A few minutes later, Marc arrived to find Burt sitting at his desk with two crystal glasses containing scotch.
“Close the door, please, Marc.”
“Are we celebrating something, Burt?” Marc asked the question cautiously, fearing the worst.
“You might say that,” Burt said bluntly. “This single malt scotch runs over five thousand dollars a bottle, when you can get it. Before I get started, I suggest you slam that one down, and I’ll refill it for you.”
Marc was obviously surprised, but decided the best course was to knock down the scotch. After the brief shake of his body from the liquid burning its way down his throat, he allowed Burt to pour another two shots into his glass.
“Are you okay, Burt?”
“No, I’m not, Marc. And just so that you know, if a word of what I’m about to say ever sees the light of day, you will likely find yourself disappeared. Do you understand me?”
Marc accepted the threat thinking it was a bit melodramatic, but then looking into Burt’s eyes, decided he was deadly serious.
“Burt, I don’t know that I want to hear this.” Saying this, Marc began to get out of his chair.
“Sit down, Marc. You don’t have a choice, just like me.” Marc slowly settled back into the chair.
After a pause, Burt continued, “The President just ordered me to have the legal staff draw up a Declaration of Emergency for her signature. She planned to sign it this evening before announcing her ‘coup d’état’ of Congress on national television. I convinced her to give me twenty-four hours to give her the plan for properly rolling out such a declaration.”
Burt drained his scotch in one motion before pouring another.
Marc sipped his scotch, but his mind was racing. “My God, Burt. Doesn’t she know, oh, I don’t know, that maybe she would be impeached for trying that?”
“Yeah, she does now. I told her, which is what got me the twenty-four hour delay. This is the last one for both of us, by the way,” Burt said, motioning to their glasses, “so you might want to really savor it. When they’re done, we need to make a list of the bare minimum of people that will need to be informed and make sure they are available by secure telephone to receive the President’s call. I’m thinking she can call the people on the list by secure phone between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. day after tomorrow before signing the damned thing and then going on national television in a live address to the nation. Does this sound about right to you?”
Marc responded, “None of it sounds very right to me, but if it’s going to happen, I can probably set it up with the major networks to be prepared to preempt programming for a major announcement from the White House. I presume I should tell them it is about the economic crisis? They’ll get really pissed when I don’t give them a preview outline of the speech, but they’ll figure out why after she says whatever she’s going to say. Speaking of which, what the hell is she going to say?”
“I’ve got to corral Danny and get him working on it,” Burt said thoughtfully. “On second thought, maybe I’ll just tell him to be in early tomorrow morning and tell him then. That will save the possibility of it getting out too soon. Speaking of which, I really did mean what I said about this getting out. Not even pillow talk with Susan tonight, Marc. Got it?”
Burt was rewarded by Marc’s look of surprise.
“Oh, and Marc? Think I’ll schedule a dinner meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the day after tomorrow for the key staff and cabinet members. Make sure Towanda is there. The President can advise any other critical personnel by secure telephone.”
Chapter 27
The New Year - Plus Twelve Days
The White House
1145 Hours EST
“Madam President,” Katherine’s secretary said into the intercom phone, “Director Kidd is on his way over here and requests a meeting at your earliest convenience. He did not say what it was about, but advised that it was important that he see you right away.”
In light of Eli’s message earlier, Katherine wondered if the message was going to be intelligence that China was about to launch an attack on Taiwan.
“When he enters the building, let me know. I will call you when I’m ready to see him.”
Katherine thought more about the possible reason for such a face to face meeting and she began to wonder if this might concern her invocation of the State of Emergency. “Whatever revelation the man brings,” Katherine thought darkly, “it has doubled the pounding in my head.”
Nearly fifteen minutes after her secretary announced the FBI Director and a Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) had entered the building, Katherine called and asked that they be shown into the Oval Office.
“Director,” Katherine said with a stern look on her face. “You have something that could not be handled on the phone?”
“Madam President, no, this could not be handled on the phone. This is my Deputy Assistant Director in the Counterintelligence Division. With your permission, he will set up the laptop with information to supplement what I am about to tell you. And Madam President, it is not good news.”
Katherine had come around the desk but had not offered her hand. She sat down in the chair across from her couch and motioned both men to be seated across from her. In anticipation of this arrangement, the Deputy Assistant Director had brought a special laptop computer with screens facing both towards him and the keyboard and one facing the President.
“Madam President, I’ve tried to think of the best way to approach this matter and decided bringing it directly to you, confidentially, with no one else in the loop, was the best way to handle it. To be blunt, we have strong evidence that your husband, Walter Fontaine, has been having an affair with a young Chinese girl.”
W. Allen Kidd let the statement hang in the air for a moment to allow the President to digest it, wanting to ease into the espionage part.
Much to the Allen’s surprise, Katherine broke out into almost giddy laughter.
After a moment to compose herself, she said, “Why in the hell should I care who Walter happens to be fucking this week?”
Through another giggle, Katherine said, “My God, man. He’s been boinking some bimbo regularly for years.” She became serious for a moment. “And that statement better not ever see the light of day. Do you understand me? I thought you were going to tell me something I didn’t know.” She continued to laugh softly as she shook her head.
Taken aback, Allen drew a deep breath and continued, “Madam President, the Chinese woman he has been seeing works closely with a Chinese intelligence officer. The Chinese intelligence service has been videotaping each encounter. Worse, she has been skillfully interrogating him for everything he knows about U.S. government actions relating to China or anything about which they have an interest.”
Katherine’s smile disappeared as her face turned first white, then ashen, and finally began to redden. “What?! Tapes?!” She shouted this across the coffee table.
At Allen’s nod, the Deputy Assistant Director pushed a button and the laptop screen came alive. A video flashed on the screen depicting Walter walking down the sidewalk and getting into a gray vehicle with blacked out windows. The scene cut to a distant video, zoomed in to the point it was quite grainy, showing Walter getting out of the car and a Chinese man extending a plastic hotel key card to him.
“Madam President, the Chinese man is Sung Hong, a First Secretary in the PRC Embassy and a known Chinese intelligence officer. This was four days ago.”
The screen then shows Walter entering a small, plush Washington, D.C. hotel. The screen is dark when sound can suddenly be heard over the laptop speaker.
“Oh, Walter,” a woman said with a cute China doll accent, �
�you walk in like you rushed. You not want my company?”
“My Dear, um,” Walter could be heard mumbling. This was followed by the sound of someone gulping down a drink followed by Walter’s mumbling for the glass to be refilled. After the second round of slurping the sound of the woman giggling could be heard along with, “Oh, Walter,” and sloppy kissing.
Walter then said, “I want you to bring out your bag of tricks. I, uh, I mean, I’ve been a very bad boy.”
After a slight pause, the Chinese woman said, “You very bad. On your knees, you bad boy, and drop your pants. Bare bottom when I return. DO IT!”
Katherine’s face had flashed between anger, embarrassment, and morbid fascination multiple times as the audio tape continued. After the first crack of a whip followed by Walter’s voice saying, “Thank you mistress,” Katherine reached across the table, grabbed the laptop and threw it off the coffee table toward the far wall. To add to her frustration, the sounds of whipping and Walter’s pleas for more punishment continued from across the room until the Deputy Assistant Director could recover the laptop and turn it off.
“I’ll kill the son-of-a-bitch,” Katherine said in a short, staccato, and malevolent voice. She then looked up and glared at both the Director and Deputy Assistant Director. “You will both wait outside of this office until I call you back in. Do you understand me?” Her voice rose slightly as she displayed great effort in avoiding the shout she wanted to use.
Both men got up and left the Oval Office to take seats in the waiting room outside. Right after sitting down across from the President’s secretary, her phone rang once. After she listened for a moment, she said, “Yes, Madam President,” and hung up the phone. She looked at both men and smiled before asking if either would care for a cup of coffee. Both politely declined.
Hanging up the phone, Katherine’s mind was in a whirlwind. At least she had the forethought to have her secretary call immediately should the Director and his assistant get up and leave.
. . .
FBI Headquarters
1830 Hours EST
Allen had just poured two fingers of fine bourbon into a tumbler without ice. He followed by pouring a similar drink, which he offered to his Deputy Assistant Director. He had pushed the button that created “white noise” or static on any device that might be trying to record what was said in the office. After both men had drained half of the contents of their glass, Allen asked, “Well, what do you make of that?”
The DAD responded, “I’ve been trying to understand what just happened all the way back, Sir. Quite frankly, I’m a bit afraid. Not just for me but for my family.”
If he was expecting a surprised look from the Director, he didn’t get one.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing for the first time in my life,” said Allen. “I had expected her to let us cool our heels for a while as she considered what actions to take, but not for over four hours. And then to have her secretary do the throat clearing thing and shake her head no when we started to get up and leave. Well, it was shocking and insulting.”
“Was it just me,” the DAD said, “or after she called us back in, was every question she asked focused on identifying every single person, by name, that knew anything about the Chinese intel operation? If she had the power, I think she would have had you drawn and quartered when you refused to identify agents by name who were read into this. And, Sir, I was never more proud to work for you when she said, ‘How dare you deny me those names.’”
The DAD actually smiled as he repeated what his Director had told the President of the United States, “Those men and women have trusted me with their lives and until you can provide me with a valid reason that anyone outside the FBI needs those names, I will protect them. Listen, Allen. I know D.C. is the center of conspiracy theories in this country, but her whole attitude was one of building a hit list. Did you notice how she made a point of reminding me that the whole thing was classified to the highest level? She was telling me about classification? What a flaming hypocrite!”
“Sir,” said the DAD, “you promised Hugh McIntyre an update by noon yesterday.”
With a nod of acknowledgement, Allen said, “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. You don’t know where Hugh or the girl is now, do you?”
The Director knew the answer but wanted to insure that continued to be correct. He was also unaware that Hugh’s daughter was now accompanying Su.
“No, Sir,” said the DAD. “Per your instructions, they have been completely off the radar.
Allen considered the whole thing again and said, “I want you to use this burner phone from a non-bureau location and set up another secure communications plan, one that doesn’t involve either you or me. And no, I don’t want to know any details. I imagine he is prepared to disappear for an extended period, so have him do so for at least three months. Do I remember from his personnel file that he did some covert work several years ago?”
At the nod from the DAD, Allen continued, “Okay, then arrange for him to get an appropriate amount of covert cash. Make sure he includes his family and the girl in these instructions. He is to have no contact with anyone from the FBI or U.S. government. Did I leave anything out?”
“No, Sir. I can fill in any other details, but that should cover it.”
“After you get that done,” the Director continued, “I want you to do the same thing for yourself.”
“Sir?” The confused look on the DAD’s face showed a little of the insult that he felt.
“Listen to me carefully.” Allen’s voice had gotten very quiet and very serious. “Enemies of the Fontaine’s have disappeared by the dozens over the years. I’ve got a protection detail, but my wife is going to be leaving the area by tomorrow morning. We’ve done everything we can do, considering the cat is already out of the bag, or out of Walter’s lips and over in Beijing. With the economy, tensions with the Chinese, and everything else going on right now, arresting anyone at this point would have very negative effects on our country. Do you really think the President’s State Department is going to throw out any Chinese spies at this point? Suddenly, the Internet will light up with a video in living color with the First Man being whipped by a Chinese girl, and asking for more.”
“But, Sir? With this information, the Chinese own her! She should step down and have the Vice President take charge.” The DAD’s words were a mix of outrage with a plea for sanity.
With a resigned sigh, the Director said, “If an opportunity presents itself where she can be removed without plunging the country into complete chaos, I will do what is necessary. What I don’t want is for anyone else to take the fall for doing what is right. You and I both know the press and her allies will protect her at all costs.”
Looking the DAD directly in his eyes, the Director said gently, “Go protect your family. But before you go, make sure there are multiple copies of everything we’ve done to investigate this thing to include your recollection of the meeting with the President. Hard copies, thumb drives, whatever it takes to make sure a record of what has happened survives. Send me a copy with a TOP SECRET/EYES ONLY classification and a marking stating it is the only copy. Can you do this in twenty-four hours?”
“Sir, all but the White House meeting write up, it’s already done.”
Chapter 28
The New Year - Plus Twelve Days
Undisclosed Safe House in Northern Virginia
2300 Hours EST
Hugh McIntyre arrived at the safe house to find his daughter, Lisa, and Su Ling sitting anxiously on the couch. Su was much calmer than Lisa.
“I have news.” Hugh made the statement without any inflection that would indicate whether the girls would find it desirable or distasteful.
Lo
oking directly at Su, Hugh said, “Lisa has told me that she trusts you completely. You’ll have to understand that I’ve been doing this for a long time and with lives in the balance, so I really have a tough time trusting anyone. A case in point is what happened when the President was informed her husband had been videotaped in compromising positions while giving up our country’s highest level of secrets. Instead of meeting the threat head-on, she is determined to bury the whole thing and anyone that is aware of it.”
Su quickly said, “Beijing will own her. That was the plan from the beginning. You must get rid of her, or at least throw her out of the White House.”
“Yes, I agree with you.” Hugh said this with a heavy voice. “Unfortunately, there are too many moving parts for that to happen at this time.”
“Then we are to be killed?” Su made the comment as both a question and a statement of fact.
“No, that will not happen.” Hugh said this with firmness and conviction.
“Just like my family will be saved and smuggled out of China?” Su was allowing her emotions to come out for the first time in many years.
Lisa chose that moment to jump in and defuse the tension. “Su, I was there. Dad never said he could get your family out of China, only that he would do everything in his power to do so.” Turning to her dad, Lisa asked, “And you did, didn’t you daddy?”
Hugh felt momentarily trapped between telling his daughter the truth and revealing his having done something way outside the rules.
Finally, he nodded his head to the silent argument in his mind and said, “Yes, Sweetheart, I did. The Director had told me he would personally speak to the CIA Director about getting them out, but I didn’t believe he would. I contacted a friend over there and asked if such a thing could be done. He told me that if the CIA Director ordered it, it might be possible, but realistically, if the PRC government were watching them, the risk to those making the attempt would be extremely high. He didn’t think anyone would want to take that risk.”
The Final Proclamation (An America Reborn Thriller Book 2) Page 15