The Invitation(46)

“It’ll give legitimacy to any future action we may take. That’s what.”

“Mr. Director, you brought us in on this, and now you seem to be getting cold feet,” the CIA director says.

“No, I asked Senator Fields and Senator Merrick to come in. It was Senator Fields who insisted that you be here.”

“Maybe because he doesn’t want to see his country sold out.”

“Look, let’s come back this afternoon. I’d feel better if Senator Merrick was part of this discussion.”

“Yeah, sure, we’ll all come back and talk some more later. Maybe you’ll feel better.”’

“Your transparent sarcasm doesn’t help, Director Stuart. You want to arrest the President of the United States, and you want me to sign off on it.”

“On the basis of all the evidence we have, that’s right. Immediately.”

“We would need Congressional authority for that. Let’s think this thing through. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Okay, let’s do that. Let’s see what Senator Merrick has to say, and we’ll, uh, come to a decision,” says Senator Fields unexpectedly.

“I think that’s the best way forward,” Director Slaughter says.

“Well, Mr. Director, we don’t want to take up any more of your time.”

“Senator Merrick is coming in at three,” the FBI director says.

“Good, we’ll hash it out then.”

Quickly rising, the two men abruptly leave. Watching them go, Mr. Slaughter is puzzled with their quick, awkward departure, and is not entirely sure they’ll return.

Walking silently to their car, Senator Fields, and CIA director Paul Stuart hold their thoughts, until they are in private. Moments later, seated in the CIA director’s car, Senator Fields vents his frustration.

“How’s that for a profile in courage? His own country’s being sold out, and all he can do is schedule a meeting. That’s pathetic.”

“Pretty disgusting,” Stuart says.

“He wants to call in Merrick. What’s that going to do? He’ll just piss his pants and go home. This country’s in grave danger. Myers was so smooth. He was too perfect. He knew all along what he was doing. This thing has been planned for years.”

“That’s right, probably even before he visited that Chinese hospital.”

“He’s a plant for the Chinese communist government. That thing in his brain proves it. This country owes you some gratitude, Paul. You figured it out. The way you explained it up there. You figured it all out.”

“Eventually someone else would have.”

“Yeah, but maybe too late. It’s treason Paul. Black, secret treason. It’s like seeing a murderer before he commits the crime, and we’re the only ones who know.”

“We’re not going to get anywhere with Slaughter. The man’s not worth his own shit,” the CIA director says.

“It’s up to us, Paul. For the sake of the nation we have to put an end to this.”

“We only have one option. If we make an attempt to arrest him, he’ll know that we figured him out. Besides, that place in Miami is by now surrounded with law enforcement. Just getting in and getting Myers out might be impossible. It leaves only one option.”

“I know… assassination,” says Senator Fields.

“I wouldn’t call it that. That’s not what it is. He’s not legitimately the President.”

“You’re right. He isn’t.”

“There are only two possible outcomes to this: either we’ll make the biggest mistake of our lives, which I think is unlikely, or we’ll protect our country from being subverted by a foreign government, and God knows what else.”

“My family goes back seven generations in this country. I have ancestors that fought on both sides of the Civil War. I love this country, Paul.”

“I know you do. So do I.”

“We don’t have any choice. If we don’t act, and something happens, I couldn’t live with myself.”

“Neither could I.”

“When people know what we know, when they see what we saw in Slaughter’s office, they’ll understand. But how do you do something like that? I mean, you need to find someone who has enough nerve to pull the trigger.”

“That’s not a problem. I know a man who can do the job.”

“But you said that place in Miami is swarming with security people.”

“Even better, he’ll fit right in. I’ll brief him in person.”

“Tell him everything Paul, everything we know.”

“I will.”

“And you’re confident this guy has enough guts to pull the trigger.”