Capitol Conspiracy

34

President Blake stared out the window at the rolling back lawn behind the White House. Thank God for Teddy Roosevelt. Before him, the area where Blake now stood had been covered by gardens and greenhouses. Teddy was the one who decided he needed a retreat from his wife and boatloads of children and pets and nieces and nephews. He’d had the West Wing constructed to give himself a private retreat where he could actually get some work done. Taft enlarged it, and every president since had worked here, in this office, gazing out at this magnificent view.

When was the last time he took a moment to go outside and enjoy that lovely expanse of green? Probably not since that damned Easter Egg Roll, easily the stupidest of all the annual presidential duties. He’d rather free some idiotic Thanksgiving turkey every day than have to do that Easter egg hunt. Of course, when the cameras were rolling, he loved all the adorable orphans and inner-city youths who were rounded up each year to chase after those inedible eggs. But if it were up to him, he would’ve canceled the event a long time ago.

Emily had loved Easter, and she had taken particular joy in the egg roll. That’s the kind of person she was.

God, he missed her. He missed her so much. And the pain of separation wasn’t eased any by his lingering feelings of remorse.

There she was, staring back at him from the photograph on his desk, the slightly naughty smile, the beautiful brown eyes. What happened? she seemed to be asking. What went wrong?

He only wished he knew.

There was a knock on the northeast door. “Come in.”

Tracy Sobel entered the office, as brisk and efficient as ever. “Time for your first visitor, sir.”

Right, he thought, mentally running his calendar through his brain. He had two private confabs coming up, both relating to April 19, and neither likely to be pleasant. “Who’s on first?”

“I think it would be best to start with your Secret Service agent. He should be easier to handle.”

“And Kincaid?”

“At the helipad.” Sobel paused, thinking a moment before continuing. “Just don’t be fooled by the milquetoast mannerisms, the stammer, the awkward shyness. He’s smart.”

“So I’ve noticed. Speaking of which-I see that the legislative holds have been lifted.”

Sobel smiled slightly. “So you do read my memos after all.”

“Not to mention The Washington Post. Who leaked the names?”

“I’m not positive-but I think it was your boy Kincaid. Or someone on his staff.”

“And who organized the holds in the first place?”

“I assume it was the new Senate minority leader.”

“He says not.”

“Well, then I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything.”

“And that in and of itself is unusual enough to set my brain spinning.” He continued staring directly into her eyes. “It wasn’t, by any chance…you, was it, Tracy?”

She appeared shocked. “Me? Sir-I’m your chief of staff.”

“Yes. But I also know you personally oppose this amendment.”

“We’ve been over this ground before, sir. Regardless of what I may personally feel, I would not obstruct a piece of legislation you yourself proposed.”

“No, you’d get someone else to do it. Like three senators who could prevent it from getting to the Senate floor indefinitely.”

“Sir, I assure you I did nothing of the kind. I have never been anything but loyal to you. Don’t you trust me?”

President Blake leaned back in his chair and stretched. “I hope this won’t shock you, Tracy, but I didn’t get this office by trusting people. Trust is for losers. You win by eliminating trust from the equation. By leaving people no choice but to do what you want them to do.”

“Then you don’t believe me.”

Blake laid his hands flat on his desk. “If you tell me you had nothing to do with it, then I have no choice but to accept that.”

Sobel took the tiniest step closer. “Sir, I had absolutely nothing to do with those legislative holds.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He rearranged some papers on his desk. “Would you please send in Agent Zimmer?”

“Of course, sir,” she said, but something about the way she said it told him that this wasn’t over yet. Which was fine. If she did it, let her worry. If she didn’t do it…

Well, it probably still wouldn’t hurt for her to be a trifle on edge. Worry was a healthy thing. And he didn’t like anyone who worked for him to be too brisk and efficient. Made him a little crazy.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. President,” Agent Zimmer said as they shook hands. “I truly appreciate it.”

“Least I can do,” Blake replied, as if a private conference with the president were the most common thing in the world. “After all you’ve done for me.”

“I guess I should get right to it-”

“Let me stop you before you even start, Max,” the president said, snatching a piece of paper from his desktop. “I’ve seen your letter of resignation. And my answer is: No way in hell.”

“Sir, I had valid reasons-”

“I don’t care. I need you.”

“The Service has hundreds of capable agents-”

“I want you.”

Zimmer paused, unsure what to say next. The thought most dominant in his brain was: This man’s wife died while I was protecting her. And yet he did not seem to bear Zimmer the least malice, didn’t assign the least blame. He was being so generous, it bordered on the inhuman.

“Sir, there’s more to my offer of resignation than you might imagine. What I have to tell you concerns other members of the Secret Service. I think it might be best if I removed myself from the departmental equation. Eliminated the possibility of any personal or professional motivations.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what, Max. You tell me what you came here to say. Then I’ll decide whether you need to resign or not.”

“Sir-”

“Max, you know I don’t have to accept any letter of resignation unless I want to. So that’s the best offer you’re going to get. Might as well start talking.”

Zimmer paused, trying to think how best to broach the subject. He had practiced this speech, practiced the whole meeting a dozen times. But now he couldn’t remember a word of what he had planned to say. “Sir, it concerns Special Agent Gatwick. He used to protect-”

“I know who he is, Max,” the president said abruptly. Was he imagining it, Zimmer wondered, or had the president stiffened slightly the moment he spoke Gatwick’s name? “Please continue.”

“On April nineteenth, Agent Gatwick made changes to the standard agency protocol. He altered the security strategy in a way that turned out to…not be a good idea.”

“I know all this, Max. What’s your point?” His eyebrows knitted together. “Surely you’re not suggesting that Gatwick anticipated the attack. That he knew what was about to happen?”

“I-I just don’t know, sir.”

“Have you reported your thoughts to your superior?”

“Yes. And Director Lehman not only did nothing-he met with Agent Gatwick privately, at a clandestine meeting. And then he took the Secret Service out of the investigation, which also strikes me as very suspicious.”

“What is it you want, Max?”

“I think there should be a complete investigation of Agent Gatwick’s actions, what he did, what impact it had, and who knew about it. And I believe that Agent Gatwick should be relieved from active service pending the outcome of the investigation.”

“That’s out of the question.”

The president had responded without a moment’s hesitation. What was going on here?

“Sir, if there is any chance that Gatwick had inappropriate knowledge, he needs to be taken out of play until we determine if he continues to pose a threat to national security.”

“Sorry, no. Can’t be done.”

“But-”

The president turned, walking away from him. Zimmer could no longer see his face. “I can’t do it, Max.”

“Surely you can see-”

“You’re not listening to me. I can’t do it.”

“With all due respect, sir, you’re the leader of the free world. You can do pretty much anything you want.”

“Okay, then, I won’t. I won’t do this. I will not allow the first lady’s name to become…besmirched.”

What?

“Emily was a fine woman, Max. No matter what. She was first-rate, right down the line. I won’t take any action that might create suspicions. Tarnish her memory.”

My God, Zimmer thought, is he saying what I think he’s saying? Zimmer had hassled Gatwick at times, thought maybe there had been some inappropriate flirtation, but he had never really believed that Was it possible all those rumors were true?

“Mr. President, the whole sudden decision to withdraw from the investigation-”

“Yes?”

“Well, I don’t understand it.”

“Frankly, Max, you don’t have to understand it. Your job description is to protect, not to understand. But you can rest assured that Director Lehman did the right thing for the right reason, and with my full support. In fact, if I recall correctly, I suggested it.”

“Sir-”

“I think this conversation has gone about as long as it needs to go. Your resignation is not accepted. So get back to work.” He paused, then added, “And concentrate on your job, not any more idle suspicions that might crop up in your brain.”

“But, sir-”

“This is your commander in chief speaking to you, Special Agent Zimmer. Have I made my instructions perfectly clear?”

Zimmer stood at attention and gave him a small salute. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. You may leave by the southwest door. Ask Gina for a cookie. The kitchen baked them fresh this morning. Best snicker-doodles in the whole damn free world.”