The Invitation(26)

“Senator Merrick, I assure you that what we just saw is not a forgery. Here’s why. We have not only the original recording, we also have the machine it was recorded on. Because of that we are able to do full spectrum analysis of both the recording, and the recording device. The results are conclusive. The recording is pristine. I’d stake my reputation on it.”

“Well, That’s exactly what you are doing, Director. You are staking your reputation on it, and a lot more than that.”

“As far as I’m concerned, if the Director of the FBI says it’s authentic, that’s good enough for me,” Senator Fields says. Pointing to the strange object still visible on the TV screen, he continues: “I’ll tell ya. That’s what concerns me, that thing in his brain, whatever it is.”

“Well first of all, Director Slaughter, you say this is a brain scan of the President. How do you know that?” Senator Merrick asks.

“We have complete confidence that it is the brain scan of Kenneth Myers, and no one else. It was taken five years ago,” answers Director Slaughter in a deliberate tone.

“Then I have to ask you, Mr. Director; how did you gain access to the President’s medical records?” Senator Merrick asks.

“They were provided to us by an anonymous source, a very reliable anonymous source, who described himself as a concerned citizen.”



“Well isn’t that convenient? Okay, so, uh, your source is very reliable, and very anonymous. I think a court of law would call that hearsay evidence, Mr. Director.”

“Senator Merrick, do you honestly think I would call you both in here today if I thought this case was based on hearsay evidence? Look, I can bring our experts in and we can walk you through the process. I can personally assure you that what you’ve seen here today is not a hoax. It’s not an attempt to discredit the President. Beyond that, I don’t know what it is, or what it means. That’s why I asked you both to come in. I’m open to any suggestions you might have as to how to proceed. I have no axe to grind in this.”

“Well, I think we have to give the President the benefit of the doubt in this. He’s not here to defend himself,” Senator Merrick says.

“Senator Merrick, I’m not trying to damage the President. I have no hidden agenda here.”

“There’s no need for you to be defensive, Mr. Slaughter. I believe you’re being very impartial. I don’t know about you Senator Merrick, but I trust the FBI, and its Director, and I trust in the integrity of their methods,” Senator Fields says.

“Are you saying that I don’t, Senator Fields?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, what are you saying?”

“Look, Senator Merrick, let’s clear the air. You and the President are in the same party. You’re one of his biggest supporters. You’re naturally gunna defend him. C’mon, isn’t that right?” Senator Fields asks.

“Well I don’t know what you mean by ‘one of his biggest supporters.’ I do support the President, but this has nothing to do with politics. I’m trying to be objective here.”

“Yeah, sure, anything you say, Senator,” says Senator Fields.

“Don’t be sarcastic, Jack. We have to work together on this,” Senator Merrick says.

“This is a no-brainer as I see it. This brain scan was done five years ago. It clearly shows this thing is wired into his brain. We have to assume that it’s still there. Don’t we?”

“I think we do,” says Director Slaughter.

“Well that means we have a problem. We need to find out what it is, who put it there, and why. This recording of Myers reading that book is the damndest thing I’ve ever seen. He didn’t even look human,” says Senator Fields.

“What are you suggesting, Senator Fields?” Senator Merrick asks.

“Well, how do you explain it?”

“I don’t have an explanation.”

“Mr. Slaughter, you put this evidence together. What do you think it means?” Senator Fields asks.

“I have no idea,” the Director says.

“And neither do I. That makes three of us. We’re all in the dark, and by extension, the rest of the country’s in the dark, about who the Commander in Chief is. That’s how I see it,” says Senator Fields.

“Let’s not get carried away,” Senator Merrick says.

“I never do.”

“Why don’t we simply ask the President about this?” asks Senator Merrick.

“How would that happen?” Senator Fields asks.

“Well, the President’s in Florida today. He’ll be there for the start of the Olympics tomorrow. He comes back Sunday. I’ll call him on Monday, and we’ll set a time to go talk to him.”