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re a bloody good sleuth I’ll give you that. One last question who do you think the guy following Oswald worked for?”
“The Mafia I guess?”
“But why would the Mafia tail him when they have Jack Ruby keeping tabs on him?”
“The FBI then.” Derrick replied. He could feel heat rising to his face and his pulse racing.
“The same principle would apply there Derrick, they have that Agent Hosty paying him visits why would they have another guy following him?”
“Well I don’t know then Bobby, maybe the Russians.”
“You do know Derrick. You’re lying to me. You’ve been lying to everyone. I know you were never in prison. I know that the reason you fought Ruby is because you tried to kill his girlfriend. The only thing I don’t know is who sent you and why. You care to fill in the blanks?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about Bobby?”
“Really you don’t? Jack recognised you, Ruby told Faraday you were never even in prison and Nancy told Faraday that you had been looking for a job here for weeks. We know someone sent you, I’m guessing to keep tabs on what we’ve been doing. Based on what you’ve just said about the guy tailing Oswald I’m guessing you’re not FBI or a Russian spy. You certainly aren’t in the mob I’ve never met a ginger member of the mob. So my guess is your CIA, ever hear about Operation Mongoose Billy?”
“You can’t trust what that old drunken bum says Bobby!” Derrick yelled.
“How could you even know he was the one that mentioned Operation Mongoose you weren’t there Billy. What’s to stop me killing you right here?” Bobby pulled out his Smith and Wesson revolver and took aim.
“You would really gun down a CIA spy Bobby?”
“So you are CIA?”
“Yes”.
“Why are you here?”
“We received intelligence that the mob are planning a hi
t on the President. You work with Lansky. I was here to uncover the plot. We thought you were in on it. Turns out you’re being forced into it, but you and you’re friends seemed to be getting somewhere so I was instructed to stay with you and report back what I know.”
Bobby had never considered that this man’s reason for infiltrating them could be to stop the assassination. “Is that the truth?”
The man nodded.
“Right here’s what you can do, one last job get the fuck out of my office and tell your friends at the CIA to go fuck themselves.”
The man rose from his seat and walked slowly from Bobby’s office. As he walked past Nancy she was talking to someone on the phone, she looked worried. She didn’t even notice him leave.
Chapter 43
It wasn’t hard to track down Odio, she happened to be the only Odio in the phonebook. Faraday and Jane went on foot as they didn’t have access to a car. As Jane knocked on the door they heard someone rattling around inside the house. A tall man with a bushy red beard answered the door.
“Hi sorry to bother you we were looking for Miss Odio?” Jane said.
“Ah she moved last month but she did leave a forwarding address hang on.” The man disappeared into the house and was back within a minute. “Here you go.”
“Thanks so much for your help.”
“No worries, bye.”
“You’ll never guess where she’s moved to.” Jane said.
“Where?”
“She’s in a flat above Bobby’s office.”
They began the walk back to Bobby’s office, the sun was beating down on them and Faraday was disgruntled.
“Don’t you miss Scotland, this Texas heat is unbearable.”
“Maybe you should shave the beard and get a haircut?” Jane replied. “You might get mistaken for Bigfoot.”
Faraday laughed. “I’m serious though, don’t you wish we could be home?”
“I miss my mum, I hope she’s getting on okay.” Jane replied.
To Kill a President Page 14