To Kill a President

by By Marc james

  “Are you okay?” Jane asked.

  The Babushka lady did not look towards her. “You killed him.” She stated.

  “I did that for Jackie Kennedy.”

  The Babushka lady still could not look at her. Jane approached her and knelt down in front of her. As she caught sight of her face for the first time she could not believe her eyes.

  “Nancy?”

  Chapter 75

  The Police and Courts building in Dallas is a grey stone structure that houses the Dallas Police Department and the city jail. The third floor is home to the Dallas Police Department, both Bobby and Oswald were led along a corridor to the office of Captain Will Fritz, by the time they had arrived in the office it was 14:25. Will Fritz was an older man perhaps in his sixties or seventies. He wore a pair of glasses a black suit with a white shirt and a black tie and had a large beige cowboy hat on his head.

  Bobby had dealt with him before and knew him to be a hard interrogator. With Oswald as a suspect of killing a cop and the President he knew that it would be a long night ahead. As Fritz sat down he stared almost aggressively at Bobby. He then turned his attention to Oswald.

  “Can you state your name?”

  “Lee Harvey Oswald.” Oswald spoke so calmly he didn’t appear at all worried that the electric chair was a real possibility, if he even lived that long. He now had a large cut on his forehead from where the police officer had struck him.

  Fritz was about to begin speaking once again when the door opened. Bobby recognised the man as FBI Agent James Hosty, he had been the one that invited Bobby to lunch with Hoover.

  “This is our cop killer.” Fritz remarked as Hosty grabbed a chair and sat down beside Fritz.

  “He has not been found guilty or even charged with any crime.” Bobby stated.

  “Not yet anyway.”

  “I don’t even know why I’m here.” Oswald remarked.

  “Yes you do.” Fritz stated.

  “What happened?” Oswald asked.

  “You killed a cop.”

  “A cop has been killed?”

  Bobby could not believe how calm Oswald seemed. “You haven’t even asked him any questions except for his name.” Bobby stated.

  Fritz looked at Bobby with disdain. “Is this the legal representation you have chosen?”

  “Well I’d like that New York lawyer Mr Abt. I don’t know him personally but I know about a case he handled some years ago, where he represented people that had violated the Smith Act. I don’t know him personally but that is the attorney I want. If I can’t have him this one will do.”

  Bobby was stunned by Oswald’s response.

  “Well this one will do then.” Fritz replied, he looked almost pleased at Bobby’s embarrassment. “Where do you work?”

  “I work at the Texas School Book Depository.”

  “So you were in that building when the President was shot.”

  “Well naturally if I work in the building, yes sir.” Oswald was acting so casual. Bobby was more worried than he was.

  “When did you start working there?”

  “October 15th 1963.”

  “Where in the building do you work?”

  “I work on the first floor. However I frequently use the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh floor to get books.”

  “So today you used the sixth floor to shoot the President?”

  “No, sir. Has someone shot the President?”

  Fritz looked annoyed now. “We found your rifle at the scene!”

  “I’ve never owned a rifle.”

  “We have proof that you ordered the rifle. Or Alek Hiddel ordered the rifle, is that your real name?”

  “No sir.”

  “We found a wallet with the Hiddel ID and your ID at the scene where the police officer was shot.”

  “That’s not possible sir.”

  James Hosty interrupted. “Tell us about your time in Russia?”

  Oswald had ignored Hosty up until this point. “You have been at my house two or three times bothering my wife. I don’t appreciate you troubling her whilst I am not there.”

  Hosty looked irritated by Oswald now. There was a knock at the door.

  “Come in.” Fritz shouted.

  “Sorry Captain we have three men that have been brought in and one of them is requesting to see Mr Stinson.”

  “Okay we’ll wait for you.” Fritz said with a smile.

  “Don’t answer any questions until I come back.” Bobby instructed. Oswald ignored him.

  Bobby hobbled from the room and was shown into an interview room. He entered the room and was alone with a man he recognized.

  “Chauncey, what are you doing here?”

  “We were just picked up in a boxcar on the train line.”

  “Why?”

  “For acting suspiciously, they’re crazy they’re going to kill me.” Tears began forming in Chancey’s eyes.

  “What do you mean Chauncey who is crazy?”

  “The two guys they brought me in with. They killed the President.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Charles Harrelson and Charles Rodgers. They’re crazy. The cops know them, when we were picked up they never even handcuffed us. And they were smiling and laughing. They’ve just killed the President. You have to stop this it’s not right.”

  “Where were you?”

  “I was on Dealey Plaza, I was told to hide in a boxcar if I got worried. Then all of a sudden these two guys jump in. They’re evil Bobby, they can’t walk out of here.”

  There was a knock at the door, Bobby was getting frustrated he couldn’t focus there was too much going on.

  “What?” He yelled.

  A police officer entered the room. “Are you Bobby?”

  “Yes.

  “I was sent to help you by the Secret Service and some doctor my name is Ray Hawkins.”

  “A doctor, was it David?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “For the time being. But I’m betting he was involved in murdering the President.”

  “I can assure you that is not the case.”

  “Well I can assure you that he has killed at least one person today.”

  What the hell was David thinking? “So you’re here to help me?”

  “Yeah they said you would need it.”

  Bobby grinned. “I do, I really do. This is my friend Chauncey Holt he has told me that two of the men that shot the President were brought in with him. You can’t let them leave.”

  “If they shot the President there’s no way they’re leaving here. Well not alive anyway. What are their names?”

  “Charles Harrelson and Charles Rodgers.” Chauncey said. Bobby could hear the fear in his voice.

  “I’ll make sure they aren’t let go. I was told you are defending someone that someone is trying to pin this on?”

  “Well....Yes”

  “Who is framing him?”

  “I can’t tell you that.” Bobby replied.

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Didn’t the Secret Service tell you?”

  “So what do you need?” Ray asked obviously annoyed about being kept in the dark.

  “Can you just find out as much as you can about what evidence has been found and let me know? Has anyone examined the limousine yet?”

  “The Secret Service cleaned it.”

  “You have to be kidding me.”

  “Nope, I told them not to but they said that the Vice President ordered them to do it.”

  “This is ridiculous do they know how much evidence would have been in that car?”

  “I would think so. I told them.”

  “Fuck sake! Okay so can you just find out what happened to the car there might still be bullet holes or shrapnel. And find out if any weapons have been found.”

  “Sure. Will you tell me who is trying to frame your client?”

  “If you help me I’ll tell you anything you want okay?”

  “I’m u
nder orders to help you. I’ll let you know what I find out when you’re free.”

  “Great thanks Ray.”

  Ray left the room and Bobby turned his attention to Chauncey.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Like shit. They’re going to kill me.”

  “They won’t get out of here. Ray seems like an honest cop.”

  “Yeah he does. The rest of them don’t.”

  “Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen. I have to get back to Oswald.”

  “Okay good luck.” Chauncey looked dejected as Bobby struggled to his feet and hobbled out of the room.

  When he entered the corridor he could see that it was beginning to fill up with reporters. He hobbled back towards Captain Fritz’s office and could hear shouting coming from inside. Clearly they had decided not to wait for him.

  He opened the door and saw that Fritz was standing shouting at Oswald his face was almost purple. Bobby took his seat and saw that Oswald was still relaxed.

  “Why were you asking him questions whilst I wasn’t here?” Bobby barked.

  Fritz looked furious. “He killed two of my officers and he killed the President that’s why!”

  “I’m sorry he killed two officers?”

  “Yes he killed Officer’s Tippit and Hargis.”

  “Who is Officer Hargis?”

  “He was on a motorcycle beside the Presidential limousine.”

  “Jesus.” Bobby muttered.

  “I’ll bet he killed the people in the Dal-Tex building too.” Fritz stated.

  Where the hell was he getting this shit? He was basing it on absolutely nothing.

  “What people in the Dal-Tex building?”

  “Triple homicide. Three people shot dead. The President shot dead. And two cops shot dead. One man shot and taken to hospital. Do you have any idea what your facing you communist piece of shit?”

  “They fry you for that.” Oswald remarked.

  Fritz lunged towards Oswald but was held back by Hosty. Hosty managed to calm Fritz and get him back into his chair.

  “I’m sorry so when I left the room you were accusing him of killing the President and Officer Tippit now he has killed six people and shot another?”

  “Yes!” Fritz yelled.

  “I didn’t shoot anyone.” Oswald stated calmly.

  “Why did you flee the scene then?”

  “Flee what scene?” Oswald asked.

  “Why did you leave the School Book Depository?”

  “Because of all the confusion I figured no work would be done this afternoon so I went home.”

  “You figured there would be no work so you just left? None of your other colleagues left.”

  “Yes they did!” Oswald argued.

  “Who?”

  “Charles Givens!”

  Fritz laughed. “The man who saw you on the sixth floor right before you shot the President?”

  “That’s impossible. I was with him. I know he didn’t shoot anyone.” Bobby said.

  “You were with him?” Hosty asked looking stunned.

  “Yes he was sitting in the lunch room. Both Roy Truly and a Dallas police officer saw us there.”

  Fritz looked towards Hosty his jaw was agape. “I’ll be right back.” Hosty said as he scurried out of the room.

  “So why don’t you tell me about Russia?” Fritz asked.

  “I lived in Moscow and in Minsk. I worked in a factory there. I met my wife Marina and we have two children. To be honest I liked everything except the weather.”

  “So why did you come back?”

  “I have already discussed this with the FBI. They have interrogated me on multiple occasions.”

  Hosty entered the room once more. “What did you find out?” Fritz asked.

  “He’s lying Roy Truly never saw them together.”

  Bobby could not believe this. They had one witness lying about where Oswald was and a second saying he hadn’t seen Bobby. “Okay so you shot the President and fled the scene?” Fritz asked.

  “I didn’t shoot anyone. I already told you that I left because I didn’t think there would be any work to do in the afternoon.”

  Fritz sighed loudly. There was another knock at the door. A police officer popped his head into the room and said. “The line up is ready sir.”

  Chapter 76

  Jane could hardly believe her eyes as she looked at Nancy. What was she doing here? Nancy was the Babushka lady it’s unbelievable she thought. Nancy looked almost upset at being discovered.

  “Nancy what are you doing here?”

  “I was trying to help Bobby.”

  Nancy struggled to her feat. They began to hurriedly walk away from the alleyway and the umbrella man.

  “But we thought you left?”

  “I did. But Bobby deserves better than that after everything he’s done for me.”

  “So did you manage to get anything on your camera?”

  Nancy nodded. “I got the President being shot from the front. I got the police officer getting shot from the front. I got someone shooting from the knoll and I got the freeway sign getting hit.”

  “That’s brilliant. They will never be able to put this down to one gunman. Those shots will show at least three men.”

  “But what do we do with it?” Nancy asked.

  “We need to take it to Bobby.” Jane stated.

  Nancy shook her head. “No I don’t want to see him again. I don’t want him to know anything about this.”

  “But why?”

  “I just don’t!” She snapped.

  Jane decided to drop it. “We should get back to the condo. Faraday will be there and then we can work out what to do with the film.”

  “Will Bobby be there?”

  “No he will be with Lee Harvey Oswald. It will just be Faraday.” Jane hailed a taxi and they got in, Jane told the man the address and they were off. They travelled in silence. Nancy just stared out of the window for the entire journey.

  When they arrived at the condo Jane was surprised to see that Faraday was not back yet it was 14:30. She immediately began to panic. “Something must be wrong. He should be here by now.”

  “Where was he?” Nancy asked.

  “A police officer was shot he was there.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because we knew it was going to happen, we all had cameras to get pictures of the men who were actually behind it.”

  “Would he have followed them?”

  “I told him just to come straight back here.”

  “Should we go and look for him?”

  Jane was saved from replying by the phone ringing.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, I’m looking for Jane Stuart.”

  “Speaking.”

  “Hi Jane it’s Samantha here from Parkland hospital I don’t know if you remember me?”

  Samantha had been one of the nurses caring for Faraday when he had lost his eye. “Yes of course.”

  “Well I’m calling because we have Mr Faraday back with us. He is in the treatment room at the moment.”

  “Oh my God! What happened?”

  “He has been shot in the stomach, I haven’t been told how it is going but I would suggest you get here as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll be right there!”

  She replaced the receiver and said. “We need to get to the hospital.”

  Chapter 77

  When David managed to pull himself away from the bucket and the vomiting stopped he took a deep breath. He could feel the dead man watching his every move. The shaking would not stop, David raised his hands to his head.

  After a few minutes he had composed himself enough to attempt rising to his feet. He felt like Bambi on ice. He tottered towards the door and headed down towards where he had last seen Clint Hill the Secret Service agent. He spotted Clint where he had left him standing outside trauma room one. As he walked towards Clint he saw a shocked expression forming on his face.

  “Are yo
u feeling okay? You look terrible.”

  “Yeah I’m okay. So what’s the plan?”

  “They are just about to make the announcement and then we will be heading for Air Force One.”

  “Have you spoken to Bobby Kennedy yet?”

  “No but I’m sure he’ll be expecting us.”

  “Where are they making the announcement?”

  Clint pointed to a room further down the hall.

  “Can I go and watch?”

  “Sure, I’ll be here.”

  David walked down to a room that was usually used as a nurse’s classroom and looked through the window in the door. The room was packed with journalists. David had been intending to enter the room but he decided to watch from the doorway.

  “President John F Kennedy died at approximately 13:00 CST today here in Dallas. He died of a gunshot wound to the brain. I have no other details regarding the assassination of the President.”

  David turned and walked towards Clint once again. Kennedy’s body was being wheeled from trauma room one and down the corridor towards the exit. David watched on as his boss Dr Earl Rose stepped in front of the wooden casket and refused to move. He hurried towards the scene to see what was going on.

  “Get out of the way!” Clint said.

  “You cannot take the body until an autopsy has been performed.”

  “Mrs Kennedy wants the autopsy to take place in Washington.” Clint replied. Jackie Kennedy was still wearing her pink outfit, it was drenched in blood. She looked absolutely devastated.

  “That is irrelevant this is a homicide just like any other we must perform an autopsy.”

  “This is the President of the United States we might be under attack by the Soviets we need to get Mrs Kennedy and the new President back to Washington. Dallas is not safe.”

  “That is illegal the body cannot leave the state.”

  “This is an order directly from President Johnson.”

  “It doesn’t matter this is not a federal crime. The autopsy must be performed here.”

  Clint had clearly had enough and Jackie seemed to be getting more upset with each passing moment. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at Dr Rose. “Against the wall!”