“Come in.”
“Good morning, Sir.”
“Hi, Tim, Come on in. Sit down.”
“Thank you.”
“I assume you’ve read the file on this Garrett character.”
“I have, Sir.”
“Any thoughts?”
“I don’t think we know enough to figure him out,” says Colby.
“I agree. So I want you to get as much information as you can on this guy.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“My opinion is he’s either a crackpot, or he has some hidden agenda. He could be ginning up interest for a tell-all book he’s writing. That wouldn’t be hard to do. You could write a lot of titillating stuff about a young man’s college days. The fact that he was a roommate with Ken Myers means a certain number of people are going to listen to ̓him. I mean, what else could it be? He’s making such ridiculous assertions.”
“What he’s saying sounds pretty outlandish,” Agent Colby says.
“It’s ridiculous. This guy is Looney Tunes. The President is some kind of 'Manchurian Candidate'. He exhibited strange behavior thirty-five years ago in college. Hell, what kid in college hasn’t?”
“It doesn’t seem to make any sense,” Colby says.
“No, it doesn’t. Unless there’s another shoe to drop.”
“Meaning, Sir?”
“Meaning there’s another possibility to consider. Ken Myers has done more than ruffle a few feathers since he’s been elected.
“There are lots of people in this town who would love to see him damaged politically.”
“You mean start a whispering campaign, false rumors.”
“Why not?”
“I suppose it’s possible.”
“Well what’s your feel for it?” Director Slaughter asks.
“I could be wrong, but I don’t think this guy Garrett is being used by others. From what we know of him, at least so far, he seems to be nonpartisan. He has basically the same politics as the President. He’s a liberal, but he’s not an activist.”
“So, if he’s not a crank, he’s not writing a book, and he’s not a conservative plant starting rumors, then what is he?”
“I guess we’ll have to find that out, Sir.”
“He has a First Amendment right to say what he wants, but we want to make sure that’s all he’s doing.”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Has anyone ever interviewed this guy?”
“I don’t think so. We certainly haven’t.”
“Well, maybe you should talk to ̓em, and hear what he has to say. I hate to encourage ̓em,” the Director says.
“That is a risk.”
“Yeah, but with the Olympics less than two weeks away, we can’t take any chances. If he were to do anything erratic, and it became known that we knew about this guy, and didn’t check him out, it would be a scandal. Everything is political in this town. I think it’s a waste of time, but call ̓him, and set up an interview. See what he has to say.”
“I will, Sir.”
“If he agrees, do the interview at his home. It’s more discreet.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Thanks for coming in, Tim. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will, Sir. I’ll keep you fully apprised.”
As Agent Colby leaves to take up his assignment, Mr. Slaughter sets aside the file on Phillip Garrett. His thoughts return to something he regards as a far more pressing concern. In less than two weeks opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics will begin in Miami, Florida. Chosen to host the international competition, Americans are looking forward to the games, as preparations are nearing completion. For the FBI, security for this two weeklong event is a top priority. Preoccupied with this challenge, Frank Slaughter once again mentally runs through the list of all possible contingencies. Determined to see that nothing untoward takes place during the two week international event, he tries to consider every possible threat. He sees on the table before him a copy of the summary report on the security breaches surrounding the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta. It seems to look back at him like a haunting omen, giving a name to his secret worry. That name is terrorism. The director of the FBI has serious things on his mind.
Chapter Two
Far from the hurried pulse and teeming interests of Washington, D.C., Jack Fields, a prominent, conservative Senator, is enjoying a day with family at his ranch in Oklahoma. We find him relaxing with his wife Martha, and grandchildren, expecting his friend and fellow Senator Nathan Miles for a day of fishing the following morning. Mrs. Fields pours coffee as their fifteen-year-old granddaughter Caitlan enters.