“That’s right. These companies are accused of making counterfeit medical equipment, to sell on the world market. That’s dangerous,” Agent Colby says.
“Absolutely. Well, I’ll tell you anything I can. I don’t know if it’ll help you or not.”
“We appreciate that, Mr. Cushman. So let me ask you, since this case involves medical equipment, do you remember if you, or Mr. Myers had contact with anyone in China in the medical industry?”
“No, I don’t recall any. We were met by a delegation that showed us an auto assembly plant they just built. That was the first day.”
“Did you go to any plants where medical equipment may have been manufactured?”
“No I’m sure of that. We were only there for three days. Actually, they were more interested in talking to us about the tourist industry in Florida.”
“Uh-huh. You say both of you were in China for three days?”
“That’s right.”
“Were you with the Governor all three days?”
“No, I wasn’t. I’d never been to Beijing so the Governor gave me a day off to do some sightseeing.”
“That was nice. What was the Governor doing when you were sightseeing?”
“I’m not sure. Wait, you mentioned medical equipment. He did visit a hospital that day.”
“Are you sure it was a hospital?”
“That’s what I was told.”
“Who told you that?”
“When I came back to the hotel, I asked a clerk, and that’s what I was told.”
“Do you know how long he stayed?”
“I don’t know, but I think he was there most of the day. I didn’t see him again until the next morning. So, I don’t know.”
“Why would he go to a hospital if it wasn’t on the itinerary?”
“You’re right, it wasn’t. I don’t know. I guess they wanted to show off their technology. Supposedly it was a state of the art medical center. That’s what I was told.”
“Did Governor Myers ever talk about that visit?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“That’s a little odd. Isn’t it?”
“Well, I just assumed it was a spur of the moment kind a thing, so I never asked about it.”
As Tim Colby continues to hear what he regards as possibly explosive information, he is eager to conclude as artfully as he can the interview with Mr. Cushman, and make the quick return flight back to Washington, where his boss, Director Slaughter, is just finishing his presentation to Senators Fields and Merrick, showing them the recording of a young Ken Myers displaying phenomenal reading speed, and also the brain scan images showing a foreign object of unknown origin inexplicably lodged in his brain.
With that image still visible on the TV screen, the Director of the FBI looks at both senators, and after a silent, incredulous pause from both of them asks, “Well, gentlemen, what do you think?”
“Are you sure this is real, what you’ve shown us here? Senator Fields asks.
“I have complete confidence that it is, Senator Fields,” the Director says.
“̓Cause this is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Director, I have to ask you. Where did these items come from, the recording, and the brain scan?” Senator Merrick asks.
“The recording was given to us by a man named Phillip Garrett, who was a roommate with Ken Myers when he was in college.”
“Okay, I know who you’re talkin̓ about. This guy’s a quack.”
“Who is he? I never heard of him,” says Senator Fields.
“This guy, up in Connecticut or somewhere,”
“He lives in Rhode Island,” the Director says.
“He’s been making ridiculous statements about the President, that he’s not who he claims to be, that he’s some kind of imposter or something. He does the talk show circuit, and I guess makes pretty good money at it,” Senator Merrick says.
“That’s not true. He hasn’t made any money in connection with this,” Director Slaughter says.
“He has been discredited, though. Isn’t that right, Mr. Director?”
“What he’s saying hasn’t been proved or disproved.”
“Well, how do you know that this recording is not a forgery? Are you saying you just took this guy’s word for it? I mean, it looks to me like somebody’s trying to damage the President here, someone with the technical know-how to pull this off, or at least try to,” Senator Merrick says.
“Why would someone want to do that?” Senator Fields asks.
“Why? To undercut the President, to question his credibility, that’s why. Isn’t it obvious?”