by Marc James
“General that is something that I am considering. It will only be done as a last resort, I have no intention of starting a nuclear war. If we do take that route millions of innocent people will die on both sides. Not to mention the casualties in other countries, it could potentially bring about the end of human existence. I believe our best chance is diplomacy.” Kennedy replied calmly.
“Mr President if you allow this aggression to pass, then we will look weak. It will be Adolf Hitler all over again.”
“General I do understand your concerns, but the solution you are providing would do more harm than good. Surely you must see that?”
“I couldn’t disagree more Mr President. If we do not act now then they will be putting nukes in Cuba again. We must stand up to them.”
“General the people do not want this, they will understand that we have acted in the best interest of humanity.”
“What they will see Mr President, is a man who is scared of the Soviets, a man that they elected to act in the best interests of the country. We pulled out of Vietnam, we cannot allow communism to carry on spreading like a cancer.”
Kennedy glanced at Teddy, hoping for some support. Bobby instead interjected.
“General there is no need to escalate this situation further. We are already trying to deal with these terrorist attacks, we cannot fight a war on two fronts.”
“With all due respect you and Hoover should have apprehended this man months ago, it is not your position to discuss foreign policy.”
“This man is perhaps funded better than the US military and he has received years of CIA training. This isn’t some ex-con. The FBI has recovered the body of Garrett Underhill, who was shot dead last night and we are aware that Sirhan Sirhan was the hijacker of the plane. We also have a lead which is quite promising.” Hoover interjected.
Kennedy smiled. “That’s more like it, where is he?”
“We believe he is in Havana.”
“Why would he go there?” Abaddon asked.
“Well I would like to point out that we at the FBI believe the sinking of the ship is linked with Jacob Cohen, it is the only way to explain the journalist breaking the story. We have taken Sarah Salmond into custody this morning and threatened her with treason.”
“You can’t be serious!” Abaddon yelled.
“I am deadly serious, she said that he mentioned a trip to Cuba last time they spoke.”
“Why would he go to Cuba? Is he working with Castro?” Kennedy asked.
“I believe it is quite the opposite. The man hates communism and since he was a CIA operative, I had my agents look into the CIA records to try and establish...”
“You have no right looking into those files Edgar!” Abaddon yelled across the room.
“He’s behind this!” Bobby yelled back.
“Abaddon are you involved in this?” Kennedy asked calmly.
“Of course not but this is like the wiretaps all over again, he has no right to look into these things without authorization!”
“I’m the Director of the FBI, Abaddon.”
Abaddon had no response.
“Carry on Edgar.” Kennedy stated.
“We have found two CIA plots that we believe may be in operation. The first is called Operation MKULTRA, it involves brainwashing individuals by using drugs, hypnosis, sensory deprivation and electric shocks. It would explain the behaviour of our hijacker, Sirhan Sirhan.”
“They are doing that in Cape Cod Hospital, Sidney Gottlieb told Faraday.” Bobby interjected.
“That has been authorized by the President, it is part of the OSS.” Abaddon stated calmly.
“I authorized no such thing.” Kennedy replied.
“You did sir, I can show you the paperwork.”
Kennedy blushed.
“Regardless, it seems that Jacob Cohen is also using this technique, that was what Mengele told you Bobby?”
“That’s right.” Bobby loved Hoover at this moment.
“In terms of their plans for Cuba, it is difficult to judge what they will do, they have hundreds of plots. We will need men on the ground in Cuba to investigate what is going on.”
“I can send Faraday.” Bobby interjected.
“I will send an agent as well.” Hoover stated.
Kennedy smiled, for what felt like the first time in months. “Excellent work!” He announced.
“Sir, where do we stand with regards to Russia?” McNamara asked, breaking his silence.
“Well we are still in communication with them, they seem to be expecting us to make some concessions for trying to take the submarine. I have told him there is no chance of that and that I want to scuttle their ship. Ideally we will end up there or at the very least in the middle.”
“Sir I really must suggest that you reconsider your position on this issue.”
“General I have told you, we will not go to war. With regards to flights, we have grounded all non essential flights, we will be increasing security at airports and Howard will you be looking into improving the security on your planes?”
“Yes as soon as I get home I will be looking into how he gained access to the cockpit.”
Kennedy again smiled. “This is much better, we need to be working together and not bickering. What did you and David find out about the Apollo program?”
“It may be more appropriate if we have a separate meeting to discuss that particular issue.” Howard replied.
“That sounds quite negative.” Kennedy replied. “Is David back home?”
“Yes, I dropped him off before I arrived here.”
“Well can we get him in and discuss this?”
“I can give him a phone.” Abaddon volunteered.
“Thank you Abaddon.” Kennedy smiled as Abaddon rose to his feet and left the office. “Now when will Faraday and your agent be heading to Havana?”
“We can send them down within the day.” Bobby suggested.
“That should be suitable.” Hoover stated.
“I just need to sort Will out and then I can come to the Bureau.”
Hoover glanced at his watch. ”It may be better if we meet at my house.”
Bobby and Hoover rose from the table and left the room.
“Well thank you General and thank you Mr McNamara.”
The General rose to his feet with a bemused expression on his face and they both left the room.
Chapter 55
The ring of the telephone made both men jump, the topic of conversation had hardly been relaxing. David rose to his feet and answered the call.
“David its Abaddon, we have a problem.”
“What is it?”
“Hoover seems to be onto Jacob’s next move, we need him out the game before he tells Bobby everything. They are sending Faraday with an FBI agent to Havana to stop him.”
“You want me to take Hoover out the game?” David asked stunned.
“You’re the only one we’ve got, everyone else is in Havana. You need to be quick, because Kennedy wants you here to discuss NASA.”
“I don’t think I can do that Abaddon, Bobby has Will tailing me.”
“What? Does he know?” Abaddon sounded terrified.
“He suspects, he doesn’t have proof.”
“Fucking hell! What did he say to you?”
“Nothing. Faraday told me.”
“Why?”
“He wants to help us. He wants the same arrangement as me.”
Abaddon laughed. “You’re kidding?”
“No, he and Bobby have had a disagreement and with what happened to Jane he wants out.”
“Put him on.” Abaddon replied.
David gestured for Faraday to take the phone, this was met with a smile. “Hello.”
“Is this for real?”
“If you can really send me through time?”
“I can.”
“To any time I ask?”
“Yes.”
“And any place?”
“Yes.”
&n
bsp; “Well then it’s for real.”
Abaddon laughed again. “Bobby is planning on sending you to Havana to catch Jacob Cohen. You will be sent down with an FBI agent. I will get in touch with Jacob, he will find you. But before you go down there, I need you to kill J Edgar Hoover.”
“Kill him?” Faraday was beginning to regret his decision.
“Yes, he is on the verge of blowing the plan wide open. He needs to die. The meeting has just ended if you hurry you can get to his house and take him out.”
Faraday could feel sweat seeping into his black shirt. “No problem.”
“If you do this, you can go anywhere and anytime you want.”
Faraday replaced the receiver and turned to David. “I need to go.”
“So do I.”
They walked through the house to the front door and when they reached the driveway they went their separate ways. David’s car was still at the airport, so he took Jane’s. Faraday took his own.
Chapter 56
The Sun was shining on Havana, it was pleasantly mild rather than uncomfortably hot. It was the evening of Wednesday 26th February and Jacob Cohen was on his way to meet some old friends. The street was quite quiet and as he rose from street level up the flight of stairs to the flat, he heard the familiar voices that he had not heard for many years. He knocked twice on the metal door, when the man opened it, he recognised him immediately as Hector.
“How are you old friend?”
Hector smiled and embraced Jacob. “Very well, come in.”
Jacob walked into the crowded room and saw many faces he recognized and some that he didn’t. The walls were lined with Cuban men and the floor was barely visible, there were dozens of people all staring up at him with expectation and hope in their eyes.
“How many do we have Hector?” Jacob asked, surveying the room.
“One hundred and three, not nearly enough. How many have you brought?”
“I’m alone.” Jacob spoke with a smile.
Hector’s face was no longer one of hope and expectation, it was now one of anger. “You came alone! No backup? What are we supposed to do with one hundred and four men?”
Jacob couldn’t help but laugh. “We are going to overthrow Fidel Castro.”
Hector just stared back at Jacob, bemused.
“Perhaps you should sit down and let me explain?”
Hector obliged.
Jacob cleared his throat and then spoke to the crowd as a whole. “Okay everyone, my name is Jacob Cohen, many of you are familiar, some of you are not. That doesn’t matter, what you need to know about me is I have years of military training, I was in the CIA and I am one of only four people to have escaped from Alcatraz prison. Now what does that tell you about me?”
The Cuban men stared back blankly. Jacob began to laugh again.
“What that should tell you is that I am the best in the world at anything I put my mind to. Right now I am putting my mind to overthrowing the Communist bastard that is ruining this once great nation. Now I know many of you will be sceptical given what happened the last time America tried to overthrow Castro, believe me I am as angry about that as the rest of you! This is not being run by the American government, but rather by a very wealthy investor.
One hundred and four men is enough to topple Castro’s regime. Before Bobby Kennedy ruined my own country, the CIA used to plot the downfall of communism. There is one plot that was never attempted but it should have been. Elimination by Illumination. Is that familiar to anyone?”
The faces stared clueless back at him.
“It’s a simple idea and with the amount of men we have, it is perfect. Today is Wednesday 26th February. The 2nd March will be God’s day of rest. In the coming days we are going to spread the word to everyone we meet that Christ is furious with Cuba. Communism directly opposes Catholicism and Cuban’s are traditionally Catholic. We will spread the word that the second coming of Christ will be Sunday 2nd March. We will spread terror and fear, people will know that Christ is coming to punish the Communists.
Some people may not believe it, but they will certainly remember it. On 2nd March my financial backer has agreed to launch missiles into Havana, which should make people believe that Christ has returned to punish them. The people will rise up against Castro and he will be ousted from power.”
As Jacob finished speaking he looked out at the crowd of bemused Cubans, he held back laughter.
“Fucking loco man!” Hector yelled.
“It will work.” Jacob countered. “You are all Cuban’s, the religious people will listen to you. There is no US involvement to be critical of. I will not be out preaching, it will only be you. The missiles will light up the sky as if it were a furnace. The people will be frightened, you all know how powerful religion is! This is the key to overthrowing Castro! I know it will work!”
The Cubans looked a little more convinced.
“There is no downside to this plan, if people believe us and rise up then it will mean the end of Castro. If that is not the case then we will do nothing, once the missiles are fired we will see.”
Chapter 57
Bobby entered Will’s apartment and could barely bring himself to look at the man he had once considered a friend. Will led him through to the small living room and offered him a seat on the green couch. Bobby felt the relief as he took the weight off his hip, Will sat down on the opposing couch.
“Are you here to fire me?” Will asked.
Bobby shook his head, he still hadn’t decided how to treat him. “I wish I was to tell you the truth, you disgust me.”
Will didn’t respond.
“The fact that you did it was awful enough but the fact you told him on the day she died is bordering on psychotic.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not me you should be apologising to, but for the record I don’t forgive you.”
“Why are you here?”
“I need you to do something. I need you to tail David and report back on what he gets up to.”
“Why?”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you Will. Just do what I say, find out what you can and I’ll either call you or drop by early morning, say 06:00.”
“Sure.”
“Good.” Bobby rose to his feet and left hurriedly, he had no desire to spend any longer than necessary in Will’s company.
Once he was out on the street, he got into the black Lincoln he had borrowed from the Secret Service. He drove the short distance to J Edgar Hoover’s address, 4936 Thirtieth Place. When he arrived at the house he lit a cigarette and chose to smoke it in the car. He looked at Hoover’s house and saw that in the driveway was his housekeeper’s car, she was a lovely woman. Her name was Annie Fields, she had been his housekeeper for many years, Bobby had no idea how she tolerated him. She was black which had surprised Bobby, he knew that Hoover held racist views but yet he was fine in a black lady making his meals and cleaning his house.
It was the same with Hoover’s chauffer, he was named James Crawford and he too had served Hoover for many years, despite being black. Bobby had previously assumed that he treated them terribly but having spoken to them both, he got the impression that they liked him. Bobby took a draw of his cigarette and continued staring at the house.
From the car he could hear Edgar’s two cairn terriers, Cindy and G-Boy barking incessantly. He took another pull on his cigarette. As he thought of Hoover he realised that he still didn’t know what he thought of the man. On some levels he was a disgusting human being, his racism was a particular flaw. He really genuinely despised Martin Luther King and he had begged Abaddon on many occasions to allow him to begin recording King’s movements again. It was odd given the people he employed. He was obviously power hungry, as Bobby had learned during his attempts to stop the Kennedy assassination. The only reason Hoover had got Bobby out of jail was because it allowed him to secure his position as Director of the FBI for life. He was cheap, always using the government’s money to improve
his home and always taking free meals, drinks and holidays.
But on the other hand, even though he knew he shouldn’t, Bobby trusted Hoover. It wasn’t that he was particularly trustworthy, but he could always be relied on to do what was best for J Edgar Hoover. At times he could even be a nice person, Bobby had learnt this whilst working with him and it must be the case considering the way his employees treat him and the way Clyde Tolson, his lover treated him. He took another draw on his cigarette and noticed that the dogs were still barking, why weren’t Edgar or Annie calming them down?
Bobby decided to exit the car to make sure everything was alright. As he approached the front door he noticed that it was slightly ajar.
“Edgar.” He shouted. There was no response. He entered the house and walked through to the living room, there was no one around and nothing seemed to have been disturbed. The barking was coming from upstairs. He walked through the living room towards the staircase, there was clutter everywhere. Hoover probably hadn’t paid for any of it, he thought. When he reached the top of the stairs he saw that Hoover’s bedroom door was closed as usual. He carried on a little further into the spare room.
“Oh my God!”
He hobbled as quickly as he could to the bodies, the two cairn terriers still barking frantically. Hoover was lying horizontally on top of Annie. There seemed to be bits of a broken plate, or vase scattered around the carpet. He moved Hoover onto his back away from Annie, and felt for a pulse, he wasn’t breathing. He leant over to examine Annie, she was breathing, but she had a nasty cut on the back of her head. She began to stir as Bobby felt for a pulse.
When her eyes opened she began to scream at the sight of Bobby.
“It’s okay Annie, its Bobby!” He tried to calm her down, she was petrified. “Just stay here, I’m going to phone an ambulance.”
When he returned to the room, having phoned the ambulance, he saw that Annie was crying over Hoover’s body.
“Annie what happened?”