The Wrong Man

93

Randall Manning set up the framed photos of his family on the dashboard of the You-Ride truck. It was poorly lit inside this garage but he could still see them clearly. The photos were just physical manifestations, anyway. His wife and son, his daughter-in-law and granddaughter, were burned into his memory.

Would his wife approve of what he was doing? Would Quinn? He didn’t know. He didn’t kid himself that everybody would side with him. But his resolve wouldn’t be shaken. This was no time for forgive-and-forget. His government had turned its back on the victims of the Sahmeran Adana, and he could never forgive that.

Nor could he ever forget. He’d never forget the words that changed everything, the words delivered by his CIA mole, Costigan, the balding, weathered agent who would use the hundred thousand dollars Manning paid him in cash to educate his twin daughters.

We found him. We found Jawhar.

A thrill had run up Manning’s spine. The U. S. had found Jawhar Al-Asmari, the supreme leader of the Brotherhood of Jihad, the man behind the attack on the Sahmeran Adana Hotel.

Where? Manning asked.

Costigan spoke so low as to qualify as a whisper, even though nobody could possibly hear them in Manning’s car in the parking garage.

I can’t reveal that, Costigan said.

That response had surprised Manning, given the sum he’d paid for inside information. So what’s going to happen? When do we go in and get him?

Costigan’s eyes diverted.

Manning repeated the question.

Costigan cleared his throat. The country where we found him-it’s a potential strategic ally we’ve been courting for a long time. A country we’ve been trying to pry away from Iran, from Russia and China. We need all the allies we can find in that region What are you telling me? Manning interrupted.

Costigan took a moment. I’m telling you that the attack on the Sahmeran Adana is not viewed as an attack on America. I’m telling you that if we go in and raid that compound in that particular country, we lose that country forever.

Manning was speechless. The man who had ordered the murder of hundreds of innocent people, including seventeen Americans-and Manning’s entire family-was going to walk away scot-free?

The president just said last week that we’re still hunting Al-Asmari, said Manning. So that was all bullshit?

Costigan nodded and sighed. It was all bullshit. Officially, the manhunt continues. That’s the line everyone will recite. Even me. But this comes from the Oval Office, I’m told: Nobody is to breathe a word about the location of Jawhar Al-Asmari, and the U. S. government will do nothing to apprehend him or kill him.

Then tell one of the European countries, Manning protested. Tell the Brits. The French.

Costigan shook his head. The feeling is that it will still bear our fingerprints. We’re not even telling our allies about this. I’m sorry, Mr. Manning.

Then tell me, Costigan. Tell me! I’ve paid you handsomely You can have the money back, Mr. Manning, if you like. I’m truly sorry. If it were up to me, we’d go get that asshole. But it’s already been decided. Jawhar Al-Asmari is getting a pass on this one.

And this-this is what the president wants?

Costigan started and paused. From what I hear, this was the recommendation from the attorney general. He’s part of the brain trust on these things. He has the president’s ear. There was disagreement in the room-but the AG’s position won out.

The attorney general? Randall Manning couldn’t believe his ears. Langdon Trotter? Lang Trotter had been governor of Manning’s state until his elevation to attorney general a couple of years ago. He’d been a law-and-order guy, a tough guy. Hell, Randall Manning had been a fundraiser for Trotter, one of the top money guys for “Friends of Lang.” They’d smoked cigars and drunk scotch together. Manning had probably raised more than a million dollars for the man. And this is what he got in return?

Randall Manning rubbed his eyes and shuddered at the memory. That was the day his country, and an old friend, betrayed him. That was the day he recognized his country for the cowardly multicultural abyss it had become.

Tomorrow would be the first step in taking his country back. The Pearl Harbor Day procession. He wished like hell that U. S. Attorney General Langdon Trotter would be in attendance, part of the anniversary march, like he used to be when he was governor of this state.

He’d have to settle for the state’s new governor: Lang’s son, Governor Edgar Trotter, who was scheduled to lead the march tomorrow along with Mayor Champion.

After tomorrow, Lang would know how it feels to lose a son to terrorism.