The Invitation(63)
“I don’t know about the FBI, but I guarantee Merrick will. I know Senator Merrick. He’ll spill his guts, and sooner rather than later,” says Senator Fields.
“That’s why we need to get ahead of it. Merrick is the key in all this. Now we can assume that the last thing the director of the FBI wants to do is inform the public that he’s been conducting a secret investigation of the President. To say that one day after he’s been assassinated would enrage too many people. He knows that.”
“He doesn’t have a choice.”
“That’s right. He doesn’t. He knows just like us that Merrick will eventually talk, so he needs to get out in front of this too,” the CIA director says.
“That means we need to tell the public everything, everything the FBI has on Myers, and remember the way he acted in Miami, like he knew beforehand about everything that happened. That helps us make our point. What are we going to say when they ask us about Kearns and his supposed new legs?” Senator Fields asks.
“That’s a problem. I don’t know, but it doesn’t change anything. What we saw in the FBI director’s office is undeniable.”
“That’s our trump card. We can clearly show that Myers was an agent for a foreign power, that he was a mole for the Chinese government.”
“That’s not so clear at all. We can’t make that assertion. We can only suggest it.”
“We better be careful explaining that. The country loves him, now more than ever.”
“You’re right, we can’t use inflammatory language. It’s likely to blow back on us.”
“It won’t. We’ll make sure of that. We need to be very respectful in what we say about our ‘dear’ President Myers.”
“There’s one more thing, Paul.”
“What’s that?”
“What do we say when they ask if there’s any connection between the FBI investigation of Myers, and his killing?”
“Just say, as far as we can tell, there is no connection. From what we know so far, Todd Keniston acted alone. He just got divorced from his wife. He, uh, may have had post-traumatic stress disorder. Anti-government literature was found at his residence. Remember, if anyone asks you about why he was killed, just say he resisted arrest. He didn’t give authorities any choice. He was an extremist. He wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. The investigation is still ongoing. This kind of thing.”
“I understand.”
“I’m telling you these things now, Senator Fields, because when this news conference begins we need to be in sync with each other. We’re going to get peppered with questions. We need to get it right the first time.”
“We will.”
“That means no inconsistencies in what we say. Remember, it’s not only what we say. It’s how we say it. We have to sound regretful and bereaved, just like the rest of the nation.”
“I understand.”
“Are we ready?”
“Yes.”
“If not, we can delay this news conference until we have it straight, so if you can think of any detail that we haven’t covered let’s talk about it now before we get in there.”
“I can’t think of anything. We’ll be fine, Paul.”
“Okay, then, are you ready?”
“Let’s do it.”
With this, the two men get out of their car and begin walking the short distance to enter the FBI building. A swarm of reporters and media crews are outside preparing to cover the news conference, and start questioning the two men as they approach, but get no response as they make their way through the entrance. Paul Stuart and Jack Fields then pass through the clamoring murmur of news people preparing to cover the event, and suddenly realize the risk they are taking. Any misstep or inconsistency in their speech could potentially unravel their conspiracy. After entering the briefing room, they quickly move to their reserved seats beside the lectern. They are greeted by FBI Director Frank Slaughter who is standing beside an aide who will soon start the news conference. After the men greet, and shake hands, Director Slaughter signals his aide to begin.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jim Thatcher. I want to welcome everyone to this news conference. We at the Federal Bureau of Investigation are shocked and deeply saddened by the events of last night. We extend our deepest condolences to the President’s grieving wife and mother, and we ask the American people to join us in remembering them in our prayers. We can assure the people of the United States that the FBI is presently bringing the full weight of its resources to the investigation of this national tragedy.