“That’s four days from now, and then he’ll let us know when we can talk to him. Is that what you’re saying?” asks Senator Fields.
“Do you have a better idea, Senator Fields?”
“Mr. Director, where is this investigation right now as we speak? Is it still active?”
“Senator Fields, we’re checking out any foreign contacts that Ken Myers had prior to when the brain scan was done.”
“Are you suggesting, Mr. Director, that the President is some kind of agent for a foreign government? Because if you are, I find that deeply offensive.”
“I’m just following a lead, Senator Merrick. That thing in his brain was not put there in any hospital in this country. There’s no record of it, so where did it come from?”
“You’re doing the right thing. If you weren’t following that lead you’d be remiss in your duty. So when will we know anything?” Senator Fields asks.
“My lead investigator is coming back from Florida later today with some information on that. I can’t say anything definite until he briefs me. When he does, I’ll let you both know.”
“Then why don’t we meet again tomorrow morning?” Senator Fields asks.
“That’s fine with me,” the Director says.
“Senator Merrick, is that alright with you?” Senator Fields asks.
“Sure, tomorrow morning’s fine.”
“Okay. I want to say something right now. I see this as a present threat to our national security. Until we know what this is about, until we know what that thing is, we need to treat this as a national emergency,” Senator Fields says as he points to the image on the TV screen. Then he adds, “And because of that, I’m going to have to insist that the Director of the CIA be with us tomorrow.”
“I think that’s premature,” says Senator Merrick.
“I don’t.”
“I’m not opposed to that,” Director Slaughter says.
“Good, then I guess we’ll see each other again tomorrow.”
“Well, If you’re going to bring the Director of the CIA in, I can’t do anything to stop you, but I want it on the record that I strongly opposed it,” Senator Merrick says.
“That’s fine. Look, Senator Merrick, we’ll go with your plan. You call the President on Monday and set up a meeting, and we’ll go with you. The sooner the better. We compromise. We go with your plan. In return, you accede to my request to have the CIA in here tomorrow. That’s the way it’s going to be, or…”
“Or what, Senator Fields?” Senator Merrick asks.
“Or, I will blow this thing wide open. I’ll have every news organization in Washington on this story. I’m not asking for anything unreasonable. That’s all I have to say, so, I’ll see you both tomorrow. Good day, gentlemen.”
“Good day to you, Senator Fields,” Director Slaughter says.
After Senator Fields exits, Senator Merrick asks the Director, “Mr. Director, do you really think it’s a good idea to bring in the CIA? We haven’t even spoken with the President yet.”
“If Senator Fields insists on it, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Paul Stewart is no friend of the President’s. We both know the only reason he was kept on at CIA was to placate the conservatives.”
“Senator, I just want to see this thing resolved. I have no political preference other than that. Paul Stuart is going to be here tomorrow, so we just have to accept it. So I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow morning.”
Hearing no encouraging response, Senator Merrick takes it as his cue to leave. Before doing so he curtly tells the Director, “I don’t intend to see the President of the United States railroaded here. I’ll see ya tomorrow, Mr. Director.”
Sitting alone the Director of the FBI thinks about what he might hear later today from his subordinate, Tim Colby. Knowing the reason for his trip to Florida, he is eager to hear his report. He looks again at the image on the TV screen, and sees a threatening apparition, at once mysterious, hypnotic, and possibly very dangerous, an image that has now become an obsession, and he wonders what will happen next.
Chapter Ten
Thursday afternoon, thirty-two hours before the start of the Summer Olympics, the President of the United States is in mid-flight from Washington to Miami, Florida, to brief military commanders on possible breaches of national air space during the Olympic Games. With him is the Secretary of the Air Force General Robert Croft. The two men are talking about their respective itineraries.
“So, General Croft, I‘ll be staying in Miami tonight. You’ll be going on to MacDill in Tampa to brief our people, and make sure we’re all on the same page.”