by Jack Ford
‘Admit it, you’re just jealous of how fine it is, and of the fact that Miss Maddison knitted it for me and she didn’t knit you one. And you can’t stand that.’
Cooper looked at him incredulously. ‘You kidding? Jealous of you? Listen, Maddie probably dislikes you more than she does me. And that’s saying something, Rosedale.’
Rosedale’s Texan accent was lilted with relaxation. ‘Okay, Thomas, whatever you say…’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing.’
Rosedale pulled hard on his cigar, letting the smoke circuit his lungs before blowing it out. Eventually he said, ‘You fancy going fishing?’
‘When?’
‘Sometime.’
‘Okay, sometime it is… Does that mean we’re… friends?’
‘Hell, no.’ Rosedale paused, rocking a few times on the chair, then spoke thoughtfully. ‘Would you ever go back to the DRC, Thomas?’
‘I might. I know it sounds crazy, and the place had a lot of problems and pain, but there was something about it which made me love it. Perhaps it was the country itself, wild and unruly. Or maybe it was the spirit of the people. I dunno. All I know is it felt like a place which accepted me.’
‘You ever going to tell me about what happened that night you saw Ellie?’
Cooper began to bristle. Then stopped himself. ‘Maybe one day.’
‘And what about you? Are you going to go and get yourself some help?’
Cooper paused. ‘I want to say yes, but the truth is I don’t know. I doubt it. Maybe I should? It feels so complicated… Maybe I’m just not ready.’
He fell silent, watching a white-tailed rabbit in the distance. He sighed but felt unusually at ease, the nearest he’d got to peace in a long time.
‘Granger told me you were going to be staying around.’
‘I might as well. Who else is going to look after you, Thomas?’
Cooper nodded, surprised how okay he was with Rosedale continuing to work for Onyx.
‘Fair enough. Good idea.’
Rosedale laughed, flicking the ash from his cigar. ‘So you’re finally admitting that you need me to babysit you.’
‘I never said that, I said fair enough, which isn’t the same thing at all. Which reminds me, when I spoke to Bill Travis, I asked him about the moose in the reception of the CIA headquarters.’
‘And?’
‘And there isn’t one there. Not that I thought there was.’
Rosedale, yawned, pushing back on the cream rocking chair. ‘What did he exactly say?’
‘Well when I asked him about it, his reply was You must be friends with Rosedale.’
‘You see what you’ve done? You’ve missed the point, Thomas, but that doesn’t surprise me. You’ve been missing the point as long as I’ve known you… What I want to know is, did Bill Travis actually tell you there wasn’t a moose?’
Cooper shook his head and smirked. ‘I guess not.’
‘You see, Thomas, that’s why it’s people like me, and not people like you, they have working in the CIA… Can I ask you something?’
‘Go on.’
‘Would you mind if Maddie stepped out with another man?’
‘Where did that come from and what the hell is stepped out?’
‘You know, went on the odd date. Would you mind?’
Cooper sat up straight. The thought had never occurred to him. ‘It’s not as if I don’t love her, or I don’t want to be with her, it’s just I can’t be who I need to be right now. But Maddie deserves every chance of happiness, and if someone else can make her happy, who am I to stop it…? But to answer your question – and call me old fashioned – I’d kill him. I’d kill any man that went near her.’
129
‘You staying about? I’m going downstairs to watch Dad’s speech.’
Jackson spoke to Cooper as he stood in one of the hallways of the Executive Residence.
‘Too damn right. Listen, you don’t get away with beating me at Monopoly that easily. You’re eleven to eight up, but I put it down to my mind being somewhere else.’
‘Coop, you’re tripping, man. I’m eleven up on this round alone. How many rounds have we played over the years? You’ve never managed to come better than third, and you only came third that time because Dad was attending the G8 summit.’
Cooper shook his head. ‘No, that’s not right. It was more than once. There was that other time last year. Remember?’
Jackson grinned. ‘You’re not serious? You have to be kidding me. You came third that time because Beau had an angina attack. Literally. When he was moving his piece around the board.’
‘He rolled five. He would’ve landed on my property.’
‘Well yeah, he would’ve done if he hadn’t been rushed to hospital.’
‘Do you know how much he would’ve had to pay? I had four houses on it. If you ask me, Beau rolled the five, saw the properties, and then decided to fake it. Don’t you think it’s funny how he had an angina attack seconds before he landed on my property?’
Jackson roared with laughter. It was so good to see.
‘You need to step up those tactics of yours, Coop. You got it all wrong. Buying the expensive dark blue properties, Park Place and the Boardwalk is not the way to go. Buy the stations and then aim for the reds and yellows. They’re the ones you gotta hit. Kentucky Avenue, Ventnor Avenue, those are the good ones. The hotels are cheap and the building costs are low.’
‘Well let’s bring it on. After you’ve come back from watching John’s speech, let’s see if you can put your money where your mouth is.’
Jackson went to walk away, but he stopped and turned to look at Cooper. ‘Coop, I want to say thank you.’
‘Thank you for what?’
‘For sticking around. For the things you said at the hospital about getting some help. It means everything.’
130
‘Coop, can I have a word with you?’
John Woods signalled to Teddy Adleman, letting him know he’d be with him in a minute.
‘Sure. I thought you were about to do your speech.’
‘I am, so I’ve only got a couple of minutes… Let’s talk in here.’
John opened the door, leading him into the private West Sitting Hall.
‘What’s up, John?’
Woods sighed, looking not only apprehensive but also like he wasn’t quite sure where to start.
‘I know we spoke on the phone briefly, but I wanted to say it to you properly. I’m sorry. For the way I behaved. For the way I treated you. I lost sight of the truth. And I was wrong. I’m proud of you, Coop. Proud to be your… well, you know what I mean. I wish I had the integrity you have. Doesn’t seem to matter what life throws at you. You just carry on and do what’s right, rather than what’s best for you. You’ll be pleased to know the FBI are investigating the whole of Nadbury Electronics. They took Donald Parker into custody this morning. And as you know they’ve already got Charles Templin-Wright, who’s apparently talking a lot. Think he’s looking to get a deal on his sentence. But there’s no doubt we’ll get something to stick. And they’ll both end up going away for a very long time. The other thing I’m sure you’ll be pleased about is Dr. Foster. They’re reopening the case. Look to see if it was a homicide. Hopefully, this Templin-Wright will have something to say on that as well. Anyhow, like I say. I’m proud of you. Real proud…’
Woods paused. Tried to say something, then stopped.
Cooper half-joked, picking up on the president’s hesitation. ‘Now this troubles me. You, stuck for words… What is it?’
Woods said, ‘Did you ever tell anyone, anyone about the accident?’
It hit Cooper harder than any upper cut from Rosedale. ‘What?’
‘The accident. Did you ever tell anyone it was Jackson who sailed the boat that day?’
Cooper felt the energy beginning to drain out of him. ‘Jesus, John, of all the things I thought you were going to say, this wasn’t one
of them.’
‘I’m sorry, but I have to know.’
‘Of course not, I’m surprised you even have to ask.’
‘I had to ask because I got a letter. Well Beau got a letter, but it was addressed to me.’
Cooper instinctively pushed his hand against the large, white panelled door, making sure it was properly closed. ‘And?’
‘It basically said, they know it was Jackson who was sailing the boat that day.’
‘That’s impossible.’
Woods nodded in agreement. ‘Well that’s what I thought, until I read the letters.’
‘Letters?’
‘Yeah, there’s been two.’
Frustration rushed through Cooper. ‘Why the hell didn’t you tell me before?’
‘Truthfully, I didn’t want to admit it to myself. When the first one came, about three months ago, I just shredded it, and pushed any thoughts about it away. Then when Beau got the second one, last week, well, I can’t ignore it anymore… As much as I’d like to.’
Cooper had to take a second to take it in. Then he said, ‘What exactly does it say?’
Woods went into the inside pocket of his navy suit jacket, bringing out a typed letter. ‘I’ve got it here, I only kept it to show you… it says…’
A knock on the door interrupted Woods. It was Naomi Tyler.
‘Mr. President, they’re waiting for you.’
The door handle turned but Cooper held the door shut, causing anxiety from Naomi on the other side.
‘Mr. President? Mr. President are you alright, sir?’
Woods snapped. ‘Yes, I’m fine, Naomi, Jesus, I just need a minute.’
There was a pause.
‘Ok, if you’re sure, sir. But we haven’t much time.’
‘I know, Naomi! I know! I’ll be out in a minute…Thank you.’
Woods drew his attention back to Cooper.
‘Sorry about that, Tom… anyway, let me read it… ‘I understand that you’re a busy man, so perhaps you didn’t see my previous letter, but I feel I have no other choice than to write to you again. After all these years of wrestling with my conscience, and watching you I’m compelled to inform you that I know it was your son, Jackson Woods, who was in charge of the vessel that afternoon, contrary to the statement he made. I also feel it is your duty to make the appropriate steps to address this matter, and for there to be due process. If you do not act on this, you leave me no other option but to make this information public myself… And it’s signed, Your supporter.’
Cooper was shocked. ‘Your supporter? Let me see it.’
Taking the letter, Cooper re-read it, while Woods contrived. ‘I don’t know what to do, Tom. I don’t want this hanging over my head, and I don’t want to lie. Maybe I should…’
Cooper scrunched up the letter angrily, putting it in his own pocket.
‘Maybe you should what? Remember, you don’t know anything. That conversation we had back on the boat? It never happened.’
‘But…’
‘It never happened. Okay? John, are you listening to me? As far as you’re concerned I was sailing that day, and nobody is going to tell me any different.’
‘Should we tell Jackson?’
‘There isn’t anything to tell. Whoever wrote those letters, they’re just playing mind games. Didn’t you tell me how opposing parties would try anything to start smear campaigns, or try to shake their opponent?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well that’s all this is. And by the looks of things it seems to be working. Look, every time there are talks about gun reforms… well, there are people out there who don’t like it. They get upset. They do everything from threats to stuff like this. What else have you got in your past to bring up? There isn’t anything to sling at you, John. So the only thing they have is the accident. They’re just making a wild guess. Trying to see if there’s anything there. The letter doesn’t go into any details, no specifics, nothing. And you know why? Because they don’t know anything. All they’re doing is guessing. They’re chancing it.’
‘What if they’re not? What if they do know something?’
Cooper leaned further into Woods, holding his gaze intently. ‘John. There isn’t anything to know. I was sailing the yacht.’
President Woods let out a long sigh. ‘Okay… okay… You’re not worried?’
‘Not even a little bit. Let’s see if another one comes. I doubt it will though; when they don’t have a bite, there’s nothing to reel in. Best thing you can do is forget about it.’
‘Okay, thanks, Tom. I appreciate that… Listen, I gotta go. You hanging around up here to watch the speech on TV with Beau?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Great, then we can see who really is the grand master of Monopoly. And Beau says he’s going to cook, so we can make an evening of it.’
Cooper smiled, giving him a wink. ‘I’d like that.’
He stepped away from the door, letting Woods open it. ‘Oh, and John, this conversation never happened either.’
Once the door had shut, Cooper pulled out the letter from his pocket. He read it again, concern creeping all over him.
The ring from his cell made him jump, something he kept doing lately. Stuffing the letter back in his pocket, he popped a pill in his mouth from the blister strip he’d pulled out of his jacket. He answered, ‘Cooper.’
131
Beau, walking into the West Sitting Hall carrying two cups of coffee, frowned at Cooper, gesturing towards the television.
He said, ‘Turn it on, it’s already started.’ Then slammed down the drinks on the highly polished walnut table, eager to listen to John’s speech, which was being broadcast live.
Cooper duly turned it on.
‘…when businesses and companies fail in their social duty and are driven on by greed. When lies are in place of honesty, when deceit is above principle, we the American people… ’
‘Coop, where you going? I made you your drink.’
Beau broke away from the TV to look at Cooper as he picked up his wallet.
‘Listen Beau, there’s a job that’s come up in Borno State, Nigeria. A few miles outside Maiduguri. I need to go and speak to Granger.’
‘What the hell, Coop? That’s the mainstay of the Boko Haram, are you looking for a death sentence?’
‘No.’
Beau ground his teeth. Wiped his mouth, fury and hurt fusing his words. ‘You listen to me, okay? You’re not right. You need to go and get help. This is crazy, and I’ll not let you go and do this.’
‘You stopped being my captain a long time ago, Beau, so back off.’
He turned to go but Beau, consumed with rage, pulled him back.
‘You promised Jackson. Remember? You told him you were going to stay about and get yourself clean. And now look at you, you’re sneaking off without even giving him a goodbye. This is just so typical of you.’
Cooper stared at Beau. ‘Is it, Beau?’
‘You let everyone down. All the goddamn time. I’ve lost count the number of times you’ve done this. It’s a good job Jackson doesn’t know you’re his brother. He’s had a lucky escape.’
Moving his face nearer to Beau, Cooper stared at him, hissing a whisper. ‘That’s a low blow, and you know it.’
Beau, flushed red, grabbed hold of Cooper. ‘It’s the truth. You need to get your head out of your ass and see the daylight… What about John, hey? He’s worried about you, and then there’s all that stuff with the letter. You think he needs this right now? You running off? If it hasn’t escaped your notice he’s got a country to run.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know.’
‘You’re pathetic, Cooper. It’s here you’re needed. Here. Jackson needs you.’
Cooper shook off Beau’s grip. ‘I love Jackson, and I’ve never forgotten my responsibilities. Ever. I will always look out for him. Not because you say so, but because I want to.’
Beau pushed Cooper hard against the wall. ‘What about Maddie? Cora?
’
‘Get the hell off me!’
‘Not until you listen, and hear some sense.’
‘Beau, get off me. Don’t make me have to put my hands on you.’
‘If it makes you feel better to hit me, then go ahead. Be my guest.’
Cooper shoved Beau hard away, causing him to stumble backwards towards the large velvet wingback chair. He reached out his hand to grab him, stopping Beau from falling, pulling him up, then using his grip to drag him close. Inches away.
‘I wouldn’t waste my time putting my hands on you.’
Beau’s eyes darted around Cooper’s face. ‘I’ve never asked you anything before, but now I am. Don’t do this. Please.’
And Cooper closed his eyes. Breathing. Stopping the pain from welling up. ‘I once said exactly that to you. Seven years ago, to be precise. I asked you to help me. Begged you to and you know what you did, Beau? You know what you did? You walked away. You turned your back and you walked away. And now that’s what I’m going to do now. I’m going to walk away through that door. But I’ll level with you. I wasn’t going to Africa. I was never going to go. Until now, that is. You just presumed… Granger’s here in town, I was just going to meet him and tell him to find somebody else. Then you know what I was going to do? I was going to come straight back here, as I’d said I would. But hey thanks, Beau. Thanks for your vote of confidence. It’s nice to know what you think of me.’
‘Now listen, Coop—’
‘And thanks for making it so easy to change my mind… And don’t worry, I’ll send you a postcard.’
132
Two hours later, Woods and Beau sat on the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
‘You tell him?’
Woods looked at Beau. ‘Did I tell him about the letter? Yeah.’
‘Not about the letter. About the report.’
Woods leant back on the white wicker chair. Adjusted the cushion behind his back. ‘Why would I do that? I thought we decided it was best not to say anything.’
Beau nodded his head. ‘I know. But I can’t help thinking…’
‘What? Don’t go soft on me, Beau. We’re doing the right thing. You need to forget about it. The only reason we know ourselves is because I got Teddy to get the accident reports, when I knew Granger was about to apply for Ellie’s death certificate. I just didn’t know what was in there. I was only making sure nothing could be dug up or said about Jackson in the documents when the authorities read them. Like I say, forget about it.’