Part 25 (1/2)
The anchor looked shocked. ”Are you saying, Colonel, that this man the police are seeking may have worked for our allies, the Nationalist Chinese?”
The man nodded. ”Unfortunately, as this and previous administrations have moved closer and closer to fully normalized relations with the Communist Chinese, our friends in Taiwan have grown more and more militant in their opposition to this. And I'm reminded it was the vice president who served as the chief negotiator in setting up the recent summit between the premier of the People's Republic and the president.”
He paused, trying to decide whether he should put on his serious or concerned look. ”When taken in concert with the flag factory bombing earlier today, there seems to be little doubt left for anyone. However much the FBI might withhold direct comment.”
A Secret Service agent interrupted the men. ”The attorney general, Mr. President.”
The president muted the TV, then turned to shake the hands of the younger man. ”Jeff, you know George Steingarth.”
”Mr. President. George, how are you? The son of German immigrants shook his hand as they all sat down.”
”Well,” DeWitt began without preamble, ”here's where we stand.” He handed a copy of his file to the president. ”The FBI has confirmed that the hit team was Asian and staying in a dilapidated old bed-and-breakfast very near the a.s.sa.s.sination site. A t.i.tle search shows that the building had recently been purchased by a dummy corporation that has had ties to Nationalist Chinese intelligence.”
”Swine, Steingarth said under his breath.”
”Can we prove they came from Taiwan and were acting on their government's orders? The elderly president squinted as he continued to read.”
DeWitt shrugged. ”There's knowing and there's proving, Mr. President. Unless we catch one of them, unless he talks, we may never be able to actually prove what we are all certain of. At least not in court.”
”I'm not f.u.c.king interested in courts,” the president growled as he finished reading. ”I've got a hundred and seventy-five dead-thirty of them Americans-in a factory in Taiwan, a dead vice president, and the military all over my a.s.s! We have a Crisis Management Committee meeting in ten minutes, and I need some f.u.c.king answers!”
DeWitt nodded. ”Director Hayes is preparing a full presentation of the evidence to date for them.”
”Good.” The president seemed distracted. ”Jeff, you're a pro, you understand the real world...”
”Yes, Mr. President?”
”Senator Buckley and Director Kingston, Mr. President.”
The president waved the Secret Service to admit the men. Two minutes later, after DeWitt brought them up-to-date, the old man gestured at the muted TV.
”We have a terminal situation, boys. Getting worse all the time.” He took a note from DeWitt that had been handed him by his aide, Michael. ”And I am now informed that a van with the green tiger symbol painted on the side just fired on a group of American tourists in Manila.”
He looked exhausted as he handed the note to Steingarth. ”We are about as close to war as this nation has ever been, and will get all the way there in an instant if we don't act, and act decisively.”
”What do you need, Mr. President?” Buckley asked-hoping he knew the answer.
”I've ordered all our workers back to barracks, sir,” Kingston said firmly. ”We're making arrangements with the host countries to provide extra security for all Peace Corps workers in Asia. But if there's anything more I can do for you?”
And he prayed that there was. One thing, specifically.
DeWitt, busy on the phone, covered the mouthpiece. ”Mr. President, Director Hayes and the CIA director are downstairs, along with the Joint Chiefs, sir. Other staff and advisers are en route. They'll be ready for you in ten minutes.”
If you're not ready for me before then, he hoped.
The president looked them each in the eye. He'd never really liked the young, idealistic lawyer, the politically correct politician, or the social-climbing administrator. He'd supported them, advanced their careers and expectations as much to please the more moderate wing of the party as for their qualifications.
And he knew they were all considering running to replace him in fourteen months, at the end of the president's second and final term. A prospect that depressed him.
He personally didn't care for the idea of these young, admitted former pot smokers with foreign educations and no military records-but winning smiles, charm, style, and a very high approval rating-replacing him.
But this was politics-all about making the hard, distasteful choices above personal desires, he'd been reminded within the hour-and the men in front of him were the champions of the young moderates that were gradually taking over the party.
Also, the president frankly admitted to himself-if no one else-he was tired.
Exhausted in his eightieth year of life, of defending the ideals that had been bred into him, that gave him chills each time he saw an American flag. The job of the last six-plus years had been draining and dispiriting, particularly since his wife had died of cancer.
The president had come to realize, in the private isolation that included only true friends like the German American banker beside him, that he was slipping away-like a faded melody-and would need their youth, energy, and strength if he was going to face what he knew would be the greatest crisis his administration had ever seen.
”If what we think has happened,” the president said after too long a pause, ”has in fact happened, this country cannot afford to appear weak. Not even for a second!”
Buckley agreed. ”Of course, Mr. President. But what does-”
”George and I have been talking. There are niceties and there are political realities. And our reality-at this moment-is that we could be in combat in Taiwan within the week.”
Steingarth leaned forward. ”Gentlemen, what we are saying is that there must be no appearance of a vacuum in the national command authority.”
The president looked uncomfortable but determined. ”Look, I know old Bobby's not cold yet, but I have to act for the good of the country, dammit! And George agrees. h.e.l.l, his instincts are almost as sharp as mine at this.”
”I know the Taiwanese,” Steingarth said. ”They will deny, obfuscate, plead communist plots and sinister conspiracies. We must not be perceived as even tolerating any of those lies.”
”I understand,” Kingston said slowly. ”But what does this-”
”The Oriental mentality is such,” Steingarth continued, ”that they will believe they have dealt a crippling blow to our government. Even before I became a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, I detected this growing animosity from them. This need to have a high-profile, world-shattering victory.”
”He's been telling me about it for years,” the president added emphatically.
”But we will deny them their moment,” Steingarth said with surety.
”Jeff,” the president said as he reached out and touched the younger man, ”I want to nominate you for the vice presidency the day after Bobby's funeral.”
”Mr. President.” DeWitt sounded in shock. ”I don't know what to say. You need to take more time, sir.”
”There is no more time to take,” the president argued forcefully. ”We must demonstrate to the Nationalists that we are firm in our resolve and will not be bullied or frightened into abandoning decades of hard work at normalization with the mainland.”
The president looked at the other men. ”Rod, you're the new attorney general. I'm ordering you to immediately convene a special commission to investigate what's happened and provide definitive answers within two weeks.”
Buckley, equally shocked, slowly nodded. ”Sir.”
”Lane, I've spoken to Governor Free. We can't afford to lose a vote in our thin margin in the Senate. Not with some of the things that will need to be done. She'll appoint you to replace Rod as soon as I announce Jeff and these moves.”
”Thank you, Mr. President,” Kingston said as he quietly exulted at his new power-even as he resented the others theirs.
”Mr. President,” DeWitt said softly, instantly getting the other men's attention, ”I think you should take more time. A decision like this...”
Steingarth looked at him supportively-privately appreciating the man's control. ”Jeff, you're a moderate, with no clear China policy, but a proven history of loyalty to the goals of this administration. You know everyone on Judiciary and Foreign Affairs intimately and are a certain confirmation.”