One Man Two Votes (The Robert Carlton Series Book 1)

by J Russ Briley

  They rolled steadily down Constitution toward Arlington, stopping for the usual traffic and lights.

  Robert’s pulse throbbed, vibrating more than the engine. Agent Long looked over with a smile, saying, “Don’t worry, Sir. We’ve done this before. The Colonel will probably be watching the bridge. As soon as he sees us crossing it, he’ll give you directions to your meeting location. I assume he will call your cell phone? You might want to get it out of your pocket.”

  Robert looked over at Long with a shocked stare. “If it’s that standard, won’t anyone watching know what we’re doing?” It was uncomfortable having someone else drive his car. Robert tried to ignore the feeling. It seemed trivial given the circumstances.

  Long looked surprised. “Well, now that you mention it...yes. Anyone watching would be aware of the situation. Sometimes that is the point.”

  “That’s just great.” Robert said sarcastically. He sat fiddling with the phone as the bridge came closer.

  They had reached the bridge. About halfway across, Robert looked at Agent Long and said, “I thought you said...”

  The phone rang.

  Robert jerked the phone up. “Yes.” Robert answered.

  “Take the next right onto George Washington.”

  “Take the next right onto George Washington.” Robert repeated.

  Agent Long switched lanes quickly to make the exit, just at the end of the bridge.

  “Take the exit to the Roosevelt Island parking lot, and park at the end. Meet me on the bridge.” Grady added.

  “Park in the Roosevelt parking lot, at the end.” Robert told Long.

  Long pulled his wrist microphone up to his mouth. “We’re taking the turn-off to the Roosevelt Island parking lot.” Long’s matter of fact tone was somehow not comforting, Robert thought. He felt on edge—why were the agents so calm?

  Long turned to Robert, “It’s a reasonably good spot,” he commented. “There will be some people, but lots of space for talking.” Long frowned as he mentioned, “There’s limited access.”

  Clearly this was not Long’s first time in this situation, or in this parking lot, Robert reflected. He felt his nerves tightening across his neck and back. As they reached the parking lot, he saw that it could only be accessed from a single entrance on the northbound side of the George Washington Parkway. That one-way flow of controlled traffic probably had been just what Grady wanted, Robert realized. He hoped Grady had considered that he and Agent Long might have been followed.

  As they pulled into the parking lot near the bridge, Robert spotted Grady easily, standing midway on the bridge to the island, wearing an overcoat and gym shoes.

  “There he is, on the island bridge. That’s Colonel Barlow.” He told Long.

  Getting out of the car, Agent Long told Robert to wait while Carey went out on the bridge first. Before Carey stepped onto the bridge to begin walking toward Grady, Robert’s phone rang again.

  “Yes?” he answered.

  “Just you.” Grady said.

  Robert relayed the message, telling Long that Grady wasn’t a threat, but that someone following them could be. Long radioed Carey, who came to a halt, then returned to the stairs at the head of the bridge.

  Robert walked out to see Grady alone.

  Grady stood in the middle of the bridge with his back to the Secret Service Agents. He rested his arms on the railing, motioning Robert over to join him. Carey and Long stood on the shore, scanning the area.

  “Jesus, you look like hell.” Robert looked at Grady’s face and felt disoriented. This clandestine behavior was making him edgy. At the same time he was relieved to see Grady. “Why the cloak and dagger?”

  “Cloak and dagger?” Grady removed his sunglasses to give Robert the full effect of his swollen, damaged face. “Have you forgotten about my call last night? Maybe if your face looked like mine you’d be careful, too. You seem to have some awareness of the situation,” he added, nodding toward Carey and Long. “Those two guys with you aren’t dates, are they?”

  “You’re right, Grady. My apologies,” Robert answered, suddenly realizing how confused he’d become by the morning’s events. “I’ve been out of my element since you called. I’ve never been involved in something like this, and the whole thing keeps getting more complicated. Every time I turn around there’s some new angle, but I can’t get any answers to what’s happening. I’m trying to feel my way through it, but I’m not getting very far.” Robert looked at Grady. “And I’ve planted you right in the middle of whatever this is. What are you planning to do now? Do you want some protection?”

  Grady shrugged off his irritation at Robert’s initial comments, and sighed. “It’s already been a long day for me. I had to be sure that we’d notice if either of us was followed. I’ve been here long enough to check out everyone that has crossed, or not crossed this bridge. Any followers would look pretty obvious right now, don’t you think?” He didn’t wait for Robert’s answer before he continued, “No, the kind of protection you can offer won’t work for me now. I’m leaving—disappearing.”

  “What do you mean, ‘leaving’’?” Robert asked automatically. “Where are you going?”

  Grady tried to lift an eyebrow, but his face hurt too much. “If I told you where I was going, Robert,” he said with some asperity, “it wouldn’t do much good to disappear, would it? You’re still not getting this. These guys were trying to get rid of me—permanently. I won’t be worth much to you dead, and frankly, I’m not quite ready to be put out of my misery.”

  Robert didn’t know how to answer that statement. He looked down the length of the bridge, and across the water at the two agents.

  Robert noticed that the agents were strolling back and forth somewhat casually, but they also seemed agitated. The chilly air and strong breezes made business attire feel thin, but this didn’t seem to be about temperature—they weren’t huddled into their coats trying to keep warm. He was sure they didn’t like the conditions of the meeting. Grady was an unpredictable factor in an unprepared-for day, and it was unsettling for the agents. At least that made sense in this crazy morning.

  In the distance, a few people were walking back across the bridge from the park, wearing thick coats and taking pictures. Robert realized that he needed to wrap up this meeting. He looked back at Grady, surveying his bruised face.

  “Sorry, Counselor, but I’m not sure you have felt the full impact of what you’ve gotten us into.” Grady was saying. “On the other hand, I have.” He stood favoring one leg, his lip was four times larger on one side, and his eye was almost swollen shut. Even through his dark complexion his forehead had turned terrible shades of sickly colors.

  Robert grimaced. “Hurt much? Have you seen a doctor?”

  Grady looked at him disparagingly. “Sure, Robert. I just strolled in, and said, ‘Doctor, I can explain everything. It was just a little misunderstanding. Ran into a door four hundred times.’ I’m sure my military ID and a bar room fight would explain it all.”

  “I see what you mean.” Robert sighed. “Grady, I think we can safely say there’s a connection between what you’ve been working on for me, and your attack.”

  “D’ya think? Christ, Robert; how long did it take you to figure that out?” Grady flared at him. “Your informant, Chris Stoker started it; now he’s dead. You put me on this, and I should be dead.” He saw Robert flash a questioning look at him, and said. “Do you understand how lucky I am to be alive? My house is gone; burned to the ground. My Jeep, my bike, pictures—everything I owned has been blown to pieces. I’m on the run. I feel broken all over. And brilliant lawyer that you are, you’ve decided there’s a ‘connection’ between my situation and your investigation. Excellent deduction, Mr. Associate Attorney General! Well done.” Grady shook his head, and dropped his sarcastic tone. “Robert, we’re in deep shit here! You’ve gotten us into something that’s big. It’s way beyond any ‘unofficial investigation.’ Somebody doesn’t like where your research is going, and they thin
k we all know too much. I suggest you get your department mobilized, and armed. You don’t have any choice now. This thing had better become official. It’s either that, or you drop the whole investigation, and drop it loud enough so that whoever’s behind this hears you drop it from a mile away.”

  “I can’t drop it.” Robert said firmly.

  “Then you have a problem, and so do I.” Grady told him, looking him straight in the eye.

  “I still need your help.” Robert said. “I’m stuck, Grady. The only direction I can move is forward, and I can’t do it alone.”

  Grady was angry. “I’m in whether I like it or not—and by the way, I don’t! Robert, do you understand that as long as you won’t let go, I’m a moving target? I think I’m entitled to know why you still think I should help you.”

  Robert had done some thinking while Grady vented. He knew he was about to make himself sound even more callous. He fiddled with the railing, took a deep breath, then turned to look at Grady again, but stopped talking as the tourists walked past. After holding his breath until they got by, he spoke. “Look, Grady, I’m sorry this has happened, but neither of us have much choice in the matter. I can’t stop this investigation, so whoever is after you isn’t going to stop trying to kill you. I can’t elevate this investigation without direct evidence linking you, Chris, the violence, and OPOV—which I don’t have. I’ll figure it out, but in the meantime, you have two choices: you can either go on the run, and hope I figure this mess out before the killers find you again, or you can help me bring them down. If these guys come after me before I get them, you won’t ever be able to stop running. Frankly, I don’t think I’d manage as well as you did last night. If they come for me, I’m a goner. Plus, I’ve got a wife and two kids they’ll use to take me down. Either way, you’re toast. If they don’t get me, the politics will. My career will be in shreds.”

  Grady looked away from Robert. He wanted to knock him off the bridge. He’d turned the whole thing over and over in his mind, and he knew what Robert was saying was true. It wasn’t any easier to accept than it had been at 3 a.m. He’d hoped that Robert could pull some rabbit out of his hat.

  “That was way too melodramatic.” Grady almost smiled but it hurt his lip. “Look, you have position and security, and I can disappear. But I can also keep digging into this from a distance. So, what do you want me to do?” Grady asked, feeling clearer. It was amazing how Robert’s outburst had refocused his thoughts.

  “The crypto guys at the Pentagon. I need you to get whatever they find.” Robert said. “They won’t talk to me, and they’ll know something is up if I contact them. I need you to keep them on this, but it still has to look like a research project to them. I also need to know why your visit to them triggered the attack on you. I have no idea how to figure that out, but if you see a connection…”

  “Research.” Grady tried laughing sardonically, but ended up coughing. Recovering, he looked at Robert again. “So I have to hide, and find a way to communicate with you and Crypto, and do some research. You don’t ask for much, do you?” They both stood silently for a moment. Grady spoke first. “’Never volunteer’ we say, but I’m always sticking my neck out, waiting for the axe to fall.” He managed a strangled chuckle. “I guess I’m in this with you as deep as I can wade, Robert. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to talk to those guys again. Hell, I don’t even have a uniform! They’re all in ashes. I don’t suppose that would make much difference to them. One look at my face and they would all act like they never met me.” His voice rose. “Don’t try to call or find me, Robert. If I’m doing this, I’m doing it my way. Take it, or leave it.”

  “Of course. You’ll initiate all calls, but if something comes up...” Robert began.

  “Forget it,” Grady interrupted. “You’re not going to know where I am. And don’t put any of your security boys, or investigators on finding me. I’m not going to discriminate when it comes to defending myself against anyone who seems a little too interested.”

  Robert held up his hand defensively. “No, I don’t want to know where you are. But if something comes up I’ll use this.” Robert pulled his secure text pager from his belt. “Works anywhere on the planet. I’ll put in thirteen, then the number. If you can’t call, hit reply and you can type in a message, then send. I’ll get it like a text, but securely.”

  “Thirteen, perfect.” Grady took the device. “No one in their right mind would use that number first. I assume this is monitored?”

  “Yes, everything is these days. It’s just to initiate contact. I’ll use phones I’ve never used before, and I’ll wait only fifteen minutes, then move to a new one. You’ll know it’s me.” Robert offered his hand. “You better get a pay-as-you-go cell phone.”

  Grady accepted his handshake. “I plan to, but not around here. You better get us out of this, Robert.”

  “We’ll get out of this, Grady. I promise.”

  “Spoken like a real politician.” Grady stepped away from the railing. “Do me a favor.” Robert nodded his acceptance. “Stay here for five minutes so that neither of your two guards tries to follow me.”

  “You’re worried about the Secret Service?” Robert looked surprised.

  “Secret Service?” Grady paused. “You bet. I’m worried about everybody.” Grady started walking back to his car with a noticeable limp. “Forgive me if I don’t trust anyone right now.”

  Robert kept his position on the bridge. As Grady reached the halfway point to land, Robert motioned for Long and Carey to stand well back, and let Grady go. The agents watched Grady walk past them. Their eyes locked with his, but no word was exchanged. Robert saw Grady get into a brown sedan, and pull out of the parking lot.

  Robert walked to shore and stood next to Agent Carey.

  “Well, Sir?” Carey asked as they watched Grady’s taillights disappear around some trees.

  “I’m not sure.” Robert mused as he watched Grady leave. “We have a lot of problems, and very few answers.”

  “We need to report in on our situation, Sir.”

  Robert watched as Grady’s car went down the main road passing behind the trees. Robert turned back toward Carey. “I want to make sure the team is on their way to cover my family.”

  “Yes, Sir. I’ll make the call.” Carey reached into his pocket for his cell phone.

  The three of them waited patiently for Carey to get a check-in from the other agents, who responded that they were loading up, and would be on their way to Robert’s house momentarily. The Agents and Robert began walking to the cars.

  An explosion from the far side of the trees down near Key Bridge ripped through the air. The force of the blast could be felt throughout the parking area. Robert could feel the heat. Looking up, he saw a huge plume of grey smoke billow into the air, followed by bright yellow flames, and brilliant white trails that arched like fireworks through the sky. The sound of squealing tires and a crunch of metal from cars on top of the bridge followed as a second explosion sent red flames rushing up one side of the grey smoke column. Disgorging a black cloud into the first explosion’s smoke, they rose higher in a mushroom shaped cloud.

  “Stay here!” Carey yelled at Robert, running to his car. Long fired up the engine on the BMW, and positioned the car to leave. Robert got into the passenger side.

  Spinning his tires as he drove, Carey reached the main road quickly and saw in front of him a conflagration of flames and smoke. They were coming from the incinerated remains of a four-door sedan, cocked at an angle partway on the grass and curb. The engine, interior, and tires all burned violently. No glass or paint remained, but he could tell it was the same kind of car Colonel Barlow had been driving. Several cars had collided, and were stopped short of the explosion. The car was a crematorium for anything, or anybody left inside.

  “Long.” He yelled into his microphone. “Leave now! I’ll take point from the ramp.” Carey’s words launched Agent Long into action. He said nothing to Robert. Dropping the car into gear th
e tires squealed as he raced for the exit.

  “Get down!” Long pushed Robert’s head toward the seat. Robert was too disoriented to understand what Long was telling him and bobbed back up, looking out the window.

  Carey put his car in reverse and backed his way toward the parking area exit, blocking the first lane of the main road. Just as Long arrived, he accelerated, taking up position in front as both cars sped across traffic, over the grassy median and onto the southbound lanes of the roadway.

  “What’s going on? What’s happening?” Robert yelled at Long, as he struggled to stay seated in the bouncing car. Long’s focus was on his driving. He didn’t answer.

  Robert’s face had blanched when they’d driven past the burning car. He knew it was the car Grady had been driving.

  Chapter 32

  Robert sat in his office...just sat. He didn’t notice the clock ticking. The coffee on his desk was cold. His computer sat in his briefcase. His overcoat had been hung up by Lorraine. He wasn’t in shock. That would be too physical; too tangible. He was staggered. He had been jolted into silent limbo. He had not spoken since his eyes had filled with the flames and smoke of Grady’s burning car. The gutted hulk continued to burn in his mind. The flames leaped in Robert’s brain without diminishing. The car blazed without being consumed.

  They had driven straight back to the office. The secure parking and building made sense. Robert had not noticed whether Long spoke, either to him, or to Carey on the radio. All he could hear and see were flames and smoke. In the elevator the silence continued as the door opened on a lower floor. Carey got out to go to security. Long continued up with Robert and took his station outside the door.

  Blaring into the silence of his office, the ringing phone jerked Robert’s mind back into his body. He grabbed at the phone. Lorraine was on the line, but Robert only heard Tracie’s voice.