The First Councel

by Brad Meltzer

  All that leaves is a nearby motel. It’s not a bad option, but I have to keep it safe. No credit cards-nothing they can trace me with. I open my wallet and see that I’m flying on fumes; all that’s left is twelve dollars in cash, my lucky two-dollar bill, and a Metro farecard. First things first. “How about a cash machine?”

  “Now you’re talkin’,” the cabbie says.

  Sliding my card into the ATM, I punch in my four-digit PIN code. Even with the bank’s daily limit of six hundred dollars on withdrawals, that should be more than enough to get me through the night. Then I can start working on a solution.

  Entering the dollar amount, I wait as the machine whirs through its motions. But instead of hearing the shuffling of bills being distributed, I see a digital message appear on-screen: “Transaction cannot be processed at this time.”

  Huh? Maybe I tried to take out too much. I hit the Cancel button to start again. This time, a new message appears: “To retrieve your card, please contact your branch manager or your local financial institution.”

  “What?” I hit Cancel again, but there’s no response. The machine resets itself and the words “Please insert card” appear on-screen. I don’t understand. How’d they… I look straight at the ATM and remember that the FBI’s background check includes a disclosure of all current bank accounts. “Damn!” I shout, pounding my fist against unbreakable glass. They took my card. Refusing to give up, I pull out a credit card and shove it into the machine. All I need is a cash advance. Once again, though, the words flash up on-screen: “Transaction cannot be processed at this time.”

  The sun has barely started to set, so when I turn around, it’s still light enough for the cabbie to read the expression on my face. He puts the car in gear. He knows a dead fare when he sees one.

  “Wait…!” I call out.

  The tires screech. He’s gone. And I’m out on the street.

  The last time this happened, I was seven. On the way home from the local barbershop, Dad decided to take a new shortcut through the repaved schoolyard. Two hours later, he’d forgotten where we lived. He could’ve picked up a pay phone and called my mom, but that thought never occurred to him.

  Of course, back then, it was an adventure. Lost among the labyrinth of apartment buildings, he kept joking that wherever we were, it was going to be his new spot for hide-and-seek. I couldn’t stop laughing. That is, until he started to cry. Frustration always did that to him. That high-pitched wail of adult desperation is one of my earliest memories-and one I wish I could forget. Few things slice as deep as a parent’s tears.

  Still, even as he fell apart, he tried to protect me, shielding me inside the glass walls of a phone booth. “We have to sleep here until Mom finds us,” he said as it started to grow dark. I sat down in the booth. He leaned against it outside. At seven years old, I was rightfully scared. But not half as scared as I am now.

  CHAPTER 35

  By a quarter to six, I’m tucked away in the best Metro-accessible, high-traffic, twenty-four-hour hiding spot I could think of-Reagan National Airport. Before settling on my current location, I made one stop at the luggage store outside Terminal C. For two dollars and seventy-two cents, I cashed in my lucky two-dollar bill and all the change in my pocket for a defective black plastic garment bag that was about to be sent back to the manufacturer. Who cares if the zipper never opens? — it’s not like I need it for travel. I just need to look the part. And when I combine it with a canceled ticket I fished out of the garbage, it does the job.

  Since then, I’ve been huddled in the far corner of Legal Seafood-the only restaurant in the airport that airs the local news, and therefore the best place to nurse my last twelve dollars.

  “Here’s your soda,” the waitress says, lowering the glass to my table.

  “Thanks,” I say, my eyes glued to the TV. To my surprise, the local affiliate has preempted its programming to cover the daily press conference live. It’s a power move by the stations-putting pressure on the Press Office to get on with the story. Naturally, the White House pushes back. CNN is one thing, but they can’t have the whole nation going live-it sets people into a panic and sends votes to Bartlett. So they do the best thing they can think of-they run the agenda backwards. Start with the small stories; work up to the home run.

  As a result, we’re watching a wire-rimmed State Department bureaucrat explaining to eighty-five million people the benefits of the Kyoto Accords and how they’ll affect our long-term trade positions with Asia. In one massive collective yawn, thirty million people change the channel. For the networks, it’s a ratings nightmare. For the Press Office, it’s a TKO. The message is sent-don’t fuck with the White House.

  Convinced that only the diehards are left, Press Secretary Emmy Goldfarb and the President approach the podium. She’s there to speak; he’s there to let us know it’s serious. A candidate who can handle a crisis.

  No more wasting time-she gets right into it. Yes, Caroline Penzler’s death was not from natural causes. No, the White House never knew. Why, because the toxicology reports were only recently completed. Everything else can’t be discussed because they don’t want it interfering with the current investigation. Like before, she tries to keep it short and sweet. She doesn’t have a chance. Once the smell of blood’s in the air, the press licks their chops.

  In nanoseconds, the reporters in the room are on their feet and shouting questions.

  “When’d the tox reports come back?”

  “Is it true the story was leaked to the Post?”

  “What about Michael Garrick?”

  Reaching for my soda, I inadvertently knock it over. As it waterfalls off the table, the waitress runs to my side.

  “Sorry about that,” I say as she throws down a rag.

  “Not a big deal,” she replies.

  On-screen, the Press Secretary explains that she doesn’t want to interfere with the FBI’s ongoing investigation, but there’s no way the reporters’ll let her avoid it that easily. Within seconds, the questions once again fly.

  “Have you confirmed murder, or are you still considering suicide?”

  “What about the ten thousand dollars?”

  “Is it true Garrick’s still in the building?”

  She’s getting hammered up there. Someone’s got to save her. Sure enough, the President steps in. To the American people, he looks like a hero. To the press-as soon as they saw him in the room, they knew they were going to get him. The President doesn’t just hang out at briefings. Still, it quiets the crowd.

  Locking his hands on to the sides of the podium, he picks up where Goldfarb should’ve never left off. This is an FBI case. Period. They investigated; they ran the tests; and they kept it quiet to prevent exactly what’s happening from happening. Within seconds, he’s passed the buck. He’s so good at this, it’s scary.

  When he’s convinced he’s clean, he tackles the questions. No, he can’t comment on Vaughn or myself. Yes, that would greatly impede the investigation. And yes, in case the press corps forgot, people are still innocent until proven guilty, thank you very much.

  “However,” he says as the room falls silent. “I do want to make one thing perfectly clear… ” He pauses just long enough to get us all salivating. “If this is a murder… whatever it takes, we will find the person who killed my friend, Caroline Penzler.” He says it just like that. “My friend, Caroline Penzler.” Right there, it all shifts. From defense to offense in a matter of syllables. I can feel his poll numbers rocket. Screw Bartlett. There’s nothing America loves more than a little personal vengeance. When he’s done, he looks straight at the camera for the big closer. “Whoever they are, wherever they are, these people will pay.”

  “That’s all we have to say,” the Press Secretary jumps in.

  Hartson leaves the room; the press keeps shouting questions. It’s too late, though. It’s six o’clock. For now, the local news is going to have to pick up the pieces, and all they have is Hartson’s positively flawless sound bite. I hav
e to hand it to them. That thing was choreographed better than the First Lady’s birthday party. Every moment was brilliant-right down to Goldfarb pretending she was overwhelmed. The President steps in, sounds fair, and saves the day. Play up the dead friend; sprinkle in some retaliation. Tough on crime never had it so good.

  Of course, as the smoke clears, all I can focus on is who the press was asking about. Not Simon. And thankfully, not Nora. Just me. Me and Vaughn. Two dead men.

  By eight o’clock, to avoid the glut of Friday night little-kid sitcoms, the restaurant switches to CNN-just in time to watch the story run again. When they’re finished showing Hartson’s sound bite, the anchorwoman says, “Tomorrow’s Washington Post reports that this man, Michael Garrick, is currently being sought for questioning by authorities.” As she says my name, my ID photo flashes on-screen. It happens so fast, I barely react. All I can do is look away. When she’s done, I pick my head up and check the bar. Waitress. Bartender. Businessmen expense-accounting their salmon dinners. No one knows but me.

  Having overstayed my welcome with the waitress, I eventually move over to the restaurant bar, where the bartender’s used to stranded commuters who just want to watch a little TV. “Do you have a lost-and-found?” I ask him. “I think I left some stuff here during my last trip.”

  He pulls a cardboard Heinz ketchup box from behind the bar and plops it in front of me. Amid the keychains and lost paperbacks, I pick out a pair of sunglasses and a Miami Dolphins baseball cap. My dad would’ve taken the box.

  “All set?” the bartender asks.

  “It’s a start,” I say, plastering the Dolphins on my head.

  By nine o’clock, I’ve seen the story run four times. By ten, it’s double that. I’m not sure why I’m still watching it, but I can’t help myself. It’s like I’m waiting for it to change-for the newscaster to come on and say, “This just in-Nora Hartson admits drug problem; Counsel’s Office is completely corrupt; Garrick innocent.” So far, it hasn’t happened.

  When the neon lights of the restaurant blink off, I take the hint and limp out toward the boarding gates. My ankle’s better, but it’s still stiff. Adjusting my glasses, and with my garment bag trailing behind me, I sink into a corner seat and crane my neck to see the televisions suspended from the ceiling. Three more hours of CNN brings the total up to twenty. Each time, the words are identical. Sure, there’re some permutations-the anchorperson changes adjectives and intonations just to keep things lively-“… this man, Michael Garrick… ” “… this man, Michael Garrick… ” “… this man, Michael Garrick … ”-but the message is always the same. It’s my face up there; my life; and as long as I sit here in my own little pity party, it’s only going to get worse.

  At two-fifteen in the morning, a delayed flight from Chicago arrives at the US Airways terminal. When the crowd clears off the plane, two security guards approach and tell me that the terminal is now closed.

  “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to ask you to leave,” the second guard says.

  Trying to make sure they don’t get a good look at my face, I keep my head down and give them nothing but Dolphins logo. “I thought you were open twenty-f-”

  “The gates close for security purposes. The main terminal’s open all night. If you want to wait out there, you’re welcome to.”

  Refusing to look up, I take my paper-thin garment bag and leave CNN behind.

  By three A.M., I’m spread out on a small bench next to the information booth, with the garment bag draped over my chest. In the past fifteen minutes, the guards have chased away two homeless men. I’m wearing a suit. They leave me alone. It’s not the best hiding spot, but it’s one of the few that’ll let me sleep. Unlike New York, the subway here closes at midnight. Besides, if the authorities are searching, they’re looking for someone trying to leave. I want to stay.

  Over the next fifteen minutes, I’m having a hard time keeping my head up, but I can’t calm myself enough to actually welcome sleep. Naturally, I’m wondering about Nora and how she’s going to react, but the real truth is, I can’t stop thinking about my dad. By now, the press is already bulldozing through the rest of my life. It’s not going to take long to find him. I don’t care how independent he is, he’s not built for something like this. None of us are. Except maybe Nora.

  Fading out, my mind trips back to Rock Creek Parkway. Trailing Simon. Getting caught with the money. Saying it was mine. That’s where the snowball started. Barely two weeks ago. From there, the images rush forward. Vaughn dead in the hotel room. Nora on the White House roof. Caroline’s eyes, one straight, one cockeyed. The moments blur together, and I mentally sketch how it could’ve been different. There was always a simple way out, I just… I didn’t want to take it. It wasn’t worth it. Until now.

  In Washington… No. In life… there’re two separate worlds. There’s the perception of what’s important, and then there’s what actually is. It’s been too long since I realized there’s a difference.

  As my eyelids sway shut, I pull the garment bag all the way up to my chin. It’s going to be a cold night, but at least I’ve made my decision. I’m sick of being stuck in a phone booth.

  CHAPTER 36

  Simon wakes up at four-thirty in the morning and hustles through a quick shower and shave. On most days, he sleeps until at least five-thirty, but if he wants to beat the press today, he’s going to have to get out early. Naturally, there’s no paper on his doorstep yet, but he checks anyway.

  Outside, where I’m sitting, it’s still completely dark, so as he goes from bedroom to bathroom to kitchen, I follow the trail of lights. As near as I can tell, he’s got a tasteful house in a tasteful neighborhood. It’s not the best of Virginia’s sprawling suburbs, but that’s why he chose it. I remember him telling the story during the last staff retreat. The day he and his wife were going to bid on the house, their Realtor called about a brand-new home in a coveted section of McLean. Sure it was more expensive, Simon’s wife argued, but they could afford it. Simon wanted nothing to do with it. If he was going to teach his kids proper values, they had to have something to shoot for. There’s nothing gained by always being on top.

  Looking back, the story’s probably bullshit. Up until a few weeks ago, Simon was a man to be taken at his word. Which, in a strange way, is precisely why I’m now sitting in the passenger seat of his black Volvo.

  It’s still pitch dark as Simon steps out the back door of his house. I watch him lock up and check the yard. It’s still early. No reporters in sight. Moving toward the driveway, he’s wearing the strut of a man without a care. More like a careless man to me. He doesn’t even see me as he heads to the driver’s side of his car. He’s too busy thinking he got away with it.

  Tossing his briefcase into my lap, he slides into the leather seat like it’s just another day.

  “Morning, Mr. Worm-I’m the early bird,” I announce.

  Startled, he clutches his chest and drops his keys. Still, I have to hand it to him. Within seconds, his ironing-board shoulders rise in irritation. As he brushes a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, his unshakable calm flows back even faster than it left. He turns my way, and the light in the car shines in his face. With an angry tug, he slams the door shut and darkness falls.

  “I thought you’d wait until I got to the office,” he says in a voice that’s pure gravel.

  “You think I’m that stupid?” I ask.

  “You tell me-who’s the one sleeping in my car?”

  “I didn’t sleep here, I was… ”

  “… just stalking your boss at five in the morning? C’mon,” Simon adds. “You didn’t really think you were going to get away with it, did you?”

  “Get away with-?”

  “It’s over, Michael. Better to plead insanity than innocence.” Laughing to himself, he adds, “I was right, though, wasn’t I? Caroline set it up; you collected the cash?”

  “What?”

  “I wouldn’t have even thought it if I hadn’t spotted you that
night. Then when I heard what happened to my payment-when the cops confiscated the ten grand, that’s where it all fell apart, isn’t it? She thought you were holding out on her. That’s why you did it, right? That’s why you killed her?”

  “I killed her?”

  “It’s a fool’s way out, Michael-it was then and it is now. You’ll never pull it off twice.”

  “Twice?” I don’t know what he’s talking about, but it’s clear he’s got his own version of reality. Time to call bullshit. “I’m not a moron, Edgar. I saw you at Pendulum that night. I was there.”

  “There’s a good expla-”

  “Spin it whichever way you want, you were still paying the blackmail. Forty grand to keep a lock on the closet.” He shoots me a look. “Does your wife know? Have you-”

  “Are you wearing a wire?” he interrupts. “Is that why you’re here?” Before I can react, his arm springs out, slapping an open palm against my chest.

  “Get the hell off me!” I shout, pushing him away.

  Realizing there’s nothing in my shirt, he sits back in his seat.

  I shake my head at the man who used to be my boss. “You haven’t even told her yet, have you? You’re out playing around and she still doesn’t know. What about your kids? You lying to them too?” Realizing I have his attention, I motion over my shoulder toward his house. “They’re the ones who pay for it, Edgar.”

  Once again, he runs his hand through his hair. For the first time since I met him, the salt-and-pepper doesn’t go back in place. “I have to tell you, I didn’t think you had it in you, Michael.” The way his voice slowly lingers on each word, I assume he’s talking out of shock. Maybe even fear.

  But it’s not. It’s disappointment. “All this time, I always figured Caroline as the ruthless one. Now I know better.”