Born to Run

Chapter 9

Jack and Andie went straight from the White House Christmas party to the FBI Headquarters.

Initially, Jack had agreed with Andie’s gut reaction: the message was from some wacko who’d gotten hold of Jack’s cell number. That all changed when Andie forwarded it to Stan White, the assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) of the Washington field office. White immediately summoned Jack for a debriefing, and Andie came along. Something about that message made the FBI treat it as a serious and credible threat.

Jack and Andie were seated on one side of the conference table. Around the table with them were the ASAC, two supervisory special agents from the FBI, a criminal profiler from the FBI Academy in Quantico, and two special agents from the Secret Service presidential protection detail. Each had a printed copy of the message:

“Congratulations to your old man. How would he like to be president? I can make it happen, guaranteed. Meet me. Monday. Two P.M. Wait outside the mall-side entrance to the National Museum of Natural History. Alone.”

“Clearly he’s talking about assassination,” said White. “How else could someone ‘guarantee’ that a vice presidential nominee will become president?”

White was in his fifth year as the Washington ASAC, bumping right up against the FBI’s mandatory retirement age of fifty-five. He struck Jack as the anti-G-man. Had they allowed smoking in the building, he probably would have lit up. If neckties were optional for a man of his position, he wouldn’t have owned one.

White glanced toward the profiler, inviting her comments.

“Very similar to the previous message,” she said.

“Previous message?” said Jack. “I didn’t get a previous message.”

“No, you didn’t,” said White. “Someone else did.”

“Who?”

“That’s a detail the FBI can’t share with you.”

“Do you have a suspect?” said Jack.

“We’ve constructed a profile,” said the ASAC. He glanced again at the profiler, as if to say “Give him a little.”

“In general terms,” she said, “a self-deluded loner who fancies himself an assassin who works for hire.”

Jack said, “Why would he contact me instead of my father directly?”

Another agent jumped in. “Between a lawyer and a politician, maybe he thought the lawyer was more open to murder for hire.”

That brought a few smiles from law enforcement-even Andie.

“Traitor,” Jack said beneath his breath.

“Sorry,” said Andie.

White said, “More likely, he fears that every communication to Harry is being screened by law enforcement. You’re a criminal defense lawyer with privileged communications. Surely someone like you isn’t going to allow law enforcement to monitor his incoming e-mails.”

“He had to know I’d run to the FBI. He’s probably just a nut who gets off by broadcasting his intentions. I saw plenty of that doing death penalty work.”

“I don’t think he’s broadcasting anything,” said the profiler. “He’s negotiating.”

“Let me get this straight,” said Jack. “You truly think that this guy wants to meet with me tomorrow morning outside the Smithsonian and talk about killing the president for money?”

“We did say ‘self-deluded loner,’” said White.

Jack said, “So if I show up at two P.M. tomorrow, he’ll be there?”

The ASAC shrugged. “One way to find out.”

“Wait a minute,” said Andie. “I’ve been quiet because of my relationship with Jack, but this is starting to sound dangerous.”

“What Andie’s trying to say is that I’m a great catch but I make lousy bait.”

“Cut the cornball, Jack, or I’ll switch sides.”

The ASAC raised a hand, as if to step between prizefighters. “Let’s break this down. One, we have a threat against the president. Two, we believe it’s credible.”

“For reasons you won’t share with me,” said Jack.

“Three,” said the ASAC, “we know where he’ll be and when he’s going to be there. The Washington Mall, especially around the Smithsonian, is a very public place at two o’clock in the afternoon. All we need is Jack to hang out in the crowd and wait for him.”

“No,” said Andie.

“I suppose you’re right,” said White. “It takes a pretty courageous civilian to step up and help the FBI apprehend a would-be presidential assassin.”

“I’m courageous,” said Jack.

“No you’re not,” said Andie.

“I date you.”

The ASAC raised a hand again. “We’re not going to take chances here, Jack. You’ll wear a Kevlar overcoat. Undercover agents will be posted all around. You’ll be linked to the command center by surveillance electronics.”

“I’ll do it,” he said.

“What?” said Andie.

“But I want Andie talking me through it. Appearances notwithstanding, she’s probably the least likely to get me killed.”

“You sure about this?” said Andie.

“You mean about doing this, or the part about you not getting me killed?”

“Both.”

“I’m sure.”

“Good man,” said White. “It’s a go.”